Luxol St. Andrews Futsal Club are set to embark on their latest journey in the UEFA Champions League Main Round competition.
A third-time event held in Malta, first-ever with the Maltese representatives hosting this event pitted from Path A in a Group 3 also comprising Slovenian champions Dobovec, Dutch representatives Hovocubo, and reigning European champions Barcelona.
The Main group phase in Malta, held between October 25-30, is scheduled to be staged at the University Sports Complex in Msida.
Luxol held a press conference on Wednesday, following their Super Cup success last Friday, beating the University of Malta in a resounding 11-1 win result, and on the doorstep of their brief training experience in Poland over the coming days whereby the team plays multiple friendlies against Polish champions Piast Gliwice.
Technical Director Nathaniel Jones highlighted the fact this could be a unique opportunity for Luxol Futsal to write history and progress to the Elite Round with the best 16 teams in Europe, being that three of four teams in this Group 3 held in Malta will be granted qualification.
He added that this tournament will arguably represent the highest standards in terms of international futsal being that reigning European champions Barcelona will also be involved.
He also presented new signings for this UEFA competition, former Lazio player, Slovenian Dejan Bizjak, and four Brazilian newcomers, Diece, Rodrigo Fumaca, Victor Dias and keeper Celio Cabral.
Other signings for this Euro experience include homegrown Luke Gatt, Andre Ciancio, Gregory Busuttil, and Ryan Marmara.
Jones concluded that the skills and knowledge of the game by new additions, also engaged with the attributes of coach Gabriel Dobre, and established players in the team including Mark Zammit, Stefan Vella, Emil Raducu, Everton Veve, Maicon Da Silva, and Celino Alves, will surely render this group of athletes the best possibility of writing history and qualify to the Elite Round of this well-regarded competition.
Club chairman Joe Aquilina affirmed that friendly matches in Poland later this week will surely serve to gauge where the team currently stands.
In regard to the UEFA tournament, Aquilina announced that the sale of tickets will cover all six matches.
He added, “We want people to enjoy a good three days of competitive high-level Futsal, moreover, support the home team during the two more balanced games”.
Club president Mario Vella also highlighted the logistics requirements to host a tournament of this magnitude, adding this is the end result of the collective endeavour of a group of people who passionately give their all to see this Futsal club grow.
