The Premier League would have been in full swing today with four matches on the card – two in the morning at the Victor Tedesco Stadium in Hamrun and another two in the afternoon at the National Stadium, Ta’ Qali.
But yesterday evening, the MFA informed the press that this morning’s matches at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, that is Floriana-Marsaxlokk and Sliema-St Patrick, have had to be postponed because of waterlogged pitches at both venues.
The MFA, however, announced that the afternoon matches at Ta’ Qali would be played as originally scheduled.
Also postponed were this morning’s matches scheduled at the Hibs Ground, in connection with the first division, where Naxxar Lions were to meet Senglea Athletic and Marsa were to come up against San Gwann.
No new dates for the postponed matches have yet been announced, but these will now be expected to be played in midweek.
At Ta’ Qali in the first match, Valletta will be facing lowly Lija Athletic, while in the second encounter, Birkirkara will come up against Pieta Hotspurs.
Msida and Hibernians will clash tomorrow at the Centenary Stadium.
At present, Sliema and Valletta lead the standings with 26 points. They are followed by Birkirkara on 22, Hibernians 20, Floriana 19, Pieta 14, Marsaxlokk and Msida 13, Lija Athletic four and St Patrick two.
Valletta should be considered firm favourites to beat Lija to make sure of another three points as they march triumphantly at the top.
On the other hand, Birkirkara, fresh from the Super Five Cup win, cannot afford to miss out again in the League this time against Pieta who will, in all probability, be posing a lot of problems. In fact, Pieta are passing through a good patch at present and are back in the hunt for a place in the Championship Pool having overtaken Marsaxlokk and Msida in the standings.
After their defeat against Hibernians in their last league match, the Stripes will be eager to return to winning form, but the Hotspurs have always proved to be stubborn opponents and could present a serious obstacle to Stephen Azzopardi’s side.
Tomorrow, Hibernians would almost assure themselves of a top six place in the second phase if they manage to beat Msida St Joseph.
The latter have been hit by several injuries in recent weeks and their form has slumped considerably though, to their credit, they even managed to hold Sliema to a draw in one of their last matches.