Nearing the end of the first part of the Opening Round, matches are becoming very tense since stakes are too high. A case in point was last Saturday's match between Valletta and Hibernians.
Played at the Tony Bezzina Stadium though the atmosphere was electric, the challenge was a very difficult one. The Kordin Stadium brings more logistic problems than the National Stadium. Accessibilty to the Stadium is limited to just one road, with traffic at a standstill particularly at the end of the matches. And last Saturday was nothing different. But away from these nitty gritty things, both set of supporters were well organized and created an atmosphere that surely makes a visit to the Stadium a nice experience.
This is what football is all about. When clubs mobilize their supporters, the match day experience becomes better. Even watching what was going on prior to the match in our Capital City and also in Paola Square should give us more food for thought so that things will keep on moving in the right direction.
In a few weeks time these crunch matches will be the order of the day, when the Top Six of the Opening Round kicks off. We already know that we have Floriana and Valletta who are mathematically there. Hamrun should also make it. And the remaining three places are up for grabs and to be fought between Sliema W,. Hibernians, Birkirkara and M'Xlokk. One of these teams will miss out and have to form part of the Bottom Six. This was the fate of the Paolites in the Closing Round of the 2024/25 season.
But having such a line up will make all the matches a cup final. And this will surely bring more spectators to the stadia and also increase the following on TV. What a season this is turning out to be. Hope that fairplay will prevail and the best team will ultimately win the honours. Apart from this even the Bottom Six will result in a tight affair.
But I also have to point out that not all is rosy. The stickers that invested practically half the Tony Bezzina Stadium with words which offend opponents should never have been done. Moreover the vulgar words and swearing across the board even from minors is something that action has to be taken on. The police presence has to be not just a deterrent but a line of action. There is no room for people singing and passing on such remarks. Lets take the micky out of our opponents but that's it.
And this doesn't stop at the Stadium. A look throughout the week at some social media platforms confirms my argument. Let's grow up and support our team in the right manner and above all behave like humans do.
' A united group'
- Thane Micallef, coach Valletta FC
'The players have been fantastic in the first part of the season. What we are doing in training is being transmitted on the pitch.' These were the sentiments expressed by Valletta coach Thane Micallef after their narrow but important win against Hibernians. Micallef added, 'There is surely room for improvement but this group is a united front. Those who play, substitutes and even those who do not play are united as one. That's from where performances and results are coming. Obviously we are happy with what we have achieved but it's still early days. We've got two other games and than five direct encounters so it's a long way but we should remain positive and always look at the next match and nothing more.'
'Small things define the game'
- Branko Nisevic, coach Hibernians FC
'Something is missing. In the last 3 matches no points and no goals. And this from the highest scoring team in the league.' This was the first reaction of Hibernians coach Branko Nisevic following the defeat against Valletta. Nisevic had more to say. 'Now there's not much time to think. Midweek we have to face Sliema Wanderers so our focus had to be on this match. We have to work on the physcological aspect since the boys must feel bad about losing the past matches with a tight margin. They always think that they're there but they end defeated. Today we had a very good second half and as I said before the match small things define the game. And that's how the match against Valletta was decided.'
CURIOSITIES
Rivals Floriana and Valletta are the first teams who have mathematically booked their places in the Top Six of the Opening Round. Both have been in top form lately with the Greens registering their fifth consecutive win whereas the Lillywhites are the only team still unbeaten in the League.
Sliema Wanderers have never lost when scoring first this season. From six matches that the opened the account, the Blues won four and drew two.
Hibernians have got the best scoring record so far this season, scoring 16 goals in nine matches played,nearly two goals in each match. But they have failed to find the net in their last three matches.
Saturday's match against Floriana was the first defeat for Birkirkara under Gianluca's Festa watch, bringing to an end a run of five unbeaten matches. On the other hand their opponents Floriana registered a third consecutive clean sheet, always scored in their last five matches and extended their unbeaten run to five matches, apart from holding top spot.
TABLE
Floriana 22
Valletta 21
Ħamrun S. 16
Sliema W. 15
Hibernians 14
M'Xlokk 14
Birkirkara 13
Gżira Utd. 9
Żabbar SP 7
Tarxien R. 5
Mosta 5
Naxxar L. 5
FIXTURES - MD 10
Today Tuesday 28th October
Tony Bezzina Stadium
6.45pm Valletta - Gżira Utd.
9.00pm Tarxien R. - B'Kara
Wednesday 29th October
Tony Bezzina Stadium
6.45pm Floriana - Ħamrun S.
9.00pm M'Xlokk - Zabbar SP
Centenary Stadium
6.15pm Hibernians - Sliema W.
9.00 pm Mosta - Naxxar L.
CLEAN SHEETS
Birkirkara 6
Ħamrun S. 6
Marsaxlokk 4
Valletta 4
Floriana 4
Sliema W. 3
Gżira Utd. 2
Hibernians 1
Mosta 1
Naxxar L. 1
Żabbar SP 1
Tarxien R. 0
TOP SCORERS
Y. Messias (Valletta) 6
M. Jah (Floriana) 5
L. Villela (Hibernians) 5
C. Padilha Mendonca (Hibernians) 4
A. Penha da Costa (Gżira Utd.) 4
J. Grech (Floriana) 3
F. Sasere (B'Kara) 3
K. Reid (B'Kara) 3
P. Emanuel (Mosta) 3
S. Bah (Sliema W.) 3
YELLOW CARDS
Birkirkara 31
Hibernians 27
Mosta 25
Zabbar SP 25
Tarxien R. 24
Floriana 19
Valletta 19
Gzira Utd. 19
Sliema W. 18
Naxxar L. 18
Hamrun S. 15
M'Xlokk 15
RED CARDS
Floriana 3
Mosta 3
Birkirkara 2
Tarxien R. 2
Zabbar SP 1
Sliema W. 1
Hamrun S. 1
Photo: Domenic Aquilina
Article sponsored by:
