April 2002
Tue 30
- Pietà defender Gareth Sciberras left Malta on Monday, destination Italy, for a one-week trial with Serie A side US Lecce. Sciberras is accompanied by Pietà secretary Mario Mallia.
The ninteen-year old Youth International has been playing for the past two years with Pietà after joining the club from San Gwann. If the player joins Lecce, who have just been relegated to the Serie B, he will become the fifth player to join an Italian club from Pietà. Cleaven Frendo had joined Torino but then returned back Malta due to home-sickness, Andrew Spiteri joined Castel di Sangro while David Camenzuli plays for Sampdoria. Another player, Valeri Bojinov, who hails from Bulgaria, ended up playing with Lecce as well following contacts established by Pietà Hotspurs president Edward Schembri.
- Seven players will be missing the last round of matches in the Rothmans Premier League after being handed a one-match ban by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner on Tuesday. Sliema Wanderers and Floriana were the worst hit after having two players each suspended.
Sliema duo David Camilleri and Brian Said collected their fourth yellow card in the match against Birkirkara on Monday and will therefore miss next Saturday's match against Valletta. On their part, the Citizens cannot count on the services of Kamil Dvorak.
Floriana defender Clifton Ciantar, who was sent off, and Brazilian striker Edoardo do Nascimento who received the fourth yellow card, will be missing the match against Hamrun on Friday. Jonathan Magri Overend is suspended for Hamrun.
Pietà striker Ivan Woods was also suspended for one match and will be missing the game against Naxxar Lions.
Mon 29
- Premier League Birkirkara vs Sliema W. 0-0
Sun 28
- Premier League Marsa vs Naxxar L. 2-1, Floriana vs Hibernians 0-2
- First Division Rabat A. vs Mqabba 3-0, Qormi vs Gozo 2-3
- Second Division Gzira U. vs Tarxien R. 1-0, Attard vs Zurrieq 0-3
- Third Division Zejtun C. vs San Gwann 1-4, Birzebbuga SP vs Mgarr U. 3-1
- Gozo - Second Division Xaghra U. vs St. Lawrence S. 0-0, Qala SJ vs SK Victoria W. 4-2
- Stefan Giglio made his comeback for CSKA Sofia playing the whole 90 minutes in the 1-2 home defeat to second-placed Litex Lovech. An injury in the September 30, 2001 derby against Levski Sofia had ruled out the Maltese international for seven months. CSKA are currently third in the Championship Pool with 32 points, fourteen behind Levski and eight behind Litex. This season a system similar to that used in Malta was adopted with teams having their number of points halved and grouped in a Championship Pool and Relegation Pool.
Sat 27
- Premier League Pieta H. vs Lija A. 0-1, Hamrun S. vs Valletta 1-1
- First Division Xghajra T. vs Balzan Y. 2-4, Mosta vs St. Patrick 1-0
- Second Division Msida SJ vs Senglea A. 2-1, Sta. Venera L. vs Mellieha 0-0
Fri 26
- Third Division Kirkop U. vs Sirens 1-3, Gudja U. vs Fgura U. 0-1
Thu 25
- MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud failed to get elected as a member on the FIFA Executive Committee in an election which was held during the XXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress in Stockholm on Thursday. Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder of Germany defeated Dr Mifsud, Per Ravn Omdal (Norway) and Franco Carraro (Italy) in the election.
The election of the UEFA President and members of the UEFA Executive Committee were the key items on the agenda for this congress.
Former French international Michel Platini has been voted on to the UEFA Executive Committee. Platini was elected along with six other candidates at the XXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress in Stockholm today. He was also elected as a European member of the FIFA Executive Committee.
In the elections for the UEFA Executive Comittee, Platini, Angel Maria Villar Llona (Spain), Senes Erzik (Turkey), Eggert Magnusson (Iceland), Henri Roemer (Luxembourg) and Giangiorgio Spiess (Switzerland) were elected for four-year terms, while Dr Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia) was elected for a two-year term of office. In another ballot, Villar Llona was elected as a vice-president on the FIFA Executive Committee for a four-year term. Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (Germany) was elected as a European member of the FIFA Executive Committee for four years, while Platini received a two-year mandate.
Meanwhile Kazakhstan has been admitted as UEFA's 52nd member association. Delegates from Europe's national football associations approved a recommendation by UEFA's Executive Committee to bring Kazakhstan into the European football family. The Executive Committee announced its support for Kazakhstan's request for entry into the European football union last December, after studying a status report produced by UEFA officials who visited Kazakhstan. The Football Association of the Republic of Kazakhstan withdrew from the Asian Football Confederation in June last year. Kazakhstan is situated in central Asia and is the second largest of the former Soviet republics. It borders five countries - China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia - and has a population of 14 million.
Wed 24
- It will be an uphill task for MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud who will be contesting an election for one four-year member's seat on the FIFA Executive Committee during the XXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress in Stockholm on Thursday. Another four candidates are running for the post - Per Ravn Omdal (Norway), Franco Carraro (Italy), Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (Germany) and Michel Platini (France). The election of the UEFA President and members of the UEFA Executive Committee are the key items on the agenda for this congress. Delegates from UEFA's 51 member national associations will be gathering in the Swedish capital to also discuss and vote upon UEFA's statements of accounts for the 1999/2000 and 2000/01 financial years, as well as the admission to UEFA of the Football Association of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- Four Premier League players were handed a one-match ban after being sent off or collecting their fourth yellow card during the weekend. Birkirkara defender Chris Okoh and Floriana midfielder Rufin Oba were both sent off in the matches against Valletta and Sliema respectively while Sliema defender Luke Dimech and Valletta midfielder Nicky Saliba recieved their fourth yellow card. Okoh and Dimech will be missing Monday's clash between Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers. The Blues will be also lacking Rupert Mangion who was suspended for one match after being sent off in a game from the Reserves League. Rufin Oba will be unavailable for Floriana on Sunday in the match against Hibernians while Nicky Saliba will miss Saturday's game against Hamrun Spartans.
- UEFA has rejected calls for the suspension of member association Israel amid the current Middle East crisis. After a meeting of UEFA's Executive Committee in Stockholm on Wednesday, UEFA President Lennart Johansson said that European football's governing body would continue to monitor events in the region. "We will evaluate the hospitality and security situations case by case and judge after that whether games should be played, and where," said Mr Johansson. The UEFA President added, "we will be guided, if necessary, by the United Nations - but there is no basis for suspension at this stage." Malta is in the same group with Israel in Group 1 of the Qualifying Round of the 10th European Championship EURO 2004. In fact, Malta is due to host Israel on October 12. The return match will then be held on September 10, 2003.
Mon 22
- Hibernians striker Adrian Mifsud was voted as the Rothmans Player of the Month for March 2002. Mifsud had impressive performances with Hibernians last month scoring three of the goals in the 4-2 win over Sliema, scoring one in the 2-0 win over Hibs and scoring another two in the 3-1 win over Floriana. The 27-year-old striker started his career with Sta. Venera Lightenings and then joined Rabat Ajax with whom he made hi debut in the Premier League during season 1995-96.
This is the third time Mifsud won the Rothmans Player of the Month. He had already won it in March 1996 when playing for Rabat and in September 2000 shortly after joining Hibernians. Mifsud considers one of the highest points in his career the debut for Malta in the 0-1 home defeat to Poland in a friendly 'A' international match in February 1999. Adrian's ambition is to win the double - the Rothmans Premier League and the Rothmans Trophy - with Hibernians this season.
Among his other interests and pastimes are jigsaw puzzles and watching TV.
- The Malta Football Association will consider applications from 'A' and 'B' Licence Diploma Coaches for the post of a staff coach in the Youth Sector of the Malta FA for Season 2002/03. All interested Coaches must submit their application, together with a detailed CV, to the Technical Director, Mr Horst Heese, MFA Technical Centre, Ta' Qali by not later than Friday 10th May 2002. Coaches who are currently assigned in the Youth Sector of the Malta Football Association, if interested, also need to re-apply.
Sun 21
- Premier League Sliema W. vs Floriana 3-2, Valletta vs Birkirkara 1-2
- First Division Mqabba vs Qormi 3-1, St. Andrews vs Marsaxlokk 0-6
- Second Division Zebbug R. vs Dingli S. 0-0, Melita vs Luqa SA 0-1
- Third Division Siggiewi vs Ghaxaq 6-1, Gharghur vs Ta' Xbiex 3-0
- Gozo - Second Division Xaghra U. vs SK Victoria W. 1-0, Qala SJ vs Kercem A. 4-2
- Women's Knock-Out Melita vs Hibernians 2-4, Mosta vs Birkirkara 1-2
- A goal by Michael Mifsud on 18 minutes was not enough for 1. FC Kaiserslautern Amateure to avoid a 1-3 home defeat to Kickers Offenbach. Mifsud had temporarily put the Reds ahead. This defeat leaves Kaiserslautern in the 16th place, seven points behind Stuttgart Kickers who are just out of the relegation zone. Last week, Kaiserslautern registered a 2-0 away win over Borussia Fulda after losing 0-2 at home to Elversberg and 3-0 away to VfR Mannheim.
Sat 20
- Premier League Naxxar L. vs Lija A. 6-0, Hibernians vs Hamrun S. 4-0
- First Division Balzan Y. vs Rabat A. 2-3, Mosta vs Gozo 2-2
- Second Division Zurrieq vs Sta. Venera L. 0-1, Tarxien R. vs Attard 2-0
- Gozo - Second Division Gharb R. vs St. Lawrence S. 2-4
Fri 19
- Third Division St. George's vs Sta. Lucia 5-0, Pembroke A. vs Vittoriosa S. 1-5
Wed 17
- Friendly International Malta vs Azerbaijan 1-0
- Malta climbed another place in the FIFA World Rankings as published on Wednesady. Malta is now ranked number 122nd. Therefore Malta moved up nine places in four months as Malta was still 131st at the end of the year. After a 2-1 win over Canada in November, Malta won the Rothmans Tournament in February following a 2-1 win over Jordan, a 1-1 draw with Lithuania and a 3-0 win over Moldova. In March, Malta drew 1-1 with Andorra in a friendly match.
Just ahead of Malta in the rankings are the Faroe Islands (118th), Sudan (119th), Madagascar (120th) and Malawi (121st). Among the other European countries, Malta lies in the 47th place. Ahead of Malta are Azerbaijan (115th) and the Faroe Islands (118th). Behind Malta are Andorra (144th), Luxembourg (146th), Liechtenstein (152nd) and San Marino (158th).
- Valletta defender Rennie Forace and Floriana midfielder Claude Mattocks were the only Premier League players to be suspended this week by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner. Both collected their fourth yellow card on Saturday. Forace will be missing the match against Birkirkara while Mattocks will be unavailable for Floriana in the Old Firm derby against Sliema.
- Hibs and Melita were the respective winners in the under 11 and under 12 categories of a youth football tournament recently organised by St Patrick Youth Football Nursery and sponsored by Pepsi. The two competitions were very closely contested with only goal average deciding the first two places in both instances. In the under 11s, the top two teams scored 8 points, with Birkirkara placing as runners up. In the under 12 category, it was St Patrick who placed second.
A total of 180 boys from Birkirkara, Hibs, Pieta, St. Andrew's, Sta. Venera and St. Patrick took part in this Pepsi Youth Football Tournament with each and every one of them being presented with a gift by Ms Joanne Scerri Valentino, Pepsi Brand Executive at Farsons. Ms Scerri Valentino also presented the medals to members of the winning teams. "Pepsi, through its long running sponsorship of Youth football, aims to encourage team spirit among youngsters without excessive competition. This is a view shared by St Patrick Football Nursery who have provided these boys with an exciting weekend of football," said Ms Scerri Valentino.
Tue 16
- Sigi Held named the squad for Wednesday's international friendly match against Azerbaijan at the National Stadium. From the provisional squad he had named last week, Held dropped four players. Three of them - Joe Brincat, Noel Turner and Miguel Mifsud - are still recovering from injuries. The other player is Malcolm Licari of Pietà.
Joe Brincat, who will have to postpone once again the hundredth international cap after missing the last game against Andorra, is yet to make a return for Birkirkara after suffering a fracture in the cheek-bone during a league game last month. Noel Turner of Sliema has a broken toe while Miguel Mifsud is suffering from a recurring groin injury.
The squad is made up of:
goalkeepers Saviour Darmanin (Pietà) and Mario Muscat (Hibernians);
defenders William Camenzuli (Birkirkara), Jeffrey Chetcuti (Valletta), Ian Ciantar (Sliema), Darren Debono (Valletta), Luke Dimech (Sliema), Carlo Mamo (Sliema), Brian Said (Sliema) and Daniel Theuma (Valletta);
midfielders Gilbert Agius (Valletta), David Camilleri (Sliema), Jonathan Holland (Floriana);
and forwards Daniel Bogdanovic (Naxxar), George Mallia (Floriana), Adrian Mifsud (Hibernians), Michael Mifsud (Kaiserslautern) and Chucks Nwoko (Birkirkara).
Against Azerbaijan, Malta aims at obtaining the sixth positive result in a row after beating Canada 2-1, Jordan 2-1, a 1-1 draw with Lithuania, a 3-0 over Moldova and another 1-1 draw with Andorra. Malta played twice against Azerbaijan, obtaining easy wins of 5-0 in a friendly match in April 1994 and 3-0 in the Rothmans Tournament 2000.
The match kicks off at 18:45. The referee is Roberto Rossetti from the Italian FIGC. Assistant referees are Philip Agius and Ingmar Spiteri. Fourth official is Lorry Sammut.
Mon 15
- A coaching committee selected an 18-man squad for next Wednesday's friendly match against Malta at the National Stadium following the resignation of national coach Kazbek Tuayev.
Tuayev handed his resignation on Friday in protest at what he claimed to be "the awful situation" of football in Azerbaijan. Kazbek Tuayev, who is also the coach of Neftchi Kau, called for the country's soccer chief Fuad Musayev and his allies to resign. The Azeri season has already been thrown into turmoil after five of the 12 first division clubs refused to participate, citing biased officiating and corruption among league officials.
Against Malta, CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Dmitry Kramarenko will be making a return, therefore ending his boycott of the national team.
Kramarenko withdrew from the Azerbaijan national set-up last summer, in a dispute over bonuses and the quality of football in his homeland.
The squad is made up of:
Goalkeepers: Dmitriy Kramarenko (CSKA Moscow) Jahangir Hasan-zade (Neftchi Baku), Huseyn Mahammadov (Shamkir)
Defenders: Fizuli Mamedov(Shafa Baku), Rashad Sadygov, Emin Guliyev, Adaim Niftaliev (all Neftchi Baku), Azer Mamedov, Ilham Yadullayev (both Shamkir),
Midfielders: Ismayil Mamedov, Mahmud Gurbanov (both Shamkir), Kamal Guliyev, Samir Aliyev (both Neftchi Baku), Emin Imamaliyev, Tarlan Ahmedov, (both Shafa Baku)
Strikers: Farrukh Ismayilov (Neftchi Baku), Kenan Karimov (Kapaz Ganja), Khagani Mamedov (Shamkir)
Malta played twice against Azerbaijan, obtaining easy wins of 5-0 in a friendly match in April 1994 and 3-0 in the Rothmans Tournament 2000.
Sun 14
- Premier League Pietà H. vs Marsa 2-1, Sliema W. vs Hibernians 1-3
- First Division St. Andrews vs Xghajra T. 2-2, Marsaxlokk vs St. Patrick 3-2
- Second Division Mellieha vs Zebbug R. 1-3, Senglea A. vs Gzira U. 1-1
- Third Division Fgura U. vs Mgarr U. 2-0, Sirens vs San Gwann 0-0
- Gozo - First Division Oratory Y. vs Zebbug R. 1-4, Nadur Y. vs Sannat L. 1-0
- Women's Knock-Out Rabat A. vs Melita 0-7, Mosta vs Raiders 3-2
Sat 13
- Premier League Floriana vs Valletta 1-0, Hamrun S. vs Birkirkara 1-0
- First Division Qormi vs Balzan Y. 0-0, Mosta vs Mqabba 3-0
- Second Division Dingli S. vs Melita 0-1, Luqa SA vs Msida SJ 0-1
- Gozo - First Division Ghajnsielem vs Xewkija T. 2-3
- Gozo - Second Division Kercem A. vs SK Victoria W. 2-2
- Amendments to the Statute of the Malta Football Association were unanimously approved by the Council during an Extraordinary General meeting which was held on Saturday at the Centenary Hall, Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali.
The statute which was established in 1982 when the Malta Football Association took under its control all clubs and associations which organised football on the islands. Since then there was only a revision five years later and therefore since the association organised itself better, the statute needed to be revised in order to make it more adequate for these days.
On December 21 2000, a commission was set-up under the presidency of MFA Senior Vice-President Mr Carmel Bartolo in order to revise first three parts. After several meetings, a report was presented in last July's Annual General Meeting. The report included several proposals, especially regarding the financial aspect. It was studied and discussed by the council and the amendments on which there was an agreement were presented.
According to the new amendments, the section regarding players was removed as it will now form part of the new "Regulations regarding players registered with member clubs" which comes into effect on June 1 2002 after being approved by the Council on January 17 2002.
The main amendments concern Parts I, II and XII. Parts IV & V have been amalgamated and named as Part V while two new sections Part IV - The Accounts of the Association and Part XVI - Concluding Provisions were included.
The following are some of the amendments:
Part I: A new clause puts the association under the jurisdiction of FIFA - "the Association recognises FIFA's Arbitration Tribunal for Football as the supreme jurisdictional authority".
Part II: In the section regarding to member clubs, only one club from the same locality may be a member club and the locality is defined to be one which has its own local council. Membership of Associations now includes Affiliated Associations besides Member Associations. Affiliated Associations may be associations which organise football competitions on an irregular basis.
Part III: Three new boards are to be set-up as part of the statute - The Member Clubs' Licensing Board, the Sports Facilities Board and the Board of Internal Auditors.
There was a change in the clause regarding the voting powers. The particular divisions are defined as the two highest divisions and the other divisions rather than Premier, First, Second, etc. This was changed in order to have an inferior number of votes for the two highest divisions in case the number of teams in any particular division is changed.
A new clause states that the president could propose any Maltese national who is a member of the FIFA and/or UEFA Executive Committee to be co-opted as a council member and/or as an ordinary member of the Executive Committee.
Council members should now necessarily be members of a club's committee.
There was a change in composition of the Executive Committee. Another two members will be elected across the board although they cannot be members of a club which is already represented.
The Executive Committee has the duty and power to approve the annual budget of the association.
The Member Clubs' Licensing Board shall be competent to licence Member clubs so that these may be able to participate in a particular division.
The Council may appoint a person, preferably with a legal background, to prosecute cases before the Control & Disciplinary Board.
The new Sports Facilities Board will be administering the property of the association which is now worth millions of liri.
Part IV: A new section which will be securing transparent administration. A budget of income and expenditure shall be prepared annually and it has to be approved by the Executive. Extra expenditure has to be authorised by the Executive Committee.
Part V: Part IV and Part V merged to make part V. The previous Part V is now incorporated in Players' Regulations.
The only change regards foreign players who need to be at least 18-years old to register for a club.
Part XII: A new clause regarding video evidence was included. Video-evidence could be used in case of a mistaken identity, for the purpose of an appeal from a decision on a plea of excessive punishment (only if a player is suspended more than 2 matches), to establish an offence amounting to gross unsporting behaviour by players, officials and even supporters.
Part XIII: Clubs may have an advocate or legal procurator representing them if another party has an advocate representing the club as a Delegate or Sub-Delegate in a hearing of an appeal, protest or complaint.
Part XVI: Four-fifths of all member clubs and member associations shall be required to dissolve the association or distribute the assets of the association on dissolution. However, these assets cannot be divided amongst the members.
- The first edition of the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge 2002 was organized today by the Chelsea Supporters Club - Malta with the aim of discovering new young football talent. Sponsored by Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, the Challenge featured young footballers from 13 local Youth Nursery Clubs. The competition, which is the first one of its kind, took place at the Centenary Stadium at Ta' Qali.
These included B'Kara FC Youth Nursery, B'Bugia WM FC; Ghajnsielem Youth Nursery; Kercem Ajax Youths; Melita FC; Msida St Joseph FC; Nadur Youth Nursery; Paola Hibs FN; Pieta' Hotspurs FN; Sliema Wanderers FC Youth Nursery; St. Patrick's FC; St. Andrews FC; and Valletta FC Nursery Club. The Adjudicating panel consisted of three established Maltese coaches Jimmy Briffa, Edward Aquilina, and Robert Kelly.
Chris Harris, Chelsea FC Development Officer, traveled to Malta specifically for this event. Mr Harris is the Director of Chelsea Development Courses at the Chelsea FC Youth Academy. He was invited to Malta for this occasion by Chelsea Supporters Club - Malta to assist the adjudicating panel.
Emirates Representative in Malta, Edward Custo', presented The Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge Shield to Matthew Schembri, a young player from Sliema Wanderers FC Youth Nursery. He has been coached by Albert Cristiano who coaches the Under 12s, and was accompanied by the Sliema Wanderers Head Coach, Marco Grech. Matthew Schembri has also won the Under 12 category of the Challenge.
The runner-up of this first edition was Malcolm Vella who also won the Under 11 category. He has been coached by Joe Vella from Kercem Ajax Youth Nursery. Each winner received a trophy and a prize of Lm100 worth of Chelsea FC branded goods. Both winning Nursery Clubs, Sliema Wanderers FC, and Kercem Ajax received Lm60 in cash to purchase equipment for their respective nurseries.
Chelsea Supporters Club - Malta President, Joe Anastasi said: "On behalf of Chelsea Football Club, the Chelsea Supporters Club - Malta and the Organising Committee, I would like to thank the participating Youth Nurseries, the coaches and the young participants who have showed enthusiasm and dedication as well as remarkable talent. The Chelsea Supporters Club - Malta has done every effort to make this Challenge a successful one."
Emirates' District Manager, Mr Paul Fleri Soler, unfortunately could not be present for the occasion. On behalf of Emirates Airline, he sent his good wishes to all participants. He said that Emirates in Malta is proud to be one of the first stations to sponsor and collaborate with the local Chelsea Supporters Club. Emirates' sponsorship to Chelsea FC, following a deal worth $24 million, which runs for four years, is said to be one of the biggest sponsorships in the world of international football. The Maltese young footballers are among the first in the world to benefit from this sponsorship through this Challenge.
Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge was organised with the full approval of the Malta Football Association and was officially recognised by Chelsea FC.
Fri 12
- Third Division Vittoriosa S. vs Ta' Xbiex 0-1, Sta. Lucia vs Ghaxaq 1-0
Thu 11
- Five Premier League players were banned for one match after collecting a fourth yellow card during the weekend while another one was sent off was also suspended for one match.
