When the draws of the national leagues fixtures for the new season 2006/2007 were made yesterday at the MFA Centenary Hall at Ta’ Qali, Premier League champions Birkirkara were pitted to start their title defence against Marsaxlokk in the first match on the opening day of the BOV Premier League which kicks off on 19 August.

Birkirkara will then play Msida, St George’s, Hibernians, Sliema Wanderers, Marsa, Floriana, Pieta and Valletta in that order.

Runners-up Sliema Wanderers will meet one of the newly promoted sides St George’s while other promoted team Marsa will start their commitments in the top flight against Msida St Joseph.

Trophy winners Hibernians will start against Floriana, in a repeat of last season’s final while Pieta Hotspurs against Valletta completes the league’s fixtures for day one.

The BOV Premeir League first phase ends on 11 February with the second phase starting on 24 February.

The Premier League ends on 13 May.

Meanwhile the draws of the BOV Division 1, which starts on 4 September, were also made yesterday and the first day fixtures were the following:

San Gwann-Mqabba; Qormi-Vittoriosa S; mosta-St Patrick; Naxxar L-Tarxien R; Hamrun S-Senglea A.