January 1998

Sat 31

• Premier League Pieta` H. vs Xghajra T. 1-1, Tarxien R. vs Sliema W. 1-5
• Division 1 St. George's vs Rabat A. 2-3, St. Patrick vs Zurrieq 2-0
• Rothmans Trophy Marsa vs Mosta 2-1
• Division 3 Senglea A. vs Birzebbuga SP 5-1, Gharghur vs Zejtun C. 6-3
• Women's League - Division 1 Hamrun S. vs Melita 1-1, Lija A. vs Mosta 1-1
• Women's League - Division 2 Mellieha vs Qormi 1-0
• Gozo - Division 1 Kercem A. vs Munxar F. 5-0
• News from the MFA Council Meeting: A meeting will be held between the Competititions Committee and Second and Third Division clubs to discuss the possible abolition of foreign players in the Second and Third Division Leagues
  
• The MFA denied permission to Mark Miller to take legal action against Sliema Wanderers for still having to pay him an amount of money. Marsa were also denied permission to take legal action against their former president Massimo Ellul regarding contracts signed by him on a personal basis while managing the club.
• Ex-Marsa coach Joe Micallef, ex-Pembroke coach Hugh Caruana and Hamrun player Edmond Lufi, all informed the MFA that they still have to be paid large amounts of money for the service to the respective clubs.
  The club participating in the Intertoto Cup will receive Lm 5,000 from Super 5 plus Lm 17,500 round. Matches will probably be played at the Gozo Stadium.

Fri 30

• The MFA ordered that the First Division match between Siggiewi and Dingli S. should be replayed. Last Sunday, the referee had ordered a walk-over for Siggiewi because only seven Dingli players had reached the Pace Grasso Ground.
• The following players were suspended by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner for one mathc: Stefan Giglio and Joe Camilleri (both Valletta) and Mark Marlow (Naxxar)

Thu 29

• Division 1 Mellieha vs Lija A. 2-2

Wed 28

• Premier League Valletta vs Naxxar L. 1-1, Floriana vs Hamrun S. 1-0
• Division 1 Marsa vs St. Patrick 0-3
• The following players were suspended for one match by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner: Justin Tellus, Antoine Zahra (both B'Kara), Djorde Pintac (Sliema) and Adriano Fenech and Gilbert Mock (both Xghajra).

Tue 27

• The MFA published the following new fixtures: Premier - 28th Jan Valletta vs Naxxar, Floriana vs Hamrun; Division 1 - 28th Jan Marsa vs St. Patrick, 29th Jan Mellieha vs Lija; Division 3 - 1st Feb Balzan vs Kirkop, Msida vs Sirens

Mon 26

• It is understood that Dingli Swallows lodged a protest against the walk-over awarded by the referee in yesterday's match against Siggiewi. Eleven of their players were not present at the Pace Grasso Ground because several areas around the island were flooded, making it impossible for them to reach the destination.

Sun 25

• Because of the heavy storms that hit the island the following matches were postponed or abandoned: Premier League Valletta vs Naxxar L, Floriana vs Hamrun S.; Division 1 Marsa vs St. Patrick, Mellieha vs Lija A.; Division 3 Balzan Y. vs Kirkop U. (abandoned after 58' with the score 0-2) , Msida SJ vs Sirens and Gozo - Premier Nadur Y. vs Xaghra U.
• Division 1 Zurrieq vs Mosta 1-3, Siggiewi walk-over Dingli S. Only 7 Dingli players succeeded in reaching the Pace Grasso Ground in time for the match. The referee waited for ten minutes and then ordered a walk-over for Siggiewi
• Division 2 Gzira U. vs St. Andrews 2-0, Ghaxaq vs Marsaxlokk 2-2
• Gozo - Premier Victoria H. vs Xewkija T. 7-0

Sat 24

• Premier League Birkirkara vs Tarxien R. 1-0, Sliema W. vs Pieta` H. 2-1, Xghajra T. vs Hibernians 0-5
• Division 2 Qormi vs Zebbug R. 3-2, Vittoriosa S. vs San Gwann 3-1
• Women's League - Division 1 B'Kara vs Melita 1-0, Lija A. vs Rabat A. 1-1
• Women's League - Division 2 Floriana vs Planets G. 1-0
• Gozo - Division 2 Zebbug R. vs Marsalforn SP 4-1, St. Lawrence S. vs Oratory Y. 2-4

Thu 22

• In a friendly match played at the Training Grounds Ta' Qali, Yugoslav First Division side Vojvodina Novi Sad beat Rabat Ajax 9-0.