Birkirkara striker Chucks Nwoko who was sent off in the Stripes 1-1 draw with Floriana was suspended for one match and will no miss the next league game against Hamrun Spartans.
Valletta midfielder Kris Laferla and Etienne Barbara of Floriana who both collected four yellow cards will therefore miss next Saturday's derby.
For their next game against Lija Athletic, Naxxar Lions cannot count on their two Yugoslav defenders, Attila Hornjak and Goran Mejic. Both players were suspended after receiving a fourth yellow card.
- Maltese-Australian side Parramatta Melita Eagles claimed the title thanks to a spectacular goal in the dying minutes of the last league match of the season - a season full of success. This was the sixth title for Melita in 46 years.
Melita's goal against Leichhardt Tigers was scored by a Maltese, Malcolm Mejlak. His goal was one of the best goals of the season. The week before, Melita's goal against Fairfield Bulls was scored by another Maltese player - Ben Delicata. Therefore the last two goals of the season were scored by players of Maltese descent.
Coach Tam Finlayson said that the Eagles had the best squad in the past ten years and gave the players all the credit for being disciplined and motivated throughout the season. Finlayson will be leaving the Eagles at the end of the season due to work commitments in Brisbane, Queensland.
The Eagles had a formidable squad with several experienced players such as Mark Reveley, Mirko Jurilj, Glenn Sprod, Jason Holmes, Paul O'Grady and Malcolm Mejlak together with excting players like Geoff Dwyer, Jim Bakis, Ben Delicata, Daniel Cummings and Geoff Howarth. Other players who played an important part in the title were Mauricio Islas, Daniel Kukucka and Anthony Mondello.
Parramatta Melita started the Premier Summer League in October 2001 and after the first four matches, they had already lost two but by the end of the last round of the competition, they managed, not only, to get on top but win the title five points ahead of Bonnyring White Eagles and were the team with the best attack. Melita won 17 matches, lost four (two of which against Blacktown), drew once, scored 61 and suffered 23 goals.
Melita's Under 19 side placed third with 44 points, and therefore Parramatta Melita Eagles FC also won the Club Championship.
After the last match, enthusiasm was at its best at the Melita Stadium as fans celebrated with the singing of the Melita anthem "Ma taghmlu xejn ma' tal-Melita".
Wed 10
- Rothmans Trophy Mosta vs Hamrun S. 1-2, Pietà H. vs Floriana 2-0
- Four players are set to return for Malta in the friendly match against Azerbaijan in a week's time at the National Stadium.
Darren Debono, Luke Dimech, Gilbert Agius and Joe Brincat were named in the 22-man squad by national coach Sigfried Held after missing the last game against Andorra last month.
However Joe Brincat is recovering from an injury and therefore his presence is still in doubt. Noel Turner of Sliema who was also included in the squad is in a similar situation.
The squad is made up of:
goalkeepers Saviour Darmanin (Pietà) and Mario Muscat (Hibernians);
defenders William Camenzuli (Birkirkara), Jeffrey Chetcuti (Valletta), Ian Ciantar (Sliema), Darren Debono (Valletta), Luke Dimech (Sliema), Carlo Mamo (Sliema), Brian Said (Sliema) and Daniel Theuma (Valletta);
midfielders Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Joe Brincat (Birkirkara), David Camilleri (Sliema), Jonathan Holland (Floriana), Malcolm Licari (Pietà) and Noel Turner (Sliema);
and forwards Daniel Bogdanovic (Naxxar), George Mallia (Floriana), Adrian Mifsud (Hibernians), Michael Mifsud (Kaiserslautern), Miguel Mifsud (Hibernians) and Chucks Nwoko (Birkirkara).
Malta is aiming at obtaining the sixth positive result in a row after beating Canada 2-1, Jordan 2-1, a 1-1 draw with Lithuania, a 3-0 over Moldova and another 1-1 draw with Andorra.
- Chelsea FC has appointed Chris Harris, Football Development Officer, to sit on the adjudicating panel at tomorrow's Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge. Chris Harris, a former professional footballer with Brighton & Hove Albion, has joined Chelsea Football Club Youth Coaching staff in 1994. He is the Youth Academy co-ordinator for the Surrey area. He also carries out scouting duties and organises trials for young footballers with Chelsea Football Club Youth Academy. He is also the Director of UK Residential Courses as well as Director of International Courses. He has been appointed Director of Chelsea Development Courses which link to Chelsea FC Academy.
Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge is organised by Chelsea Supporters Club - Malta and sponsored by Emirates Airline, the Dubai-based international airline. The Challenge will take place on Saturday at the Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali. Mr Harris's visit to Malta has been made possible through the initiative of the Chelsea Supporters Club-Malta. Mr Harris, who will be accompanied by his wife and daughter, are guests of Kennedy Nova Hotel at The Strand, Sliema.
