March 2004
Wed 31
- International Friendly Malta vs Finland 1-2
- First Division St. Patrick vs Tarxien R. 2-1, Marsa vs Mosta 2-2
- Second & Third Division Knock-Out Zebbug R. vs Sta. Venera L. 1-1 (5-3 pen), Mellieha vs Gzira U. 2-1
- Gozo - Tazza Jum il-Helsien Zebbug R. vs Nadur Y. 2-2 (4-2 pen)
- Gozo - First Division Sannat L. vs Xewkija T. 1-0
- Birkirkara suffered a major blow as midfielder Haruna Doda was handed a two-match ban after being sent off in the top-of-the-table clash against Sliema last Saturday. The Nigerian midfielder will therefore lose the important matches against Marsaxlokk and Hibernians.
Against Marsaxlokk, the Stripes will also be without their latest Nigerian import, Precious Onyeabor Monye, who received the fourth yellow card and was therefore suspended for one match.
Justin Tellus of Marsaxlokk will also miss the same game through suspension.
Pietà Hotspurs will be without two players in the game against leaders Sliema Wanderers. Branko Nisevic and Keith Fenech were suspended for one game after collecting a fourth yellow card.
Valletta defender Kurt Farrugia was also banned for one match and will miss the game against Balzan Youths.
Other players to be suspended for one match were: Mano Micallef (Lija), Edwin Gauci and Marco Catania (Mqabba), Emanuel Muscat and Jonathan Azzopardi (Rabat), Darren Grech, Lawrence Attard and Timothy Thomas (Senglea), Alistair Dalli and Stefan Cauchi (Attard), Norbert Gerada (Zejtun) and Stuart Abdilla (Zurrieq). Vittoriosa official Gerard Ellul was suspended for one match.
Qormi youths player Shawn Aquilina was suspended for two matches, Steve Caruana and Nicholas Corrito (Gzira) and Peter Paul Cassar (Ghaxaq) for one match.
Tue 30
- Under-21 Friendly Malta vs Finland 2-0
- Malta had beaten Finland 2-0 in Horst Heese's debut as Malta coach in February 1988. But since then, Finland moved giants steps while Malta hardly made any improvement, according to the Malta national coach. Malta hosts the Finnish side at Ta' Qali on Wednesday, kick-off at 16:00.
Finland are currently ranked 42nd in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking and in the recent EURO 2004 qualifying campaign, Finland registered three wins and a draw in a group which included Italy, Wales, Serbia & Montenegro and Azerbaijan.
Since the appointment of Heese and Busuttil as national coaches, Malta played four matches. Following a 0-4 defeat to Poland, Malta drew 0-0 with Moldova, defeated Estonia 5-2 but then lost to Belarus 0-4.
With Gilbert Agius, Daniel Theuma and Ian Ciantar ruled out injured, Mansfield Town defender Luke Dimech, Marsaxlokk's Richard Buhagiar and Birkirkara's Antoine Zahra were drafted in the squad for this game. However only Luke Dimech will be included in the starting line-up.
Dimech will join Jeffrey Chetcuti, Ian Azzopardi and Brian Said in defence while Giglio, Mallia, Woods and Mattocks will play in midfield. Antoine Zahra of Hibernians will partner Michael Mifsud in attack.
Heese and Busuttil will therefore start with the following players: Mario Muscat, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Ian Azzopardi, Brian Said, Luke Dimech, Stefan Giglio, George Mallia, Ivan Woods, Michael Mifsud, Claude Mattocks, Antoine Zahra (Hibs).
Also at their disposal are Saviour Darmanin, Richard Buhagiar, David Carabott, Stephen Wellman, William Camenzuli, Antoine Zahra (B'Kara), Etienne Barbara.
Finland coach Antti Muurinen is expected to include captain Jari Litmanen in the starting line-up as he recovered from an ankle injury sooner than expected. He replaced in-form Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell who is nursing an injury.
Mon 29
- Mark Miller's Under-21 side will be facing Finland in a friendly match on Tuesday at the Hibernians Ground, kick-off at 17:00.
This will be the first official outing for the current edition of the Under-21 side as several players from the previous squad are now "over-age" and are therefore not eligible to play in the coming UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign.
The squad includes four players who have already made their international debut with the senior team. Gareth Sciberras made his first appearance for Malta in the friendly against Poland while Alex Muscat, Roderick Bajada and Cleaven Frendo got their chance in the Malta International Tournament.
The eighteen players selected by Miller and his assitant Silvio Vella are:
goalkeepers Reuben Gauci (Floriana), Andrew Hogg (Bari);
defenders Josef Mifsud (Msida), Ryan Mintoff (Hibs), Alex Muscat (Balzan), Ryan Newell (Mosta), Shaun Tellus (Balzan), Kurt Zammit (Valletta);
midfielders Roderick Bajada (Hamrun), Shaun Bajada (Floriana), Mauro Brincat (Hamrun), Andre Schembri (Hibernians), Gareth Sciberras (Pietà) and
forwards Trevor Cilia (Floriana), Cleavon Frendo (Pietà), Steven Magri (Melita), Gilbert Martin (Marsa) and Terence Scerri (Hibernians).
- Birkirkara midfielder Antoine Zahra will be return for the national team in Wednesday's international friendly match against Finland. In fact, national coach Horst Heese and his assistant Carmel Busuttil included the 27-year old midfielder as they announced the eighteen-man squad for the game.
