Luxol taking part in Futsal Cup qualifying round in Austria

Futsal reigning champions and last season’s Super Cup winners, Luxol Futsal, are in Linz in Austria to compete in Group C of the qualifying round of the UEFA Futsal Cup.

During the past few weeks in preparation for this important event, the team has been working very hard to strengthen the squad, as they try to do their best to become the first Maltese team to make it from this qualifying round of the UEFA Futsal Cup.

In the 16-man squad who made the trip to Austria are a number of foreign players with great experience in the top level of international Futsal.

Amongst them the club has signed a top Norwegian goalkeeper, Kenneth Rakvaag, who played 67 times for his country.

The squad led by player coach Frane Despotovic and captain Mark Zammit also includes some highly rated Maltese players such as GianCarlo Sammut, Glenn Bonello, Andy Mangion and goalkeepers Clint Mifsud and Matthew Xerxen.

As part of the build up towards this important event overseas, last week Luxol Futsal team and officials led by club chairman Joseph Aquilina and President Mario Vella, met the Prime Minister of Malta Dr Joseph Muscat. During the visit, Luxol Futsal presented Prime Minister Muscat with a team shirt and a picture of last season’s winning squad.

Luxol will be playing in Group C of the qualifying round of the UEFA Futsal Cup against KMF Shkupi from Macedonia, Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel and FC Diamant Linz of Austria who are hosting this qualifying tournament.

Luxol Futsal’s final 16-man squad for qualifying round of UEFA Futsal Cup is the following:

Goalkeepers: Kenneth Rakvaag (Norway), Clint Mifsud (Malta), Matthew Xerxen (Malta).

Players: Celino Alves (Brazil), Kristijan Grbesa (Croatia), Frane Despotovic (Croatia), Rogerio dos Santos (Brazil), GianCarlo Sammut (Malta), Mark Zammit (Malta), Glenn Bonello (Malta), Nikola Perkovic (Croatia), Emil Andrei Raducu (Romania), Andy Mangion (Malta), Hrvoje Penava (Croatia), Zvezdan Vukovic (Serbia) William Barbosa (Brazil).

Coach and Assistant: Frane Despotovic (Croatia) Zeljko Anicic

Physical Trainer: Alan Simovcic.