Tue 9
- The club representing Malta in the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup will be meeting a team from Albania in the First Round of the competition. The draw was made on Tuesday at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
The competition will kick off on 22 June with the first 40 clubs facing each other in knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The pairings for this round and the subsequent two stages have been decided, although the participants will not be named until the 29 May deadline.
The Maltese team hosts the Albanian club on June 22/23 and then travels to Albania a week later. The team which qualifies plays away from home in the second round on July 6/7 against the winner of the first round match between the teams representing Romania and Luxembourg. The second leg is played on July 13/14. In the third round, the team which qualifies faces the first team representing France.
Although a Maltese club has never managed to eliminate one from Albania, the draw could be considered as a positive one.
- The council of the Malta Football Association turned down a request by Floriana FC to take former Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa to court. The MFA Players and Coaches Complaints Board had earlier ordered Floriana to pay Bencherifa ten months' salary amounting to around Lm 6,500. Floriana were basing their request on the claim that Bencherifa had a new job. However the Greens were unable to provide evidence for their claim.
- Young Hamrun Spartans midfielder Roderick Bajada is expected to take Marsa's Nigerian player Minabo Asechemie to civil court following an incident which occured in the dying minutes of last February's Premier League match between Hamrun and Marsa.
Bajada has called the association to order Asechemie and Marsa FC to pay him damages after the Nigerian player hit him deliberately in the game mentioned before. In this clash, 19-year old Bajada lost his two front teeth.
During last Thursday's MFA council meeting, president Dr Joe Mifsud said that the association does not have the jurisdiction on such cases. The council agreed that the player could make a request in writing to sue Minabo Asechemie but not the club.
- Naxxar Lions striker Daniel Bogdanovic will have to appear before the executive committee of the Malta Football Association after failing to report to the association an alleged attempt of corruption.
During the programme Replay on Net Television, the Yugoslav striker, who holds dual-citizenship and who is now also a member of the Maltese national team, had alleged that a person had phoned him offering him and a colleague money in order not to do their best in the Relegation Pool match against Marsa.
Meanwhile Bogdanovic is expected to leave Malta at the end of the month in order to join Kosice in Slovakia. The player was due to join them last month but failure to obtain the clearance in time forced him to postpone the move.
Sun 7
- Premier League Hamrun S. vs Sliema W. 0-2, Hibernians vs Valletta 2-4
- First Division Xghajra T. vs Marsaxlokk 1-3, Rabat A. vs St. Andrew's 2-0, Gozo vs St. Patrick 0-0
- Second Division Attard vs Senglea A. 1-2, Sta. Venera L. vs Tarxien R. 0-1
- Third Division Gudja U. vs Birzebbuga SP 4-4, Kirkop U. vs Zejtun C. 2-1
- Women's League Hibernians vs Melita 4-0, Rabat A. vs Birkirkara, 0-8, Raiders vs Mosta 0-4
Sat 6
- Premier League Pietà H. vs Naxxar L. 2-1, Floriana vs Birkirkara 1-1
- Second Division Gzira U. vs Luqa SA 0-0, Zebbug R. vs Zurrieq 0-0
- Gozo - Second Division Xaghra U. vs Gharb R. 6-0, Qala SJ vs St. Lawrence S. 2-1
Fri 5
- Third Division Pembroke A. vs Gharghur 7-1, St. George's vs Siggiewi 3-0
- The first phase of the Millennium Stand project at the National Stadium is almost ready, about two years after construction had started on the site which was known by most people as the Valletta side. The first phase of the Millennium Stand project at the National Stadium is almost ready, about two years after construction had started on the site which was known by most people as the Valletta side.
Speaking during a press conference, before an on-site visit at the Millennium Stand, MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud said that once the association had obtained a 49-year lease of the National Stadium from the government, it was decided that the East Stand, which was built twenty years ago and which was subsiding, had to be demolished. There were to options - either rebuilding the stand on the same plans or build a stand with better facilities.
The original plans were developed by Miller Partnerships, a firm which built several modern stadiums in England and Scotland. MFA Vice-President, Architect Ludovico Micallef took over and developed the plans.
Dr Mifsud said that the first phase of the project consisted of the demolishing of the old stand and the construction of the new one and the developing of the stand for the spectators. The stand is divided into three parts spread on four levels. The Central past is the area reserved for VIPs and includes 22 executive boxes, sixteen on the Third Floor and six on the Fourth Floor.
Among the facilities which will be available at the Millennium Stand, when fully completed, will be a half Olympic-size pool, two gymnasiums, a shooting range for pistols, a conference hall and another hall for exhebitions. Some of these facilities will not necessaruly be run by the MFA.