Zahra made his last appearance for Malta on February 13, 2002 in Malta's 3-0 win over Moldova in the Rothmans Tournament. He returned for the Stripes last month after struggling to recover from a serious injury that ruled him out of the game for almost two years.
Valletta duo Gilbert Agius and Daniel Theuma together with Sliema Wanderers defender Ian Ciantar had to withdraw from the squad as they are all nursing injuries.
Agius abandoned the pitch injured last Friday in the match against Hamrun while Theuma was not even part of the Valletta squad.
Ciantar was set to replace another injured player, Noel Turner, after he made his return for Sliema when he recovered from an injury which ruled him out of the game for over seven months. However he sustained a knee injury in last Saturday's Premier League clash with Birkirkara, which according to Sliema coach Edward Aquilina, will rule him for six to eight weeks.
Marsaxlokk's utility-player Richard Buhagiar and Mansfield Town defender Luke Dimech are both part of the squad. Buhagiar returns for the national team after an absence of four-and-a-half years while this will be the first appearance for Dimech since the appointment of Heese and Busuttil as national coaches.
The squad will be made up of:
goalkeepers Saviour Darmanin (Pietà), Mario Muscat (Hibernians);
defenders Ian Azzopardi (Floriana), Richard Buhagiar (Marsaxlokk), David Carabott (Marsaxlokk), Jeffrey Chetcuti (Sliema), Luke Dimech (Mansfield), Brian Said (Sliema), Stephen Wellman (Floriana);
midfielders William Camenzuli (Birkirkara), Stefan Giglio (Sliema), George Mallia (Birkirkara), Claude Mattocks (Floriana), Antoine Zahra (Birkirkara) and
forwards Etienne Barbara (Marsaxlokk), Michael Mifsud (Sliema), Ivan Woods (Pietà) and Antoine Zahra (Hibernians).
This is the sixth time Malta is playing Finland. In the previous five matches, Malta won once and lost twice. After a fine 2-0 victory in 1988 in the Rothmans International Tournament, Malta and Finland shared the spoils in a goalless draw in the 1989 edition of the tournament. Following a 1-1 draw at Ta' Qali in the European Championship qualifiers in November 1990, Finland won 2-0 in Helsinki in May 1991. Finland registered a 2-0 win in a friendly at Ta' Qali in the last clash between the two countries in March 1998.
The match will be played on Wednesday 31 at the National Stadium, kick-off at 16:00. The match will be controlled by Italian referee Matteo Simone Trefoloni who will be assisted by Ingmar Spiteri and Konrad Borg and fourth official Joe Attard.
- Finland coach Antti Muurinen has received good and bad news ahead of his side's friendly against Malta on Wednesday.
Captain Jari Litmanen has recovered from an ankle injury sooner than expected and will rejoin the squad, but in-form Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell has a back problem and is out.
The Finnish squad is made up of:
goalkeepers Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers), Antti Niemi (Southampton);
defenders: Sami Hyypia (Liverpool), Toni Kuivasto (Djurgarden), Petri Pasanen (Portsmouth), Juha Reini (AZ Alkmaar), Janne Saarinen (TSV 1860 Munich), Hannu Tihinen (RSC Anderlecht);
midfielders Aleksei Yeremenko Jr (HJK), Jari Ilola (IF Elfsborg), Joonas Kolkka (Borussia Monchengladbach), Peter Kopteff (Viking Stavanger), Miikka Multaharju (Denizlispor), Jari Niemi (RAEC Mons), Mika Nurmela (Kaiserslautern), Mika Vayrynen (Heerenveen) and
forwards Jari Litmanen (Ajax), Jonatan Johansson (Charlton), Shefki Kuqi (Ipswich).
The senior squad arrives in Malta on Monday at 12:00 on flight LH 4106 from Frankfurt and leaves on Thursday at 12:50. The Under 21 squad arrived on Saturday and leaves on Wednesday.
Sun 28
- First Division Mqabba vs Naxxar L. 0-0, Lija A. vs Senglea A. 3-1
- Second Division Zurrieq vs Attard 2-1, Zebbug R. vs Vittoriosa S. 2-1
- Third Division Birzebbuga SP vs Sirens 3-0, Kirkop U. vs Mgarr U. 2-0
- Gozo - First Division Zebbug R. vs Nadur Y. 4-0, Kercem A. vs Sannat L. 0-0
- Women's League Mosta vs Hibernians 0-3, Melita vs Birkirkara 0-3
Sat 27
- Premier League Floriana vs Pietà H. 1-4, Sliema W. vs Birkirkara 2-2
- First Division Tarxien R. vs San Gwann 1-1, Rabat A. vs Marsa 1-2
- Second Division Dingli S. vs Zejtun C. 3-1, Xghajra T. vs St. George's 1-2
- Gozo - First Division Ghajnsielem vs Xewkija T. 2-1
- Gozo - Second Division Xaghra U. vs St. Lawrence S. 1-0
Fri 26
- Premier League Valletta vs Hamrun S. 3-0, Hibernians vs Marsaxlokk 0-3
- Third Division Siggiewi vs Gharghur 1-2, Ta' Xbiex vs Fgura U. 0-2
Thu 25
- Sliema Wanderers defender Ian Ciantar replaced team-mate Noel Turner in the provisional twenty-man squad for next Wednesday's international friendly match against Finland at Ta' Qali.
Ciantar returned for Sliema late in January after recovering from an injury which ruled him out of the game for over seven months. Turner is currently recovering from an injury.
