Feb 12 - Bula Announces 'A Team' Squad for Upcoming Friendlies
Written by Marie Harrington
Allen Bula made a purposeful introduction to the small press community that had gathered at the Boatshed for yesterday morning’s press conference.
He spoke candidly about his vision for the future of the national team and his role in developing the young players coming through the ranks.
It’s a serious business being the Manager of the Gibraltar National ‘A ‘ Team and Bula was clear about his expectations of both the senior players and the team as a whole. ‘We are facing the giants of Europe now,’ he stated purposefully. ‘I expect our senior players to act as role models for the younger players that are coming through.
Bula’s plan for the next three years centres on “getting it right.” After sixteen years of battling for the right to compete in European competitions and finally gaining acceptance to the UEFA family, it’s clear that Bula’s does not want Gibraltar to just make up the numbers. ‘I want to show Europe that we have the quality to compete at this level and that we deserve to be here. We are not going to become the new whipping boys.’ It was this philosophy that had a clear influence on the squad selection for the forthcoming friendly internationals against Estonia and the Faroe Islands.
Bula announced a squad of predominantly locally based players but with the added mix of several overseas players who are eligible to represent Gibraltar as a nation, similar to the selection who held Slovakia to a 0-0 draw in Portugal last November. There were first time call ups for Wycombe Wanders striker Reece Styche, who qualifies through his grandmother, David Artell, the experienced defender at Conference side Wrexham and Will Britt, the 18 year-old goalkeeper at Southampton. These three new inclusions added to that of the previously capped Danny Higginbotham, Scott Wiseman and Liam Walker, mean that there are six non-Gibraltar based players that Bula has chosen to bolster the squad.
When questioned about his squad selection, a passionate Bula told the media contingent ‘the Slovakia game is dead and gone now. We have to get that out of the way and look forward. This is about creating the right platform and the right behaviours. There is no more resting on our laurels. We may be the minnows but we will not be embarrassed.’
The somewhat controversial inclusion of five UK based players has sparked a debate which has extended to players and fans sharing their opinions via social media sites. Bula believes the selections are justified and that the inclusion of such players will greatly benefit the national team and help with his vision of success for Gibraltar as a competitive European footballing nation.
One thing’s for certain, Bula expects that only time will tell whether this squad of players really has what it takes to compete with the big boys.
The full list of the National Team's selection for both matches is as follows:
Faroe Islands - Goal keepers: Jordan Perez, Jamie Robba, Kevin De Los Santos
Defenders: Danny Higginbotham, Roy Chipolina, Ryan Casciaro, David Artell, Yogan Santos, Matthew Reoch, John Jack Sargeant
Midfielders: Robert Guilling, Aaron Payas, Joseph Chipolina, Jeremy Lopez, Tyson Ruiz, Liam Clarke
Strikers: Adam Priestly, George Cabrera, Reece Styche, Kyle Casciaro
Reserves: Daniel Duarte, Joseph Chipol, Anthony Hernandez, Julio Bado, John Paul Duarte, Anthony Bardon, Daylian Victor, Erin Barnett, Adolfo Anes
Estonia - Goal Keepers: William Britt, Jordan Perez, Jamie Robba
Defenders: Scott Wiseman, Danny Higginbotham, Roy Chipolina, Ryan Casciaro, David Artell, Yogan Santos, Matthew Reoch, John Jack Sargeant
Midfielders: Liam Walker, Robert Guilling, Aaron Payas, Joseph Chipolina, Jeremy Lopez, Tyson Ruiz, Daniel Duarte
Strikers: Adam Priestly, George Cabrera, Reece Styche, Kyle Casciaro, John Paul Duarte
Reserves: Daniel Duarte, Joseph Chipol, Anthony Hernandez, Julio Bado, Anthony Bardon, Daylian Victor, Erin Barnett, Adolfo Anes
