July 1997

Wed 30

• The Barcellona dream faded away as Valletta lost 0-2 to Skonto Riga in Latvia for the second leg of the Preliminary Round of the Champions League. Valletta suffered two goals in the first half hour with goals by Astafiyef (14') and Mitholap (23'). In Trnava - Slovakia, B'Kara lost 1-3 to Spartak Trnava in the return match of the UEFA Cup Preliminary Round. Two goals in the first half by Timko (30') and Hadviger (45') gave Spartak a two goal lead. Michael Galea (86') reduced the score for B'Kara but Formanko (88') made it 3-1 for Spartak.

Tue 29

• The Malta Olympic Committee rebutted the MFA's accusations of taking decisions in order to humiliate the latter. The MOC argued that they have always been fair with respect to all member associations. MOC Chairman Magistrate Lino Farrugia Sacco explained that in the case of the Mediterrenean Games, since officially the MFA has an A-team and an Under 21 team, the MFA did not carry out the necessary preparations to have an Under-23 team. For the European Youth Olympic Days, the MOC had accepted the MFA's participation but since the MOC had not enough budget to pay the travelling expenses for the players in the Under 16 squad, they asked the MFA to pay the expenses themselves and they would be refunded next year. In a friendly match, Hibernians beat Hamrun Spartans 3-1. For Hibs, Mark Walley scored two goals and Darren Attard scored the third. Kevin Sammut replied for Hamrun. Nigerian "Wo-Wo" Ndubisi who is currently on trial with Hibs, played excellently.

Sat 26

• In a friendly played at Hamrun, Hamrun Spartans were held in a 1-1 draw by Tarxien Rainbows.
• In the MFA General Meeting, it was agreed that by season 1998/99, a new ground will be built at Ta' Qali next to the Training Ground. In this stadium, which should have a capacity of 1000, Second and Third Division matches will be played. Premier and First Division clubs will also benefit from this ground as Youths' and Under 21 matches involving these clubs. This stadium will be built with the contribution of Lm350 annually by all the clubs for 6 years plus Lm100,000 by the MFA.
  MFA President Dr Joe Mifsud threathened clubs, who are found guilty of paying sums of money higher than those allowed according to the MFA transfer regulations, that they will be relegated to a lower division.
  The MFA accused the Malta Olympic Committee of trying to "humiliate the MFA and its members". The reasons for this according to the MFA were that i) the MOC denied the MFA participation in the Mediterrenean Games in Bari with the Under 21 squad and ii) the MOC asked the MFA to pay the expenses of the Under 16 squad to travel to Spain for the European Youth Olympic Days even they accepted their application to participate and were ready to refund the MFA next year.

Fri 25

• Xghajra Tornadoes denied reports appeared in a some newspapers that they were not going to participate in the Premier League. However they still do not have a coach and have not yet registered two foreign players.
• In a friendly played at Corradino, Hibernians beat Naxxar Lions 2-0 with two goals by Libyan player Sahti who is on trial with the Paolites.

Wed 23

• Although beating Skonto Riga 1-0 in the Champions League Preliminary Round, Valletta disappointed being more concerned with defending the one-goal superiority rather than trying to score a second goal. After a good start for Skonto, Valletta took the lead in the 15th through Lino Galea with a first timer and then defended all-out the one-goal lead. Skonto, although physically superior, were technically inferior. Valletta left their strikers too isolated and the very few chances they created were usually wasted. Only Bosko Tatar had two good shots with which he went close to scoring a second goal. All in all, the Citizens should thank their goalkeeper Sean Sullivan for a number of brilliant saves which denied Skonto the equaliser.

Tue 22

• An excellent second-half display B'Kara resulted in a narrow 0-1 defeat against Spartak Trnava. After a chaotic first half, where at times, the Stripes defended with eight men in their area, in the second half they started gaining confidence, becoming more adventurous, also creating a couple of good chances. The only goal was scored through a freekick by Slovak international Dusan Tittel in the 14th. The only negative point was the sending off of Jeffrey Farrugia for two yellow cards.

Sat 19

• In the UEFA Intertoto Cup Floriana lost 0-1 to Heraklis Thessaloniki in Greece. A brilliant display by Floriana's Belgian goalkeeper Dominique Wouters helped the Greens avoid a heavier defeat.

Wed 16

• Yugoslav Josef Ilic, the former Under 18 coach, is Malta's new national coach. He will guide the national squad for the remaining World Cup qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Yugosalvia. Valletta won the Lowenbrau Cup after a 2-2 draw against B'Kara. Valletta took the lead midway through the first half through Gilbert Agius but before half time, Antoine Zahra equalised. Early in the second half, Ferenc Lovasz put the Citizens once again one goal ahead but eight minutes from time, Antoine Zahra made it 2-2 from a penalty.
• FIFA suspended Italian goalkeeper former Hamrun Spartans, Alessandro Zaninelli from all football activities after he failed to pay Lm9,000 due to Hamrun. Zaninelli, also a former Torino player, used to play with Hamrun in season 1994-95, before he decided to leave the club although still under contract.