Part of the squad, which will be trimmed to eighteen players early next week, are Marsaxlokk's utility-player Richard Buhagiar and Mansfield Town defender Luke Dimech. If both retain their place in the final squad, it would mark a return after an absence of four-and-a-half years from the national team for Buhagiar and the first appearance for Dimech since the appointment of Heese and Busuttil as national coaches.
The twenty players named by Heese and Busuttil are:
goalkeepers Saviour Darmanin (Pietà), Mario Muscat (Hibernians);
defenders Ian Azzopardi (Floriana), Richard Buhagiar (Marsaxlokk), David Carabott (Marsaxlokk), Jeffrey Chetcuti (Sliema), Ian Ciantar (Sliema), Luke Dimech (Mansfield), Brian Said (Sliema), Daniel Theuma (Valletta), Stephen Wellman (Floriana);
midfielders Gilbert Agius (Valletta), William Camenzuli (Birkirkara), Stefan Giglio (Sliema), George Mallia (Birkirkara), Claude Mattocks (Floriana) and
forwards Etienne Barbara (Marsaxlokk), Michael Mifsud (Sliema), Ivan Woods (Pietà) and Antoine Zahra (Hibernians).
This is the sixth time Malta is playing Finland. In the previous five matches, Malta won once and lost twice. After a fine 2-0 victory in 1988 in the Rothmans International Tournament, Malta and Finland shared the spoils in a goalless draw in the 1989 edition of the tournament. Following a 1-1 draw at Ta' Qali in the European Championship qualifiers in November 1990, Finland won 2-0 in Helsinki in May 1991. Finland registered a 2-0 win in a friendly at Ta' Qali in the last clash between the two countries in March 1998.
The match will be played on Wednesday 31 at the National Stadium, kick-off at 16:00. The match will be controlled by Italian referee Matteo Simone Trefoloni who will be assisted by Ingmar Spiteri and Konrad Borg and fourth official Joe Attard.
Tickets will be on sale from the National Stadium on match-day. Match ticket prices are as follows: Enclosure Stand - Lm 3.00
Millennium Stand - Lm2.00
Ladies/Children (under 14yrs) & Kartanzjan/Persons with Special Needs Card Holders - Free.
Meanwhile Under 21 national coach Mark Miller and his assistant Silvio Vella shortlisted twenty players for the Under-21 friendly match against Finland on Tuesday 30 at the Hibernians Ground, kick-off at 17:00.
The players are:
goalkeepers Christian Calleja (Mqabba), Reuben Gauci (Floriana), Andrew Hogg (Bari);
defenders Josef Mifsud (Msida), Ryan Mintoff (Hibs), Alex Muscat (Balzan), Ryan Newell (Mosta), Roderick Sammut (Birkirkara), Shaun Tellus (Balzan), Kurt Zammit (Valletta);
midfielders Roderick Bajada (Hamrun), Shaun Bajada (Floriana), Mauro Brincat (Hamrun), Gareth Sciberras (Pietà) and
forwards Nicoḷ Baldacchino (Floriana), Trevor Cilia (Floriana), Cleavon Frendo (Pietà), Steven Magri (Melita), Gilbert Martin (Marsa) and Terence Scerri (Hibernians).
The match will be controlled by referee Anton Zammit who will be assisted by Joe Rapa and Alan Camilleri and fourth official Lorry Sammut.
Entrance for the Under-21 game is free of charge.
Wed 24
- William Camenzuli and Jeffrey Chetcuti will be missing the top-of-the-table clash between Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers on Saturday after being handed a one match ban by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner.
Camenzuli and Chetcuti were both sent off last Friday. Camenzuli was dismissed in the dying minutes of the game against Pietà while Chetcuti was sent off mid-way in the game against Hibernians.
The worst-hit were Marsaxlokk as they had two players suspended. Nikolai Slavtchev, who was sent off, and Charlo Magro, who received his fourth yellow card, were banned for one match and will therefore miss the game against Hibernians. Etienne Barbara is also ruled out of this game after being suspended for two matches last week.
Jonathan Holland of Floriana was also suspended for one match and will therefore be unavailable for the game against Pietà Hotspurs.
From Division 1, Patrick Muscat of St. Patrick was banned for three matches.
Tue 23
- Ajax midfielder Jari Litmanen was the main big name missing when Finland coach Antti Muurinen named on Monday an experienced 19-man squad for his side's friendly against Malta at Ta' Qali on March 31.
The former Liverpool player is recovering from an ankle injury that is expected to sideline him for up to five weeks.
In-form Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell will lead the Finnish attack, while Liverpool's Sami Hyypia, who scored his side's late premier league winner on Saturday against Wolverhampton Wanderers, will marshal the defence.
There are seven England-based players in the squad and only one who plays club football in Finland.
The squad is made up of:
goalkeepers Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers), Antti Niemi (Southampton);
defenders: Sami Hyypia (Liverpool), Toni Kuivasto (Djurgarden), Petri Pasanen (Portsmouth), Juha Reini (AZ Alkmaar), Janne Saarinen (TSV 1860 Munich), Hannu Tihinen (RSC Anderlecht);
midfielders Aleksei Yeremenko Jr (HJK), Jari Ilola (IF Elfsborg), Joonas Kolkka (Borussia Monchengladbach), Peter Kopteff (Viking Stavanger), Miikka Multaharju (Denizlispor), Jari Niemi (RAEC Mons), Mika Nurmela (Kaiserslautern), Mika Vayrynen (Heerenveen) and
forwards Mikael Forssell (Birmingham), Jonatan Johansson (Charlton), Shefki Kuqi (Ipswich).
Sun 21
- Premier League Balzan Y. vs Hamrun S. 2-1, Marsaxlokk vs Floriana 0-0
- First Division Lija A. vs St. Patrick 1-1, Senglea A. vs Mosta 1-1
- Second Division Zurrieq vs Gzira U. 0-1, Mellieha vs Vittoriosa S. 0-2, Gozo vs St. George's 0-3
- Third Division Gudja U. vs Melita 0-1, Ghaxaq vs Luqa SA 1-4
- Women's League Raiders vs Melita 0-5, Birkirkara vs Rabat A. 10-0
- Gozo - First Division Victoria H. vs Kercem A. 2-2
Sat 20
- Third Division >Qormi vs Pembroke A. 5-1, Sta. Lucia vs Sta. Venera L. 1-4
- Gozo - Second Division Xaghra U. vs SK Victoria W. 4-1, Gharb R. vs Qala SJ 1-1
Fri 19
- Premier League Birkirkara vs Pietà H. 1-1, Hibernians vs Sliema W. 3-0
- Second Division St. Andrews vs Attard 1-3, Zebbug R. vs Xghajra T. 3-0
- Third Division Fgura U. vs Birzebbuga SP 0-3, Gharghur vs Mgarr U. 2-0
- Gozo - First Division Nadur Y. vs Ghajnsielem 3-2, Sannat L. vs Zebbug R. 3-2
Thu 18
- The MFA Technical Centre will be holding its UEFA 'B' Diploma Course at the Ta' Qali Complex from the 17th April to the 2nd May, 2004, both days included.
Applications are available from the Technical Centre at Ta' Qali (att. Mr Nunzio Frendo during office hours). The closing date for applications will be Monday, 12th April, 2004.
A passport size photo, photocopies of 'B' or CCC certificates plus documented evidence of coaching experience with a club (from Under/16 team/s and over) and a medical certificate are also required.
The course will be on a 'first come first served' basis.
- Marsaxlokk midfielder Etienne Barbara was handed a two-match ban after being sent off in last Saturday's MIA Premier League clash with Sliema Wanderers. The international midfielder will therefore miss the next two matches for the Southseasiders against Floriana and Hibernians.
He was the only player to be suspended in the Premier League.
Three players were suspended for one match in Division 1: Deemer Tabone (Marsa), Roderick Farrugia (Mqabba) and Simon Shead (Tarxien).
Franco Magrin (Gozo), Bruce Genovese and Jonathan Zammit (Zebbug), Alan Bonnici (Luqa) and Eman Zammit (Siggiewi) were also banned for one match.
Other players to be suspended from the Youths League were: Luke Borg (Attard), Sergio Cappitta (Balzan), Matthew Borg (Birkirkara), Adrian Cauchi (Fgura), Luke Fenech (Gzira), Diego Armando Cucciardi (Hamrun), Roderick Schembri (Pietà) and Barry Farrugia (San Gwann).
Wed 17
- Malta climbed two places in the Coca-Cola FIFA World Ranking as published on Wednesday and now lies in the 126th place.
In its last two outings Malta managed to beat Estonia 5-2 but then suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat to Belarus. The national team now plays Finland on March 31.
Among the other European countries, Malta is for the first time in several months ahead of the Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan. Just ahead of Malta are Lithuania (104), Moldova (109), Armenia (110), Azerbaijan (117) and Northern Ireland (124) while the Faroe Islands (128), Kazakhstan (136), Andorra (147), Liechtenstein (148), Luxembourg (154) and San Marino (163) are behind Malta.
- The Futsal League organised by the Malta Football Association entered its final stage.
In Division 1, El Mundos won Section A ahead of Vindaloo Berloni while RBSM emerged as winners in Section B ahead of Air Malta Cabin Crew. The winners of the two sections face the runners-up in the Championship play-offs.
Swing Kids and Head Hunters will be playing in the relegation play-offs. Dreamers were on the other hand relegated to Division 2.
Hibernians and Chempro will be playing in Division 1 next season after they won Division 2 Section A and Section B respectively. Scandals Bar and Debsons will be playing in the promotion play-offs.
In Division 3, Konica Gunners and Jeepers won Sections A and B respectively. A decider is necessary in Section C as AC Trampi and Infomate ended their commitments on level points.
- San Gwann FC Vice President, Bjorn Vassallo launched the tenth edition of the Coca Cola - Veltins Mediterranean Cup during a press conference which was held at the San Gwann Local Council offices on Tuesday.
Mr. Vassallo explained that this edition will be held from the 4th to the 13th of April and will be organised by the San Gwann FC Youth Nursery in collaboration with the San Gwann Local Council.
This will be the biggest international youth football event ever organised in Malta, with a total of 800 athletes from Under 8's to Under 15's.
The 43 participating teams will represent three countries, Albania, Italy and Malta. A total of 102 matches will be played at the San Gwann FC Football Ground during nine days of continuous football.
The participating football clubs will be the following: San Gwann FC, Sliema Wanderers FC, Mosta FC, Lija-Iklin YN, Hibernians FC, Tarxien Rainbows FC, Mgarr United FC, Balzan Youths FC, Pembroke Athleta FC, Luxol St. Andrew's FC, Gzira United FC, Pieta'Hotspurs FC, Zebbug Rangers FC, Hamrun Spartans FC, Qormi FC, Melita Amateurs FC, Rosa Haixu Tirana FC (ALB), SC PGS Caltanisetta (ITL) and SC Sikania Alcamo (ITL).
There will be a change in the format of the final stage of most categories in the tournament. After the preliminary matches are over, the first and second placed teams in every group will play the A finals while the third and fourth placed teams in every group will play the B finals respectively. In this way, the tournament will ensure excitement and commitment till the end from every participating team.
After the draws and fixtures were completed, Ms Marlene Borg and Mr Andrew Sullivan spoke on behalf of the General Soft Drinks Co Ltd and the Tessons Group respectively. Both companies with their respective brand names - Coca-Cola and Veltins will be the official sponsors of the event. Adidas and Twistees will also support this event as sub-sponsors.
Mr Joe Micallef and Mr Emmanuel Zammit on behalf of the Malta Youth FA and the Malta Football Association intervened and expressed their satisfaction towards the work done by the San Gwann FC Youth Nursery for organising such a high level football tournament throughout the past nine years and augured the same results and success for this year's edition.
The conference ended with Nursery Chairman Mr Anthony Sciberras and San Gwann Mayor Mr Kurt Gullaimier speaking about the importance of such events.
They both spoke about the benefits local players earn from international sports and cultural experiences and encouraged all local volunteers to continue working with the young ones and help them develop and mature in a safe and clean environment.
Tue 16
- Thirty-two year old Marsaxlokk defender Richard Buhagiar is back with the national team as national coach Horst Heese and his assistant Carmel Busuttil announced the provisional squad for the friendly international match against Finland on March 31.
Buhagiar returns after an absence of four-and-a-half years. In fact, after making his international debut in a game against Indonesia in June 1991 and playing 54 matches, he made his last appearance in the EURO 2000 qualifier against Ireland in September 1999.
Another player who returns for Malta is Luke Dimech. The Mansfield Town defender had asked the national coaches to be left out of the last month's Malta International Tournament.
The twenty players named by Heese and Busuttil are:
goalkeepers Saviour Darmanin (Pietà), Mario Muscat (Hibernians);
defenders Jeffrey Chetcuti (Sliema), David Carabott (Marsaxlokk), Ian Azzopardi (Floriana), Brian Said (Sliema), Richard Buhagiar (Marsaxlokk), Stephen Wellman (Floriana), Daniel Theuma (Valletta), Dimech Luke (Mansfield);
midfielders Claude Mattocks (Floriana), William Camenzuli (Birkirkara), Noel Turner (Sliema), George Mallia (Birkirkara), Stefan Giglio (Sliema) and
forwards Ivan Woods (Pietà), Antoine Zahra (Hibernians), Etienne Barbara (Marsaxlokk), Gilbert Agius (Valletta) and Michael Mifsud (Sliema).
The match will be played on Wednesday 31 at the National Stadium, kick-off at 16:00.
Meanwhile Under 21 national coach Mark Miller and his assistant Silvio Vella have also announced their provisional squad for the Under-21 friendly match, also against Finland. The game will be played on the eve of the senior match - on Tuesday 30 at the Hibernians Ground, kick-off at 17:00.
This will be the first official outing for the current edition of the Under-21 side as several players from the previous squad are now "over-age" and are therefore not eligible to play in the coming UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign.
The squad includes four players who have already made their international debut with the senior team. Gareth Sciberras made his first appearance for Malta in the friendly against Poland while Alex Muscat, Roderick Bajada and Cleaven Frendo got their chance in the Malta International Tournament.
The squad is made up of:
goalkeepers Christian Calleja (Mqabba), Reuben Gauci (Floriana), Andrew Hogg (Bari);
defenders Josef Mifsud (Msida), Ryan Mintoff (Hibs), Alex Muscat (Balzan), Ryan Newell (Mosta), Roderick Sammut (Birkirkara), Shaun Tellus (Balzan), Kurt Zammit (Valletta);
midfielders Roderick Bajada (Hamrun), Shaun Bajada (Floriana), Mauro Brincat (Hamrun), Andre Schembri (Hibernians), Gareth Sciberras (Pietà) and
forwards Nicoḷ Baldacchino (Floriana), Trevor Cilia (Floriana), Cleavon Frendo (Pietà), Steven Magri (Melita), Gilbert Martin (Marsa) and Terence Scerri (Hibernians).
- Stefan Sultana is the new coach of Hamrun Spartans. Sultana replaces Bulgarian coach Gentcho Dobrev.
Dobrev had joined Hamrun in October when he replaced Patrick Curmi. Since his appointment, Hamrun claimed only three points in thirteen matches. They managed to defeat Marsa in the FA Trophy but then lost to Msida in the second round.
Sultana, who successfully followed a UEFA A Licence course last season, had been acting as assistant to Dobrev.
Mon 15
- Holders Birkirkara were handed an easy draw in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy as they were paired with First Division side Mosta. The draws were held at the MFA Headquarters in Valletta on Monday.
Mosta are the only team from Division 1 in the quarter-finals. They managed to reach this stage after beating another two First Division sides Naxxar 4-1 and Lija 3-1.
Two interesting clashes are those between Valletta and Floriana, Hibernians and Marsaxlokk.
Valletta and Floriana met twice this season with the Citizens winning 2-1 in the second round following a 1-1 draw in the first round. Floriana made it to the quarter-finals after beating Tarxien and Balzan with an identical 1-0 score.
Hibernians and Marsaxlokk also met twice with the Paolites winning 3-2 in the first round. In the second round, the two teams drew 1-1. Hibernians were given a bye while Marsaxlokk eliminated St. Patrick and Pietà Hotspurs.
In the other quarter-final, champions Sliema Wanderers will be facing Msida St. Joseph. Following a surprise 4-1 win for the Saints in the first round, Sliema won 1-0 in the second round. Msida qualified for this stage after beating San Gwann and Hamrun Spartans.
The quarter-finals will be played on April 3 and 4.
- A proposal has been put forward in front of the Council of the Malta Football Association in view of Malta's membership in the European Union as from May 1.
With EU accession, local clubs cannot be stopped from signing any number of players coming from the European Union (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Ireland and Austria together with Cyprus, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic and Slovakia) and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein).
There is therefore a need for changes in the Competition Rules especially with regards to the registration limit of three foreigners and the regulations regarding players.
As from next season, clubs may have as much full-time non-amateur players from the EU as long as these players have the legal rights to work.
However the MFA would not allow a club to sign players from outside Europe, if a club has already three players coming from the EU.
Clubs without players from outside the EU may sign up to three players from other countries. For example, if a club has no players coming from the EU, three other foreigners could be registered.
An important change in the Competition Rules which will be laid for approval by the Council says that a team should have a minimum of eight players who had gone through the youth system (nursery) for at least three years. This will be applied to all players who were not registered with a local club in February.
Therefore if this proposal is approved, a team may only have three "foreign" players concurrently on the field of play.
MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud said the aim of this clause is not to exclude foreigners but to protect youth football. He said the association sought legal advice from foreign lawyers specialising in EU laws.
First Division clubs will be allowed to sign one non-EU player, if no other EU players are registered with the club.
Second and Third Division clubs can only sign players from the EU as a full-time non-amateur if the clubs have at least a semi-professional status.
Meanwhile players over the age of 35 would be able to sign for Second and Third Division clubs but only on a year contract.
Sun 14
- Premier League Msida St. Joseph vs Valletta 0-1, Pieta' H. vs Hibernians 0-1
- First Division Naxxar L. vs Tarxien R. 1-2, Marsa vs Mqabba 1-0
- Second Division Zejtun C. vs Zurrieq 0-4, Vittoriosa S. vs Dingli S. 2-1
- Third Division Ta' Xbiex vs Sirens 0-2, Siggiewi vs Kirkop U. 2-3
- Women's League Melita vs Mosta 0-1, Rabat A. vs Hibernians 0-7
- Gozo - First Division Sannat L. vs Victoria H. 0-1
- Gozo - Second Division Gharb R. vs Oratory Y. 4-2
Sat 13
- Second Division St. George's vs Zebbug R. 3-1, Attard vs Gozo 1-1
- There were changes in the fixtures for the MIA Premier League and First Division due to the national team and FA Trophy commitments.
The two MIA Premier League matches which were scheduled to be played on Sunday 28th March were anticipated by one day to Saturday 27th. The two matches - Floriana vs Pietà Hotspurs and Sliema Wanderers vs Birkirkara - will be played at the National Stadium.
The international friendly match between Malta and Finland will be played on Wednesday 31st March at 16:00. The two countries will also meet at Under-21 level. The U-21 clash will be played at the Hibs Ground on Tuesday 30th at 17:00.
Meanwhile two MIA First Division matches were anticipated by three days due to Mosta's commitments in the FA Trophy quarter-finals.
St. Patrick vs Tarxien Rainbows and Marsa vs Mosta which were due to be held on April 3 at the Hibs Ground have now been transferred to Wednesday March 31 the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
San Gwann vs Mqabba and Naxxar Lions vs Rabat Ajax will be played on April 4 at the Hibs Ground.
Fri 12
- Premier League Floriana vs Birkirkara 0-1, Sliema W. vs Marsaxlokk 3-1
- Third Division Luqa SA vs Sta. Lucia 4-3, Melita vs Qormi 1-1
Thu 11
- A Premier League played over four rounds with no Championship and Relegation Pool but with the points still being halved at the end of the second round. This is the proposal which has been put in front of the Council of the Malta Football Association during a meeting on Thursday.
According to this proposal, only the tenth team in the Premier League will be automatically relegated to Division 1. The team placing ninth will then take part in a mini-league with the teams placing second and third in Division 1. Only the champions of Division 1 will be promoted automatically.
The proposal says that the First Division and Second Division will still have ten and twelve teams respectively. Two teams are relegated from Division 1 to Division 2 and two teams will be promoted in Division 1.
On the other hand, two options are being considered for the Third Division.
The first one is to retain the current format with all the teams playing each other on a one-round basis. The champions and runners-up are promoted to Division 2. The teams placing third, fourth and fifth in Division 3 take place in promotion play-offs together with the tenth team in Division 2.
The other option states that two or three sections are created in Division 3 with at least seven teams in each section. Therefore there should be at least 14 teams taking part in the Third Division. If there are two sections, two teams are promoted to Division 2 and another two are relegated to Division 3.
The target is to adopt this proposal as from season 2005/06. Therefore if this proposal is approved, next year, there will be ten teams in the Premier League playing over three rounds.
After the second round, points will be halved. The last three teams will be relegated. Only the First Division champions will be promoted.
Three teams will be relegated from Division 1 to Division 2. The Second Division champions will be promoted to Division 1.
Another three teams will be relegated from the Second to the Third Division. The Third Division champions will be the only team to be promoted to Division 2.
MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud stated that Malta simply cannot afford ten teams in the top division. Therefore the target was to have a league with the smallest number of teams possible.
He mentioned the fact that Estonia have eight teams in their top league and countries like Switzerland and Scotland, which are much larger than Malta, have ten or twelve teams.
"A Championship Pool and Relegation Pool in a league with eight teams would not make sense as the four teams in the Championship Pool would almost be guaranteed a place in the European competitions."
According to a letter sent by the Premier League Clubs Standing Committee, the Premier League clubs offered three options: retaining the current system, a league with ten teams played on three rounds or a league with eight teams but with only one team which is relegated.
First Division clubs are in favour of a Premier League with ten teams.
- Zejtun Corinthians captain Jesmar Joe Abela was suspended for four matches following an incident which occurred at the end of the MIA Second Division match between Zejtun Corinthians and Attard which was held on February 21.
After the game, with the two sets of players heading towards the dressing room, Jesmar Joe Abela of Zejtun Corinthians hit Colin Ciantar of Attard on his left eye. Three stitches had to be applied.
A number of Attard players, including Colin Ciantar, together with Jesmar Abela of Zejtun were called to witness during a meeting of the Council of the Malta Football Association.
Ciantar said he had failed to identify the aggressor but all the other Attard players had identified the Zejtun player from the captain's arm-band.
Abela said that he and a couple of Zejtun players were heading towards the tunnel when he heard a number of Attard players coming in their direction. He admitted hitting the player but only in order to defend himself.
Referee Dr Ian Miller had to rely only on hear-say as he and the two assistant referees were still at the centre of the pitch.
The MFA Disciplinary Commissioner could therefore not decide on the matter and the case was referred to the Council.
In a hearing which was held during the MFA Council meeting on Thursday, Jesmar Joe Abela was found guilty of causing "not grievous body harm". The player was handed a four-match ban, back-dated to Wednesday February 25.
Wed 10
- Stefan Sultana is set to be offered the job as the new coach of Hamrun Spartans as the club and Bulgarian coach Gentcho Dobrev parted company.
A decision which was taken by mutual consent especially after the disappointing 1-3 defeat to Msida St. Joseph last Sunday.
Dobrev had joined Hamrun in October when he replaced Patrick Curmi. Since his appointment, Hamrun claimed only three points in thirteen matches. They managed to defeat Marsa in the FA Trophy but then lost to Msida in the second round.
Sultana, who successfully followed a UEFA A Licence course last season, had been acting as assistant to Dobrev.
- No less than nine Premier League players will be missing the next games for their clubs after being handed a one-match ban by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner. The worst hit were Floriana who had three players suspended and will therefore be unavailable for the clash with Birkirkara.
Ian Azzopardi, Jonathan Holland and Brazilian midfielder Andre Rocha Da Silva are in fact all ruled out of the game with the Stripes on Friday. Birkirkara will be without Chucks Nwoko.
Hamrun Spartans had two players suspended - Aaron Attard and Gaetan Spiteri. These will be missing the game against Balzan Youths on Sunday 21.
Charles Sciberras of Msida St. Joseph was also handed a one-match ban and will miss next Sunday's clash with Valletta.
Sliema Wanderers defender Brian Said, who like the other seven players received his fourth yellow card, will be missing the game against Marsaxlokk while Alain Ekwe, who was sent off in the game against Marsaxlokk is ruled out of the game against Hibernians.
Clint Gatt of First Division side San Gwann was banned for two matches. Mosta president Charles Abela was fined Lm 15 while San Gwann kit-manager Victor Grech was fined Lm 25.
Albert Bonnici (Vittoriosa), Daniel Axisa (Xghajra), Stefan Busuttil (Gudja) and Dione Agius (Ta' Xbiex) were all handed a one-match ban.
Other players to be suspended for one match in the Youth League were: Denis Spiteri (Fgura), James Fenech (Qormi), Adrian Farrugia (Sirens), Timmy Thomas (Senglea), Denis Apap and Karl Micallef (St. Patrick), Ervin Hodzic (Tarxien) and Stuart Abdilla (Zurrieq). Joseph Lia of Zurrieq was suspended for two matches. Zurrieq's assistant coach Raymond Zahra was fined Lm 25.
Tue 9
- Birkirkara striker Haruna Doda has been named MIA Player of the Month for February. The skills of the Nigerian forward have stood out and he has been instrumental in helping his team regain the winning touch in recent weeks.
His understanding with his colleagues and his knack of scoring were the highlights of Birkirkara's comeback. In fact, he scored in both matches played by the Stripes in February against Hamrun Spartans and Marsaxlokk. He was also voted MIA Player of the Match in the two matches.
No doubt his services will come in useful for Birkirkara in the last phase of the championship race.
Doda, who is a Nigerian international, signed for Birkirkara in July after playing for Santa Clara and Belenenses in the Portuguese First Division in the past years.
- The MFA Protests Board did not upheld the protest Gzira United had filed against the result of the MIA Second Division match against Attard. The result, 2-1 for Attard, is therefore to stand.
Attard were leading 2-1 with seven minutes to go and Michael Farrugia was about to take a goal-kick. The referee awarded him a yellow card as he assumed the player was wasting the time but a few seconds later, he collapsed to the ground.
Gzira claimed that at one point, Attard had twelve players on the pitch. Farrugia had asked to be substituted and was in fact replaced by another player. However as Farrugia collapsed to the ground, part of his body still laid inside the pitch.
The Maroons had claimed that an attack was stopped by the referee for an offside position but Farrugia's presence kept their player on-side.
Meanwhile Michael Farrugia has been transferred to the CCU at the St. Luke's Hospital.
Sun 7
- Premier League Hamrun S. vs Msida SJ 1-3, Marsaxlokk vs Pietà H. 0-0
- Third Division Lija A. vs San Gwann 2-1, Mosta vs Rabat A. 3-1
- Second Division Gozo vs Zebbug R. 3-1, Gzira U. vs St. Andrews 1-0, Mellieha vs Xghajra T. 3-0
- Third Division Birzebbuga SP vs Ta' Xbiex 6-0, Mgarr U. vs Siggiewi 0-1
- Women's League Hibernians vs Melita 3-0, Birkirkara vs Raiders 4-0
- Gozo - First Division Ghajnsielem vs Zebbug R. 4-4
Sat 6
- Third Division Sta. Venera L. vs Ghaxaq 6-0, Pembroke A. vs Gudja U. 0-1
- Gozo - First Division Ghajnsielem vs Zebbug R. 4-4
- Gozo - Second Division Qala SJ vs St. Lawrence S. 1-5
Fri 5
- Premier League Floriana vs Sliema W. 0-2, Birkirkara vs Hibernians 3-1
- Second Division Zurrieq vs Vittoriosa S. 0-1
- The March award for the MIA Player of the Month has gone to the Sliema Wanderers and Malta midfielder Stefan Giglio.
Giglio, a Valletta FC product, who also had a fine playing spell in Bulgaria's top division, has strengthened the Sliema Wanderers' midfield sector immensely since he joined the Blues last year.
His tenacity and vision of the game, as well as his scoring ability, has helped his team to regain the ascendancy in the race for the Premier League title after an edgy start to the championship season 2003/2004.
His authoritative qualities were best seen in March, including a fine performance for Malta against Finland, thus rightly earning the month's top honour.
- Gozitan champions Nadur Youngsters have registered their second foreign player to replace the injured Mark Marlow.
Serbian striker Radivoj Panic, a former player of Serbian first division side FC Sartid, who was on trial with Dinamo Kiev, will join the club for the rest of the season. Panic joins another Serbian player in the Youngsters' squad - Alexander Simoncic. Simoncic was earlier on trial with Pietà Hotpsurs and Valletta.
Panic is expected to return with Dinamo Kiev following his adventure in Gozo.
Meanwhile GFA Easy Line First Division leaders Zebbug Rovers have registered a Portuguese player Pedro Miguel Santos Oliveira. Oliveira, a former player of Maio Agualva, replaces Nigerian striker John Eboh.
Wed 3
- Four Premier League players were suspended for one match by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner on Wednesday after collecting a fourth yellow card during the weekend.
Sergio Cappitta of Balzan Youths, Aaron Xuereb of Hibernians, Minabo Asechemie of Marsaxlokk and Mauro Di Lello of Pietà Hotspurs will therefore miss their next league game.
Xuereb will be missing the game against Birkirkara next Friday while Asechemie and Di Lello will be out of the clash between Pietà and Marsaxlokk on Sunday. Cappitta is ruled out of the Relegation Pool match against Hamrun on March 21.
Four First Division players were suspended: Gilbert Martin of Marsa, Tyrone Ghirxi of Senglea, Robert Cassar and Mark Pullicino of St. Patrick.
Geoffrey Grima and Marco Sultana, both of Second Division side Attard, were also suspended for one match.
- Gzira United filed a protest against the result of last Saturday's MIA Second Division match against Attard. The latter won 2-1.
Attard were leading 2-1 with seven minutes to go and Michael Farrugia was about to take a goal-kick. The referee awarded him a yellow card as he assumed the player was wasting the time but a few seconds later, he collapsed to the ground.
Gzira claim that at one point, Attard had twelve players on the pitch. Farrugia had asked to be substituted and was in fact replaced by another player. However as Farrugia collapsed to the ground, part of his body still laid inside the pitch.
The Maroons claim that an attack was stopped by the referee for an offside position but Farrugia's presence kept their player on-side.
The protest will be heard on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Michael Farrugia's conditions improved although he is still being kept at the Intensive Therapy Unit.
Tue 2
- The MFA Technical Centre will be holding a Coaching Young Footballers (CYF) Course at the Ta' Qali Complex over two days, the 3rd and 4th April, 2004.
Applications are available from the Technical Centre at Ta' Qali during office hours. The closing date for applications will be on Monday, 29th March, 2004. A passport-size photo is also required with every application.
Applications will be considered on a first-come-first served basis.
Mon 1
- FA Trophy Msida SJ vs Hamrun S. 2-1
- The youths of Hibernians suffered their first defeat in the Youth League Section A but their defeat was not on the field of play.
Hibernians did not drop a single point in twelve matches including a 10-0 win over Sta. Venera Lightnings on February 20.
It seems that the club was finding it difficult to field a team for the game, probably due to the fact that the match had been postponed. They started the game against Sta. Venera with nine players and among the players was Clayton Micallef, who was due to serve a suspension.
As expected Sta. Venera filed a protest and this was upheld by the Protests' Board of the Malta Football Association on Monday. The 10-0 score for Hibernians was therefore was turned into a 2-0 win for the Saints.
Hibernians still lead the table with 33 points, five points ahead of Birkirkara.
Meanwhile another protest by Tarxien Rainbows against the result of the Youth League Section C against Zebbug Rangers was also upheld. Tarxien therefore take the three points.