The MFA entrusted Monarch Advertising with the task of creating a brochure which illustrates the facilities at the stand, including the executive boxes. The fees for renting an executive box varies from Lm 4,000 a year for five years to Lm 8,500 for one year. The executive boxes on the Third Floor will have access to 10 executive seats while those on the Fourth Floor will have access to 20 executive seats. Parking space for those renting an executive box is available in the basement of the Millennium Stand.
Dr Mifsud said that the new stand could host 5200 spectators including those in the executive boxes. The project cost around Lm3 million. To spend this amount the association had to rely on a bank loan and a soft loan by UEFA. Recently the association received USD 400,000 as part of the FIFA Goal Program.
The MFA president continued by saying that the association wanted to get rid of the "cages" for spectators. Instead a particular type of glass seperates the two sets of supporters from each other and from the pitch.
Dr Mifsud concluded by saying that the stand was built on high specifications and that he hoped spectators would take care of the facilities.
Wed 3
- Rothmans Trophy Rabat A. vs Marsa 0-4, Naxxar L. vs Lija A. 5-1
- Sliema defender Richard Buhagiar and Valletta goalkeeper Ernest Barry were handed a one-match ban after being sent off in last Sunday's Sliema vs Valletta. Richard Buhagiar was sent off two minutes from time for a foul on Chris Oretan outside the area. Then after Sliema managed to take the lead in stoppage time, Ernest Barry, who was on the Valletta bench, was dismissed after passing on remarks to the referee. Buhagiar is set to miss next Sunday's Premier League match against Hamrun Spartans. On the other hand, Barry will be unavailable for the next league game against leaders Hibernians.
- Jordan's Prince Ali bin Hussein, a half-brother to King Abdullah II, on Tuesday urged FIFA to "freeze" Israeli participation in football to protest Israel's offensive in the Palestinian territories.
This would affect Malta directly as Malta is in the same group with Israel in Group 1 of the Qualifying Round of the 10th European Championship EURO 2004. In fact, Malta is due to host Israel on October 12. The return match will then be held on September 10, 2003.
A similar letter was sent to UEFA asking it to "boycott meetings between European and Israeli clubs and to freeze Israeli sporting activities."
Israel has launched a mass scale offensive in the Palestinian territories and laid siege to the headquarters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat after declaring him an enemy. Jordan, which has been bound to Israel by a peace treaty since 1994, has threatened to take unspecified measures against the Jewish state unless it withdraws its troops from the Palestinian territories.
Even before the situation had worsened to this extent, having the Israeli national team visiting Malta already posed a problem since the FA of Israel usually want their security officers to look after the players' security when visiting a foreign country.
In fact in December 2000, Israel had pulled out of Group 6 mini-tournament of the UEFA Regions Cup which was held in Malta. Israel had requested special security measures to be taken during their visit but although the MFA had promised to offer them enough security, the Israeli association wanted to bring with them personnel to look after the squad's security - something which is not permitted according to the Maltese laws.
Tue 2
- Wayne Attard may decide to quit Marsa following an incident which took place just before last Saturday's Premier League match against Lija Athletic. A club official called four players and warned them that someone had informed the club that they were were not going to give their hundred per cent during the game. Out of these four players, three were still included in the starting line-up. Wayne Attard on the other hand, was named as one of the substitutes. The former Birkirkara and Hamrun midfielder considered this as lack of trust in him and decided to leave the National Stadium and returned home. In fact his name on the line-up was cancelled.
For next season, Wayne Attard could join Mosta FC who are close to winning promotion to the Premier League for the second time in the history of the club. Attard had already played for Mosta in the First Division during season 1994-95. He arrived in Malta in 1991 to join Rabat Ajax. He then played for Birkirkara, Mosta, Hamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers.
Mon 1
- Second Division Dingli S. vs Mellieha 3-1, Melita vs Msida SJ 0-2
- The Malta Under 19 national team, under the guidance of head coach Mark Miller assisted by coach John Bonello, ended its commitments in the 8th place in the Baden-Wurttemberg-Cup 2002.
After a 1-1 draw with Liechtenstein, Malta lost 0-1 to Spanish side Valencia and 0-2 to VfB Stuttgart in Group A. On Monday, in the final for 7th and 8th place, Malta lost to German side, FV Olympia Laupheim, by two goals to one. At the end of the first half, the Germans were already leading 2-0. Nicolo Baldacchino of Floriana scored Malta's goal soon after the interval. The Maltese attacked for most of the time but complained of biased refereeing.
The team is scheduled to play a friendly against local opposition prior to its return to Malta on Wednesday afternoon.