Volleyball: Malta’s national female squad to train in San Marino

The training camp will take place in the same venue where Volleyball will be played during this year’s Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), which will be held in this country later on this year. 

The indoor volleyball team has been training regularly for the past months under the direction of National Team Coach Edvaldo Carvalho da Silva, while the beach volley teams have also commenced their preparations. During the San Marino training camp, the Malta girls will also be playing 2 friendly matches against San Marino, the host country’s national team and the team of Gabicce. Last weekend the national squad played a preparation match against Austrian side Bruckl Hotvolleys at the Cottonera Sports Complex. The Maltese team won 3 – 1. 

Malta Volleyball Association President Jesmond Saliba stated that the return of the national team after 5 years for indoor volleyball together with beach volleyball is an important step for the future of volleyball in Malta and has been welcomed by the entire local volleyball community, and should serve to motivate further all those practicing this sport, particularly the younger generations. 

Mr Saliba also referred to a parallel initiative focusing on the medium and long term, namely the MVA’s Youth Talent Development Programme. He explained that the aim of this programme is to identify the best youth volleyball talent, and in collaboration with their respective clubs, assist in their development. These young players will form the basis for a pool of players from which the various youth national selections will be chosen in the future.