This season’s edition of the H2Only Mixed League is being played on Wednesday evenings at the Cottonera Sports Complex, starting at 7pm.
Several amendments have been carried out to the competition format so as to enhance the balance between the competing teams, thereby heightening its interest and excitement.
In the Premier Division, the top two local clubs – Pawla Wolves Schtag and Birkirkara BC – are playing each other five times over a three-month period in order to determine the winner of the team championship title.
Each fixture consists of five different games: Men’s and Ladies’ Singles, Men’s and Ladies’ Doubles as well as Mixed Doubles.
The first fixture of the Premier Division saw Pawla Wolves Schtag defeat their direct contenders B’Kara BC with a clear 4 – 1 scoreline.
They now meet in the second fixture today.
A second successive win for the Paolites would put them in the enviable position of needing only one win from the remaining three matches to put the national championship beyond their opponents’ reach.
On the other hand, victory is the only option for B’Kara BC. Captained by Stefan Salomone, they will certainly want to recover from their false start with a convincing win in order to put the five-match series on an even keel.
A second successive defeat for B’Kara would signify a difficult uphill struggle where they would need to win the following three encounters.
Kenneth Vella did not mince his words when interviewed about the Paolites’ prospects. “The squad has been training seriously for this second match and is completely focussed on it”, he stated; “we are determined to make it two in a row”.
Stefan Salomone was equally upbeat on B’Kara BC’s chances. “The initial defeat does not compromise our chances of winning the title”, he contended; “we are fully aware of the tactical importance of this second encounter and I am confident that my players will rise to the occasion”.
Norman Spiteri will referee the match; more information can be sourced from the website of Badminton Malta: www.badmintonmalta.org