During the past weekend the last MD of the year was played with the programme split over four days. After everything went according to plan in the first three days, not the same can be said for what happened on Sunday.
The heavy rainfall and the two matches played on Saturday at the National Stadium put the Hamrun - B'Kara match at risk. In fact prior to kick off discussions were held with representatives of both teams. The match official conducted there pitch inspections with kick off delayed by fifteen minutes and subsequently kicking off thirty minutes late.
The conditions of the pitch especially in the second half left the pitch is shambles. And this brings us to the point at the lack of stadiums that we have to cater for all matches across the board. The Malta Premier League in synch with the Malta Football Association should make the building of a new stadium or more their main priority. We can't have all these matches played on just two to three surfaces. To continue increasing this problem, this season we had an extra competition, the Jubilee Cup together with the historic qualification of Hamrun Spartans in a League Stage of a European Competition which meant another three extra matches. So this item should be put at the top of the Agenda cause these are projects which take years not months to be ready.
Another important milestone reached during this campaign is the introduction of the Football Video Support (FVS). This technology was a game changer for local football. It was implemented smoothly and welcomed well by all. Certain decisions would not have been reverted had it not been for this modern technology. So a big well done to those who had the vision in a short time span launch the FVS.
But now we must remember that for the first phase of the Closing Round we will go back to basics, with no video support. And this wills surely be the greatest test especially on match officials. Everyone is aware that the system costs money. But we also know that this has made local football look more professional and fair. Adopting this technology in all Premier League matches must be the way forward but it will not be an easy task. It is true that all matches are decisive and all have their own importance, but for now the MPL is recognizing the most important matches. Given time and this will expand. In practically two years a lot of things have changed for the better. Not everything is rosy. But challenging times lie ahead.
'We suffered a lot without the ball'
- Daniel Portela, coach Floriana FC
'It was a good result from us, three points which guaranteed a top two finish' Daniel Portela's comments after getting another three points from the match against Sliema W. The Floriana gaffer had more to add. 'Floriana were better in the first half but Sliema played better in the second. We suffered a lot without the ball. But after this hectic period it's time for a deserved break and we will be back again fighting for points in the first week of January. In the meantime a Happy Christmas to all at Floriana.'
'Second half reaction was not enough'
- Paul Zammit, coach Sliema W. FC
'Matches like these are normally decided by episodes. Our opponents were wise enough to take advantage of certain situations which we didn't'. First comments passed by Sliema coach Paul Zammit following their defeat in the Old Firm derby against Floriana. Zammit added. 'We were not up to it in the first half, but in the second forty fives minutes the players reacted strongly though being with a man less. I think that there are a lot of positives that I can work on following the second half performance.'
CURIOSITIES
v Hamrun Spartans started 2025 in style when on the 5th January they defeated Marsaxlokk 6-1. They incidentally finished the year registering another convincing win , this time their victims were Birkirkara when last Sunday they were at their best winning by the same 6-1 scoreline.
v From eleven games that Floriana took the lead, they won ten of them with the other match ending in a draw. Their recent win against Sliema Wanderers meant that they are the first team guaranteed a top two finish in the Opening Round.
v Valletta returned to winning ways after suffering three consecutive defeats in the Malta Premier League. But one has to note that in the middle of these defeats there was the Jubilee Cup triumph. Last weekend's win against M'Xlokk was also their first clean sheet after four matches.
OPENING ROUND TOP SIX TABLE
Floriana 32
Ħamrun S. 28
Sliema W. 25
Valletta 25
M'Xlokk 21
Birkirkara 16
OPENING ROUND BOTTOM SIX TABLE
Gżira Utd. 22
Hibernians 20
Żabbar SP 13
Mosta 12
Naxxar L. 9
Tarxien R. 9
RESULTS - MD 14
Hibernians - Żabbar SP 3-3
Gżira Utd. - Tarxien R. 2-1
Mosta - Naxxar L. 2-3
Valletta - M'Xlokk 1-0
Floriana - Sliema W. 2-1
Ħamrun S. - B'Kara 6-1
NEXT MATCHES - MD 15
Tuesday 6th January
National Stadium
6.30pm Floriana - Ħamrun S.
9.00pm Sliema W. - M'Xlokk
Wednesday 7th January
National Stadium
7.30pm Valletta - B'Kara
Victor Tedesco Stadium
8.30pm Hibernians - Gżira Utd.
Thursday 8th January
Victor Tedesco Stadium
6.30pm Mosta - Tarxien R.
9.00pm Żabbar SP - Naxxar L.
CLEAN SHEETS
Birkirkara 7
Ħamrun S. 7
Marsaxlokk 5
Floriana 5
Valletta 5
Sliema W. 3
Gżira Utd. 3
Mosta 3
Żabbar SP 2
Hibernians 2
Naxxar L. 1
Tarxien R. 0
TOP SCORERS
L. Villela (Hibernians) 9
Y. Messias (Valletta) 7
M. Jah (Floriana) 6
S. Bah (Sliema W.) 6
J. Grech (Floriana) 6
A. Penha da Costa (Gżira Utd.) 6
C. Padilha Mendonca (Hibernians) 6
P. Emanuel (Mosta) 5
A. Abubakar (B'Kara) 4
N. Koffi (Ħamrun S.) 4
Z. Leonardi (Żabbar SP) 4
Article sponsored by:
M. Garcia (Ħamrun S.) 4