March 1998

Tue 31

• Gozo - Freedom Day Cup Sannat L. vs Oratory Y. 9-1
• Women's League - Division 2 Qormi vs St. Andrews 2-1, Planets G. vs Raiders 2-1

Mon 30

• Premier League Hibernians vs Floriana 3-2

Sun 29

• Premier League Xghajra T. vs Birkirkara 0-5, Pieta` H. vs Hamrun S. 4-0
• Division 1 St. Patrick vs Mosta 2-1, Marsa vs Siggiewi 0-0
• Division 2 Gudja U. vs Gzira U. 0-1, Mqabba vs Ghaxaq 0-2
• Division 3 Fgura U. vs Balzan Y. 0-1, Luqa SA vs Msida SJ 1-1
• Gozo - Premier Xewkija T. vs Nadur Y. 0-1
• Gozo - Division 1 Kercem A. vs Sannat L. 1-5

Sat 28

• Premier League Tarxien R. vs Valletta 1-5, Sliema W. vs Naxxar L. 2-1
• Division 1 Rabat A. vs Dingli S. 4-2, St. George's vs Mellieha 2-3
• Division 2 Pembroke A. vs Qormi 1-4, Sta. Venera L. vs Vittoriosa S. 1-1
• Women's League - Division 1 Hibernians vs Mosta 2-4, Hamrun S. vs Birkirkara 0-6, Melita vs Rabat A. 0-3
• Gozo - Premier Xaghra U. vs Ghajnsielem 3-1
• Gozo - Division 1 Qala SJ vs SK Victoria W. 0-2

Fri 27

• The MFA approved a number of amendments to the 'Regulations for the Control of Misconduct' . Following these amendments, officials/players/supporters of any club found guilty of serious injuries would lead to the deduction of 2 or 5 points from the league table or the removal from the competition, depending on the seriousness. In case of the death caused by violence by members or supporters of a club, the club would be removed from the MFA.

Wed 25

• Malta was beaten 0-2 by Finland in an international friendly match at Ta' Qali. Aki Riihilahlti gave Finland the lead after only 42 seconds and Jarkko Wiss doubled the score in the 51st. In another friendly match, this time at Under 21 level, Malta lost 0-1 to Italy. The goal was scored in the 31st with a shot by Italy's captain Roberto Baronio, deviated by Pierre Aquilina.
• The MFA Disciplinary Commissioner suspended the following players: Louis Azzopardi (Pieta` - 2 matches), Denis Cauchi (B'Kara - 1), William Camenzuli
• and Oba Rufin (both Floriana - 1), Stefan Sultana (Hamrun S - 1), Ian Ciantar and George Mallia (Sliema
• W. - 1), George Buttigieg (Tarxien R. - 1), Drasko Braunovic and Jeffrey
• Chetcuti (Valletta - 1), Edward Micallef and Franco Spiteri (Marsa - 1).

Tue 24

• The MFA is expected to spend around Lm3 million at Ta' Qali facilities, namely the rebuilding from scratch of the East (Valletta) side and other maintenance on the West Side at the National Stadium and the building of the new Centenary Stadium. Works are expected to start in May and end in December. In the meantime, the MFA launched the Centenary Logo which will accompany all the activities marking the MFA Centenary.
• Malta coaches Josip Ilic and Velimir Sargic named the A-team and Under 21 squads respectively for the friendly matches against Finland and Italy. The A-squad is made up of Barry, Busuttil, Turner (Sliema); Muscat, Carabott, Vella (Hibs); Camilleri, Chetcuti, Laferla, Saliba, Suda, Agius (Valletta); Magri Overend, Brincat, Nwoko, Zahra (Birkirkara); Sixsmith (Naxxar); Sultana (Hamrun). On the other hand, Sargic chose the following players for the Under 21 squad: Matthew Camilleri, William Camenzuli, Claude Mattocks (Floriana); Saviour Darmanin, Pierre Aquilina, Massimo Grima, Malcolm Licari (Pieta`), Edward Azzopardi (Rabat), Ian Ciantar, Luke Dimech, Lino Galea, George Mallia (Sliema), Gareth Magri, Michael Galea (B'Kara), Louis Buhagiar (Siggiewi), Adrian Ciantar (Hibs), Stefan Giglio (Valletta), Anatole Debono (St. Andrews). Ian Ciantar and Lino Galea are over-age, however it was agreed with the Italians that they could play.
• Malta will play two friendly matches against Northern Ireland (in August) and Bosnia Herzegovina. On the other hand, the friendly match against Liechtenstein was cancelled.

