Ħamrun Spartans’ wing back Ryan Camenzuli has issued a rallying cry to his team-mates to give everything they have to ensure they rewrite the club’s history books when they face Latvian side FK RFS, of Latvia, in the Play Off round of the UEFA Conference League at the National Stadium on Thursday (kick-off: 7pm).
For the Spartans, this is the second time in the club’s history that they have found themselves playing a Playoff round match in a UEFA club competition.
Three years ago, they reached the same stage of the Conference League when they were knocked out by Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade.
Camenzuli was part of that Spartans’ team and said that disappointment is spurring the players to ensure they go one better this time around, and hopes the Spartans players will be there to give them the necessary emotional push to reach their objective.
“That experience of playing Partizan Belgrade in the play-off round is a great example to understand what it means to be so close to reaching a League Phase of a UEFA competition,” Camenzuli said.
“As a player here, you always dream of putting yourself in that position. Missing out on qualification surely has hurt us a lot, but at the same time, there is more fire in our belly to try and make amends.
“I feel that we have prepared well for this match, and we must remain focused throughout the 90 minutes and try to avoid making any mistakes. This summer, we have shown that with the arrival of new players, the level of our team has made great strides forward, but it’s time to prove it against RSF.
“I do not doubt that our passionate fans will be behind us to push us beyond our limit and give us the strength to give everything we have and help us lead the club to a historic result.”
Camenzuli shared Modica’s disappointment at the state of the National Stadium and said that the conditions of the pitch make it tough for them to play their usual game.
“It’s clear that the National Stadium is not in a position to host a football match, let alone such a high-stake game,” the Malta international said.
“This is a vital match not just for Ħamrun Spartans but for the whole Maltese football community, and it’s a pity that we are ending up playing on a very bad pitch. Our style of play is based on slick passing football, and it’s tough to do it on that pitch.
“This is not about making excuses, but it’s the reality, unfortunately. Still, we know that this is a do-or-die match for us and we crave for some help from everyone to ensure we are put in the condition to reach such a historic feat.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Modica expressed disappointment that the Malta champions did not secure the collaboration of all stakeholders in Maltese football that would have put them in an ideal situation to claim a historic qualification in the UEFA Conference League Phase.
The build-up to the match against Latvian side KF RFS, which was described by the Italian coach as one of the biggest in the history of Maltese football, given the high stakes it carries, was marred by the news that UEFA had turned down the Spartans request to switch the game to the Centenary Stadium given the poor conditions of the pitch of the National Stadium.
The decision incensed the Spartans’ top officials as well as Modica, who said that he cannot understand the reasoning behind UEFA’s decision and believes that not all stakeholders have done everything in their power to give his team the best possible conditions to perform at their best against Latvia’s RSF.
“Having such an important opportunity, not just for me as a coach, but also for the players who can create history for Maltese football, we have not been put in the condition to fulfil this objective,” Modica said.
“Maybe not everyone is happy that we take that step, and that is my personal opinion. Because when you request to change the venue of the match from a National Stadium, that yes might be a nice site but you cannot play football on it at the moment.
“Last weekend, Birkirkara and Valletta played here and all the players were critical of the state of the pitch. We requested to change the venue eight days ago, several check-ups on the pitch were done, a number of alternatives were presented, and still we now find ourselves in a situation where we have been put at a disadvantage.
“The reason is that we train on a synthetic pitch and RSF trains on a natural pitch. Had the pitch been in good condition, we would have still played on it, no problem, but the condition is not good.
“Now we have to put everything on our desire and the hunger to create history not only for us but also for all Maltese football. We have done everything in our power to come for this match in the best possible shape, but our cause has not been helped by everyone.”
Apart from all the controversy stirred by the poor condition of the pitch, Modica said the players have a responsibility to ensure that they perform at their best in what is the biggest match of their careers.
“My message to the players is to try and give more than their 100 per cent if they are to create history,” Modica said.
“They have to realise that they are on the verge of putting Maltese football on a level that it has never reached, and they have the opportunity to enter the folklore of Maltese football, and that should be a huge source of motivation and not pressure on their shoulders.
“We must be lucid throughout the 90 minutes and realise that this is a match that can change our career forever.”
