June 1998

Tue 30

• The following are the draws for the Lowenbrau Cup: 13 July Valletta vs Hibs; 15 July Birkirkara vs (loser of first match or Hibs); 17 July Birkirkara vs (winner of first match or Valletta).

Mon 29

• For the second week running, the Annual General Meeting of Naxxar Lions had to be postponed due to shortage of candidates to serve on the club committee.

Sun 28

• UEFA - Intertoto Cup Sliema lose 3-2 to Diósgyõr in the second leg of the Second round played at the Hibs Ground in Corradino. Pavel Mraz scored the two goals for Sliema.

Tue 23

• Twenty six players have been chosen by national coach Josip Ilic to form part of the Malta national squad which will leave tomorrow for a training camp in Yugoslavia. Among these players are four who have been included with the national side for the first time: Matthew Camilleri and Jonathan Holland (both Floriana), Graham Bencini (Naxxar) and Saviour Darmanin (Pieta`) while Carmel Busuttil, Paul Sixsmith and Silvio Vella are missing. The full squad consists of: Valletta: Agius, Debono, Cini, Chetcuti, Giglio, Suda, Saliba; Birkirkara: Brincat, Galea, Magri Overend, Nwoko, Zahra; Sliema: Barry, Turner; Hibernians: Carabott, Muscat; Floriana: Buhagiar, Camilleri, Holland; Pieta`: Aquilina, Theuma, Darmanin; Naxxar: Debono, Bencini; Hamrun: Camilleri, Sultana.

Mon 22

• Maltese referee Emmanuel Zammit was appointed as one of the Assistant Referees for the First Round match in Group C of the World Cup between France and Denmark.
• Malta lies in the 42nd place out of 50 countries in the UEFA coefficient ranking list, the list which deals with clubs' performances in UEFA competitions. Behind Malta lie contries like Wales, Eire, Albania and Luxembourg.

Sat 20

• UEFA-Intertoto Cup First Round Diósgyõri FC vs Sliema Wanderers 2-0

Fri 19

• Gozo FC will participate in a new competition which will be organized by UEFA for regional associations within member associations.
• Hibs keeper Mario Muscat won the MFA Footballer of the Year Award for the season 1997/98.
  Player of the Year Premier Division: 1. Mario Muscat (Hibs) 148 pts; 2. Hubert Suda (Valletta) 126 pts; 3. Antoine Zahra (B'Kara) 125 pts; 4. Gilbert Agius (Valletta) 124 pts; 5. Carmel Busuttil (Sliema) 104 pts
  Division 1: 1. Roderick Asciak (Rabat Ajax) 48 pts; 2. Ray Cuschieri (Lija) 43 pts; 3. Alex Camilleri (St. Patrick) 39 pts; 4. Philip Camilleri (Mosta); 5. Kenneth Scicluna (St. Patrick) 34 pts
  Division 2: 1. Renis Hyka (Qormi); 2. Anthony Falzon (Mqabba) and Anthony Xuereb (San Gwann)
  Division 3: 1. Ludvic Fardell (Zejtun); 2. Andrew Naudi (Melita); 3. Charle Muscat (Birzebbuga)
  Under 21: 1. Michael Galea (B'Kara); 2. Clive Formosa (Birzebbuga); 3. Massimo Grima (Pieta`)
  Youths: 1. Nicholas Schembri (Floriana); 2. Michael Mifsud (Sliema); 3. Rennie Forace (Valletta)
  Women: 1. Tessie Muscat (Rabat A.); 2. Marisa Deguara (Mosta); 3. Marthese Camoin (Lija)
  Top Scorers: Premier League Joe Brincat (Floriana/B'Kara) 19 goals; Division 1 Kamal Edgeli (Mellieha) and Stefan Farrugia (St. Patrick) 15 goals; Division 2 Jude Madu 15 goals; Division 3 Jean Pierre Abdilla (Kirkop) 10 goals

Mon 8

• Diósgyõri FC from Hungary will be Sliema's opponents in the First Round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Sliema will travel to Hungary for the away match which will be played on the 20th June while the return match will be played at the Hibs Ground in Corradino on the 28th June. Diósgyõri placed eleventh in the Hungarian First Division league table, 30 points below the champions Ujpesti TE.

Sat 6

• European Smaller Nations Cup - Final Sliema Wanderers vs Merthyr Tydfil 1-1 (6-4 pens). Uwa Ogbodo scored for Sliema.
  Final 3rd/4th Place Hamrun Spartans vs AS Mistretta 5-5 (7-9 pens). Hamrun were leading 4-1 with goals by Rupert Mangion, Tobias Mielke, Kevin Sammut and again Mangion. The Sicilians reduced the score to 4-3 but Graham Unah made it 5-3. However two late goals by the Sicilians made the final score 5-5. During the penalty shoot-out, Mistretta scored four while Hamrun scored two.
• Maltese Assistant referee Mr Emmanuel Zammit will be one of the two assistant referees in the following First Round matches in the France '98 World Cup: 13th June Holland vs Belgium and 21st June Germany vs Yugoslavia.

Fri 5

• Sliema Wanderers plc bought the television rights for the away matches of local clubs in UEFA competitions for this season and of the national team's commitments in the EURO 2000 qualifying matches.
• European Smaller Nations Cup Sliema Wanderers vs AS Mistretta 8-1 [Uwa Ogbodo, Slava Antic, Pavel Mraz (2), Michael Mifsud (3), Patrick Muscat]; Hamrun Spartans vs Merthyr Tydfil 0-2

Thu 4

• Valletta withdrew from the first European Smaller Nations Cup as they will not be able to field a competitive side after that the MFA ordered national team players to rest. They have been replaced by Hamrun Spartans. Matches will be played as follows: Fri 5 Preliminary matches - Sliema vs Mistretta (Sicily), Hamrun vs Merthyr Tydfil (Wales); Sat 6 Finals. The tournament is being organised by Sliema Wanderers.

Wed 3

• Friendly Match Malta vs Wales 0-3

Tue 2

• National coach Josip Ilic replaced two players who formed part of the squad which will meet Wales tomorrow. Naxxar midfielder Paul Sixsmith and Sliema defender Joe Sant Fournier have been replaced by Pieta` defenders Pierre Aquilina and Massimo Grima because of work-pressure.