Favourites Valletta FC were drawn to meet their current bogey team Tarxien Rainbows in the semi-finals of the 100 National League Anniversary Cup.
The draws were made yesterday by the MFA president Dr Joseph Mifsud. The other semi-final is between Floriana and Mosta.
Valletta and Tarxien met twice this season in the league and have figured in 2-2 draws. The citizens have finished at the top of the Premier League, but will start the second phase as joint leaders with Birkirkara on 20 points. Tarxien finished sixth in the standings and will start with 13 points in the second phase.
Floriana should be considered firm favourites to reach the final despite first division Mosta's surprise win over Sliema in last Wednesday's quarter-final.
The MFA yesterday presented the Cup to the press. It is a bronze trophy - the design of Joe Micallef, who had also been the designer of the Footballer of the Year trophy. It is in semi-circles in the form of a C (for Centum - 100) with a football on the inside.
Dr Mifsud yesterday also spoke about the commitments of the national teams during this year, saying that the most important competition will be Euro 2012 in which the national team has been drawn to face Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia and Georgia.
He said that because of changes to the FIFA international match-day calendar, it has become necessary to alter match days in this competition. In fact, instead of Saturdays and Wednesdays, matches will now be played on Fridays or Saturdays or Tuesdays. He said this system is expected to be adopted by the majority of the participating nations as it will allow players to go back to their clubs a day before than it has been in the past.
With the Group Malta is to play in needing 10 match days, only two will remain vacant and these will be 29 March and 7 June of next year.
Dr Mifsud said that a meeting is now being held in Athens on 7 March to try and agree on the dates for the fixtures of this group. "By 16 March, we have to give a definite reply to UEFA. If no agreement is reached, then we will probably have to abide by the draws to be made by UEFA," he said.
The MFA president said that in preparation for this competition, Malta will be playing three friendly matches, as already announced. These are at home against Finland on 3 March, away against Germany on 13 May and home against Macedonia on 11 August.
The president also said the Under 23 side and the Amateur team will be taking part in the Challenge Trophy and Regions Cup competitions respectively. The Under 21s also have three more matches to play this year, while the Under 17s have qualified to take part in the elite group - a tournament to be held in England, involving also Slovakia, England and Sweden.
Malta's national women's team is also facing tough commitments with matches against Turkey (home and away), England at home, Austria and Spain away. To cap it all, Malta is also taking part in a Futsal tournament in Hereford, England, with the participation of England, Turkey and Finland.
Dr Mifsud also announced that the association is holding a course for physical trainers on coach education. He said the lecturers will include foreigners who work at Coverciano and at an Italian University.
The national teams' physical trainer, Luca Pagani, and coach Stephen Grima, explained that this will be the first of its kind in Malta, and it is hoped that local coaches will become more aware of what is expected on the fitness levels of Maltese footballers.
It starts on 17 April and comes to an end in June, following which there will be an examination. Lectures and practical sessions will be held on weekends and it will take 72 hours to be concluded. Participants will only be allowed four hours of absenteeism throughout the course.
Dr Mifsud also revealed that the MFA had reached a sponsorship extension agreement with GO thanks to which the member clubs and member associations will be given the internet service free of charge.