The National team of Masters registered a notable success in a recent tournament 7 a side held at Andorra at the 9th edition of the ANDORRA SENIOR CUP. A total of 36 teams took part from Spain, France, Portugal, Algeria and others. Mostly all teams had ex professional players that used to play with well-known clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid. At. Bilbao, Marseille, Porto etc. Brian Said for Malta was also mentioned.

The Malta team was very unlucky to lose the semifinal against Olymique the well-known club from France 2-1.  They were unlucky because they played the better football, but their opponents closed the defense so tight that Malta could not find the net. In the last 10 minutes the dominated all out. Malta managed to get a goal in the last two minutes by Carlo Mamo direct from a free kick. However, there was not enough time to save the game.

Before reaching the semifinal, Malta won their group to go with the last sixteen. They beat CES BLIDIEN 9-0, the Spanish team from Taragona and after they won again beating AEV DEL L'-EBRE  4-2.  After that they qualified further when they beat ASA EL BOULAIDA  5-0, a game they dominated all through and could have won with a higher score,

In the quarter final it seemed that most of the players seemed tired and they suffered before they managed to beat the veterans of Andorra 2-1 to reach the semifinal.

There was no game for third place, and Malta were given third place in the final standing, having a better goal difference than the other team that lost in the semi final

In the end thee was positive remarks about the Malta team, all stating that it was the best team being attractive and playing good systematic football.

A good number of teams showed interest to come to Malta and play a friendly against our side. In fact, the Malta Masters association is thinking of organizing a four team tournament next year if assistance will be coming.

The coach had the following players at his disposal:

S.Rapinett, G.Edwards, M. Schembri, C. Mamo, J. Navarro, E. Saliba, J. Chetcuti, M. Camilleri, S. Shead, M. Borg Olivier, G. Scerri, K. Loughorough, L. Calleja

 

FULL RESULTS

GROUP A

Vs           CLU ESPERANCE SPORTIV BLIDIEN (ALGERIA)       9-0

Scorers: 3 Simon Shead, 3 Gilbert Scerri, 2 Jeff. Chetcuti, Mic. Borg Olivier, Eric Saliba

Vs           AEV        DELTA D' ERBE (TARAGONA)                       4-2

Scorers: 2 G. Scerri, S. Shead, B. Said

 

LAST SIXTEEN

Vs              EL BOUOIDA   (ALGERIA)       5-0

Scorers: 2 S, Shaed, C Mamo, M. Camilleri, E. Saliba

QUARTER FINAL

Vs           ANDORRA VETERANS               2-1

Scorers: 2 S. Shead

SEMI FINAL

Vs           OLIMPIQUE MARSEILLE (FRANCE)     1-2

Scorer:  C. Mamo

MASTERS FOOTBALL MALTA would like to thank all those who helped in one way or another to make this adventure possible. Thanks also to the Onor Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Dr. C. Grima for his continuous support.