Mon 23

• Rumours have it that Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia has been approached by the MFA with the intention of offering the guide of Malta's Under 21 side.

Sun 22

• Premier League Valletta vs Pieta` H. 5-1, Birkirkara vs Sliema W. 2-1, Floriana vs Tarxien R. 1-0, Hamrun S. vs Xghajra T. 2-1
• Division 1 Mosta vs Marsa 2-1, Lija A. vs Zurrieq 4-2
• Division 2 Sta. Lucia vs St. Andrews 0-3
• Division 3 Attard vs Zejtun C. 1-0, Melita vs Birzebbuga SP 2-4
• Gozo - Division 2 Zebbug R. vs Oratory Y. 2-2, Gharb R. vs St. Lawrence S. 2-0

Sat 21

• Division 2 Gozo vs Marsaxlokk 5-1
• Division 3 Sirens vs Mgarr U. 0-0, Kirkop U. vs Ta' Xbiex 2-4
• Women's League - Division 1 Lija A. vs Hamrun S. 4-0
• Women's League - Division 2 Mellieha vs Planets G. 1-1

Thu 19

• Rothmans Trophy Marsa vs Tarxien R. 0-1, Lija A. vs Pieta` H. 1-2, Xghajra T. vs Hibernians 0-4, Naxxar L. vs Hamrun S. 0-1
• Division 1 Mellieha vs Siggiewi 1-1
• Gozo - Premier Ghajnsielem vs Xewkija T. 3-2, Victoria H. vs Nadur Y. 1-2

Wed 18

• The MFA Disciplinary Commissioner suspended the following players from the Premier and First Division - Ndubisi Chuckinyere (Hibs) for 2 matches and all the remaining players for one match: Daniel Theuma and Pierre Aquilina (both Pieta`), Mark Galea (Floriana), Uwa Ogbodo and Stefan Schweinbacher (both Xghajra), Kris Laferla (Valletta), Pavel Mraz (Sliema), Mark Sultana and Paul Massa (both Zurrieq), Gottard Conti (Mellieha), Robert Cassar (St. Patrick) and Darren Pendergast (Dingli).

Sun 15

• Premier League Pieta` H. vs Floriana 1-0, Sliema W. vs Hamrun S. 0-0
• Division 1 Dingli S. vs St. Patrick 0-4, Siggiewi vs St. George's 1-0
• Division 2 San Gwann vs Mqabba 5-0, Zebbug R. vs Gudja U. 3-1
• Division 3 Gharghur vs Luqa SA 2-2, Senglea A. vs Fgura U. 2-1
• Gozo - Premier Xaghra U. vs Nadur Y. 1-1
• Gozo - Division 2St. Lawrence S. vs Marsalforn SP 6-0

Sat 14

• Premier League Xghajra T. vs Valletta 0-0, Naxxar L. vs Hibernians 0-0
• Division 1 Lija A. vs Rabat A. 1-2, Zurrieq vs Mellieha 1-1
• Division 2 Ghaxaq vs Sta. Venera L. 0-2, Gzira U. vs Pembroke A. 1-0
• Women's League - Division 1 Hibernians vs Melita 0-0, Mosta vs Birkirkara 1-2
• Women's League - Division 2 St. Andrews vs Floriana 2-0
• Gozo - Premier Xewkija T. vs Victoria H. 4-2
• Gozo - Division 2 Oratory Y. vs Gharb R. 1-1

Thu 12

• Julian Zammit, a Pembroke Athleta player, was tragically killed in a family dispute yesterday.
• Dione Lautier (Victoria H.) won the GFA Player of the Month Award for January 1998 while Abdul El Mutalib (St. Lawrence S.) won the GFA Divisions 1 and 2 Player of the Month Award also for January.