• Wed 21

  Rothmans Trophy Dingli S. vs Naxxar L. 0-3 , Pieta` H. vs St. Patrick 2-1 aet
• The MFA Disciplinary Commissioner suspended Orazio Sorbello (Hamrun) for three matches and the following players for one match: Andy Eminyan and Chucks Nwoko (both Birkirkara), Richard Buhagiar (Floriana), Pierre Aquilina, Louis Azzopardi, Kevin Chircop (all Pieta`) and Rupert Mangion (Hamrun).

Tue 20

• In a friendly match played at the Training Grounds at Ta' Qali, the national team beat Dutch First Division side FC Groningen 3-2. After going 0-2 down, Josip Ilic include a number of important players as substitutes. These were Joe Brincat, Carmel Busuttil and Chucks Nwoko and three goals by these three players gave Malta the victory. Richard Buhagiar left the pitch injured.

Mon 19

• The Premier League match between Hibernians and Xghajra Tornadoes, scheduled to be played back on the 23rd November will be played on the 24th January. Division 1 matches, Zurrieq vs Mosta and Siggiewi vs Dingli will be played in the 25th January.

Sun 18

• Malta was drawn to play against Yugoslavia, Croatia, Republic of Ireland and FYR Macedonia in the European Championships EURO 2000. The finals will be held in Belgium and Holland. Malta coach Josip Ilic was quoted as saying that although it is a tough group, the Maltese should aim at trying to win some points especially against Ireland and Macedonia.
• Premier League Hamrun S. vs Hibernians 2-3, Valletta vs Floriana 2-3
• Division 2 Marsaxlokk vs Mqabba 1-0, St. Andrews vs Gudja U. 1-0
• Division 3 Zejtun C. vs Mgarr U. 2-3, Birzebbuga SP vs Ta' Xbiex 5-1
• Gozo - Premier Xaghra U. vs Victoria H. 2-1, Ghajnsielem vs Nadur Y. 0-4

Sat 17

• Premier League Pieta` H. vs Birkirkara 0-1
• Division 3 Msida SJ vs Gharghur 2-1, Balzan Y. vs Senglea A. 1-0
• Women's League - Division 1 Lija A. vs Hibernians 4-1
• Women's League - Division 2 Mellieha vs St. Andrews 1-0
• Gozo - Division 2 Oratory Y. vs Zebbug R. 3-0, St. Lawrence S. vs Gharb R. 1-2

Fri 16

• The MFA published the fixtures for the Rothmans Tournament: 6 Feb Georgia vs Latvia, Malta vs Albania; 8 Feb Albania vs Georgia, Malta vs Latvia; 10 Feb Latvia vs Albania, Malta vs Georgia

Thu 15

• The MFA ordered Floriana FC to release their goalkeeper David Cluett, after he was being left on the sideline for the last two years. The 32-year old goalie, who had played for 68 times for the national team, requested a free-release. However the MFA stated that the Greens have the right for a transfer fee.

Wed 14

• More trouble for Hamrun Spartans! Following a case which was presented by former club members to the MFA, it was found that there are several discrepancies in the club's accounts. Accused are current president Victor Tedesco, former president Gaetano Debattista and former club treasurer John Vella. A number of entries in the cash books were not included in the club's official accounting books. Investigations by the Members Status Committee led to the discovery of the fact that there were no Sales Ledger, Debtors Ledger and Register of Fixed Assets and that for a particular period, the club paid with cheques issued by private persons. There were several allegations, among which a Lm6,300 cheque by the MFA given to the Spartans was not included in the club's account, another Lm3,000 paid by a private firm were not included in the club's accounts since they were used to pay a particular player and a case where a person who loaned Lm9,000 to the club, was promised Lm27,000.
  
• The MFA Disciplinary Commissioner suspended the following players: Premier - Andy Attard (Tarxien - 2 matches), Darren Vella and Patrick Muscat (both Xghajra - 1 match), Edwin Camilleri (Hamrun - 1), Nicky Saliba (Valletta - 1). Division 1 - Louis Sultana (St. George's - 3 matches), Vesko Petrovic (St. Patrick - 3 matches), Edward Azzopardi (Rabat - 2 matches), Kevin Loughborough (Rabat - 1 match) and Carmel Calafato (St. George's -1 match).

Mon 12

• Rothmans International Tournament Albania will be the fourth team to participate in this year's edition. Albania will replace Poland who withdrew from the tournament earlier on.

Sun 11

• Premier League Floriana vs Naxxar L. 3-1, Hibernians vs Valletta 0-4
• Division 1 St. Patrick vs St. George's 3-1, Rabat A. vs Mellieha 4-1, Lija A. vs Siggiewi 2-1, Marsa vs Zurrieq 3-1
• Division 2 Vittoriosa S. vs Ghaxaq 1-1, Qormi vs Gzira U. 3-1
• Division 3 Attard vs Luqa SA 4-1, Melita vs Fgura U. 1-2
• Gozo - Division 1 SK Victoria W. vs Qala SJ 2-3, Sannat L. vs Kercem A. 1-0

Sat 10

• Premier League Xghajra T. vs Sliema W. 0-2, Tarxien R. vs Hamrun S. 1-2
• Division 2 Sta. Lucia vs Pembroke 1-0, Gozo vs Sta. Venera L. 3-1
• Women's League - Division 1 Melita vs Lija A. 0-1, Mosta vs Rabat A. 1-3
• Women's League - Division 2 Floriana vs Raiders 1-1

Fri 9

• The Maltese club which will participate in the Intertoto Cup will receive at least Lm19,000 for taking part in the first round. The first round will be played on the 20th and 27th June while the second round fixtures are July 4th and 11th. The Maltese club will play its home fixture either at the Hibernians Ground in Corradino or the Gozo Stadium.
• Rumours have it that Spanish side Hercules Alicante are interested in Xghajra's Nigerian foreigner Uwa Ogbodo. In the mean time, an Italian club official met Ogbodo about the possibility of proceeding with a career in Italy.

Wed 7

• Rothmans Trophy Tarxien R. vs St. George's 5-0, Mellieha vs Xghajra T. 0-2
• The MFA Disciplinary Commissioner suspended the following players for one match: Carmel Busuttil (Sliema), Joe Zarb (Valletta), Mark D' Amato (Tarxien), Massimo Grima (Pietà), Stefan Sultana (Hamrun), Keith Spiteri (Xghajra) and Mark Spiteri (Mosta).
• Michael Cutajar (B'Kara) won the Player of the Month Award for December.

Tue 6

• Premier League Hamrun S. vs Pieta` H. 1-0

Mon 5

• Georgia and Latvia will be participating in the Rothmans International Tournament which will be held between the 6th and 10th February. The MFA is trying to find another team to replace Poland, who were also due to participate, however they withdrew the tournament. Malta will also play a number of friendlies: 25th March vs Finland, 22nd April, 31st May and another on the 19th August.National coach Josip Ilic included the following 9 players in the national squad: Sean Sullivan, Kris Laferla and Joe Camilleri (Valletta); Jonathan Magri-Overend, Ivan Zammit and Chucks Nwoko (B'Kara FC); Paul Sixsmith (Naxxar L), Joe Sant Fournier and Carmel Busuttil (Sliema). The national team is training 6 times a week, twice daily on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

• Sun 4

  Premier League Valletta vs Tarxien R. 5-0, B'Kara vs Xghajra T. 6-1
• Division 1 Mellieha vs St. George's 1-0, Mosta vs St. Patrick 1-2
• Division 2/3 Knock Out Quarter Finals Zebbug R. vs Pembroke A. 0-1, Sta. Venera L. vs Gozo FC 2-5
• Gozo - Division 2 Gharb R. vs Oratory Y. 0-0, Marsalforn SP vs St. Lawrence S. 0-6. This curious match between M'Forn and St. Lawrence was abandoned in the 79th. Because of several suspensions and injuries, Marsalforn could not field 11 players and therefore started the match with 9 players. Before the end of the end half, with the score already 4-0, one of their players had to leave the pitch injured. Then in the second half, two other Marsalforn players were injured and since there were no reserve players to substitute them, they ended in six players. Therefore the referee could do nothing other than abandon the match with the score 6-0.

Sat 3

• Premier League Naxxar L. vs Sliema W. 0-2, Hamrun S. vs Pietà H. posp
• Division 1 Marsa vs Zurrieq posp
• Division 3 Senglea A. vs Kirkop Utd. 1-2, Gharghur vs Sirens 4-0
• Women's League - Division 1 B'Kara w/o Gozo, Hibernians vs Rabat A. 2-2
• Women's League - Division 2 Qormi vs Planets G. 0-3
• Rumours have it that Birkirkara midfielders Sandro Gambin and Justin Tellus will be chosen by national coach Josip Ilic to form part of the national team.

Fri 2

• Israeli Under 16 International Tournament Malta vs Switzerland 1-3

Thu 1

• Gozo - Premier Knock Out Final Victoria H. vs Xaghra U. 2-1. Golden goal by Saviour Farrugia after a 1-1 draw after the 90 minutes