Tue 15

• Rothmans Leagues draws: Division 1 (to start 6th Sep) Zurrieq vs St. Patrick, Mosta vs Siggiewi, Rabat A. vs Marsa, Lija A. vs St. George's, Dingli S. vs Mellieha
  Division 2 Section A: San Gwann, Vittoriosa S., Marsaxlokk, Ghaxaq, Gozo FC, Mqabba, Sta. Venera L. Section B: Zebbug R., Qormi, St. Andrews, Gzira U., Sta. Lucia, Gudja U., Pembroke
  Division 3 Section A: Sirens, Msida SJ, Zejtun C, Attard, Mgarr U., Gharghur, Luqa S.A. Section B: Kirkop U., Balzan Y., Birzebbuga S.P., Senglea A., Melita, Ta' Xbiex, Fgura U.
  Div. 2/3 Knock Out Group 1: San Gwann, Zebbug, Sirens, Kirkop Group 2: Vittoriosa, Qormi, Msida, Balzan Group 3: M'Xlokk, St. Andrews, Zejtun, Birzebbuga Group 4: Ghaxaq, Gzira, Gharghur, Senglea Group 5: Gozo, Sta. Lucia, Attard Group 6: Mqabba, Gudja, Ta' Xbiex Group 7: Sta. Venera, Mgarr, Fgura Group 8: Pembroke, Luqa, Melita
  Missing from the draws were two clubs Qrendi and Kalkara United. Both clubs has been disbanded.

  Mon 14 Valletta notch an incredible 9-0 win over a depleted Hibernians side in the Lowenbrau Cup with goals by Gilbert Agius (3), Ivan Zammit (2), Nicky Saliba, Joe Zarb (pen), Kris Lafera and Bosko Tatar (pen).

• Premier League is due to start on the weekend starting 30th August with the matches Naxxar vs Tarxien, Hamrun vs B'Kara, Hibs vs Pieta`, Floriana vs Xghajra and Valletta vs Sliema. The Super 5 Competition will be held on the 18th with the semi finals Valletta vs B'Kara and Floriana vs Sliema. The finals will be held on the 20th.

Sat 12

• Torpedo Moscow beat Floriana with a single goal in the 45th minute in the Intertoto Cup. The Greens who presented a new goalkeeper, Dominique Wouters, among their ranks, played quite well although they had to defend for most of the time. Torpedo's goal was scored in the 45th through Botiev. Danilo Doncic arrived in Malta together with Lokomotiv Sofia officials. He will probably sign today for the sum of Lm41,000.

Fri 11

• Season 1997/98 kicked off today with the Lowenbrau Cup where league runners-up B'Kara shared points with Trophy finalists Hibernians in a 2-2 draw. Kenneth Abela opened the score for Hibs in the first half but in the second half, B'Kara went all out for the equaliser. An own goal by Roderick Baldacchino levelled the score and the Stripes went 2-1 ahead with a penalty by Ridha Dardouri. Eight minutes from time, the Paolites made it 2-2 through Darren Attard.

Wed 9

• The draws for the three UEFA competitions were held in Geneva. In the Champions Cup, Valletta were drawn against Latvian Champions, Skonto Riga. The qualifiying team will face Spanish Runners-up Barcellona in the First Round. In the Cup Winners Cup, Hibernians will play against a team from Iceland, IB Vestmannaeyja. Finally in the UEFA Cup, B'Kara face Spartak Trnava from Slovakia.

Sun 6

• Danilo Doncic will probably remain with Valletta FC because according to the latest rumours, he failed in the medical tests held at Sofia, Bulgaria by the Lokomotiv Sofia medical equipe. Doncic is back here in Malta and there is a possibility that the transfer which involved about Lm40,000 will be cancelled.
• UEFA-Intertoto Cup In Tbilisi, Georgia, Floriana suffered a heavy defeat of 5-0 to FC Merani-91. After a goal-less first half, in which the Greens played quite well despite the fact that Veselji and Stefanovic missed good chances. However during the second half, in 22 minutes' time, Floriana suffered five goals for a final score of 5-0.

Fri 4

• Floriana were granted permission to make use of Igor Stefanovic for their second match in the UEFA Intertoto Cup against FC Merani-91 in Georgia.

Wed 2

• The "transfer-market" opens officially today. One of the very first registrations that should reach the MFA office is that of Khaled Sayed Al Farg who signed for Hamrun despite the fact that Valletta are still claiming that the player came to Malta to sign for them. The Malta Olympic Committee accepted MFA President Dr Joe Mifsud's resignation from the Executive Committee of the MOC. In the meantime, Dr Mifsud's attempt to withdraw the MFA from the MOC failed, as the majority of the members of the MFA opposed his decision.

Tue 1

• The Maltese national team was held draw 1-1 by a Yugoslav Second Division side from Zlatibor. Gilbert Agius opened the score during the first half but the Yugoslavs equalised five minutes from time.