Wed 11

• The MFA Disciplinary Commissioner suspended the following players for one match: Djorde Pintac, Karl Bonnici and Ian Ciantar (all Sliema), Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Ludvic Bartolo (Xghajra), Jason Camenzuli (Mosta), Anthony Brignone (St. George's) and Simon Aquilina (Marsa).

Mon 9

• Naxxar coach Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia resigned. It is understood that the committee took the responsability of choosing the players for the match against B'Kara and this was the main reason which brought about Zazu's resignation. He will probably be replaced by Michael Degiorgio as player-coach.

Sun 8

• Premier League Birkirkara vs Naxxar L 5-0., Valletta vs Sliema W. 2-1
• Division 1 Marsa vs Dingli S. 2-2, St. George's vs Mosta 0-2
• Division 2 Qormi vs Sta. Lucia 0-1, Gozo vs Vittoriosa S. 4-1. Gozo FC promoted to Division 1
• Division 3 Balzan Y. vs Melita 1-2, Msida SJ vs Attard 0-2
• Gozo - Division Sannat L. vs Munxar F. 4-1

Sat 7

• Alexander Ivanov won the Player of the Month Award for February.
• Premier League Floriana vs Xghajra T. 2-1, Tarxien R. vs Hibernians 0-4
• Division 1 St. Patrick vs Lija A. 0-1
• Division 3 Birzebbuga SP vs Kirkop U. 1-1, Zejtun C. vs Sirens 1-1
• Women's League - Division 1 Hamrun S. vs Rabat A. 0-4
• Women's League - Division 2 Raiders vs Qormi 1-0
• Gozo - Division 1 SK Victoria W. vs Kercem A. 2-1

Thu 5

• In the Under 16 UEFA mini-tournament, Malta suffered a 0-4 defeat agaisnt Greece.

Wed 4

• Sliema coach Robert Kelly resigned. His duties will be taken over by two players: captain Carmel Busuttil and Martin Gregory.
• The MFA Disciplinary Commissioner suspended the following players form the Premier and First Divisions: Carmel Busuttil (Sliema - 2 matches), Andy Attard (Tarxien - 1), Andrew Bonello (Naxxar - 1), Silvio Sciberras (St. George's - 3) and Jason Saliba (Zurrieq - 1). Zurrieq's Nikolai Kirlov was suspended for three months up to the 3rd June, that is he will miss the remaining part of the season.
• The President of the Malta Football Association Dr Joe Mifsud will be one of the six UEFA executives who will be standing for election in June with a seat in the FIFA's Executive Committee at stake. Dr Mifsud is currently serving a four-year on UEFA's Executive Committee.

Tue 3

• Rumours have it that in a few weeks' time, the first Bobby Charlton School of Football will be opening in Malta.

Mon 2

• In the Under 16 UEFA mini-tournament, being played in Limassol, Malta tied with hosts Cyprus in a 1-1 draw. Jean Pierre Mifsud scored Malta's equaliser.

Sun 1

• Premier League Floriana vs Sliema W. 3-0, Hamrun S. vs Birkirkara 2-1
• Division 1 Dingli S. vs St. George's 2-3, Rabat A. vs Zurrieq 3-5
• Division 2 St. Andrews vs Zebbug R. 1-0, Marsaxlokk vs San Gwann 2-3
• Division 3 Fgura U. vs Ta' Xbiex 2-0, Luqa SA vs Mgarr U. 2-3
• Gozo - Premier Victoria H. vs Xaghra U. 2-3, Nadur Y. vs Ghajnsielem 1-0