February 2002
Thu 28
- Malta will be playing two friendly matches against Andorra and Azerbaijan as national coach Sigi Held prepares the team for the forthcoming EURO 2004 European Championship qualifiers which kick-off in September. Malta will be hosting Andorra on March 27 and then Azerbaijan on April 17.
Malta and Andorra met each other once in a match from the Rothmans International Tournament 2000 which ended in a 1-1 draw. On the other hand, this will be the third visit for Azerbaijan. The first encounter between the two countries in April 1994 ended in a 5-0 win for the local side, the largest win ever for Malta throughout the years. Two years ago, in a match from the Rothmans Tournament, Malta won 3-0.
Azerbaijan are currently 114th in the FIFA Rankings, twelve places ahead of Malta. On the other hand, Andorra lie in the 142nd place.
Malta is coming from a series of four positive results. After a 2-1 win over Canada, Malta defeated Jordan 2-1, drew 1-1 with Lithuania and defeated Moldova 3-0 in the Rothmans Tournament.
Wed 27
- A Premier League player tested positive in a doping test which was held after a league match in January. The player and club concerned were informed immediately after the results were sent to the association. However the MFA will not take any disciplinary action against the player until the test on specimen B confirms the result. Sources close to maltafootball.com say that the player involved tested positive only after taking pills prescribed by his doctor. In fact his club will be presenting a report by the doctor if the results are confirmed and the player is suspended.
Doping tests in Malta are only carried out after a selected number of matches from the several competitions. Two players from each team are tested with two specimens of urine being taken from each player. The specimens are sent to a laboratory in Germany in order to be analysed since there are yet no such facilities in Malta.
Last season a total of 14 doping tests were held involving 56 players. The doping tests were carried out at random after seven matches from the Premier League, three matches from the Rothmans Trophy, two matches from the First Division, one from the Third Division and another one from the Second and Third Division Knock-Out. One player tested positive.
- MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud will be running once again in the election for a place in the FIFA Executive at the XXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress in Stockholm on April 25. Also running for the election for UEFA's four seats on the FIFA Executive are Michel Platini, Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (Germany), Franco Carraro (Italy) and Per Ravn Omdal (Norway) are chasing the four seats. On the other hand, the four British associations will be deciding whether David Will of Scotland will remain as their choice to be representative in their one permanent seat on FIFA's Executive.
Mifsud had failed to be elected in the last election which was held two years ago after serving for two years in the FIFA Executive earlier.
Meanwhile a total of 14 prominent football administrators have submitted their candidature for the UEFA Executive Committee. Seven seats are available, six of them for four-year terms and the last one for a two-year term. Des Casey (Republic of Ireland), Frantisek Chvalovsky (Czech Republic), and Claude Simonet (France) will retire from the UEFA Executive Committee. Four other members of the UEFA Executive Committee will stand for re-election: Senes Erzik (Turkey), Dr. Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia), Giangiorgio Spiess (Switzerland) and Angel Maria Villar Llona (Spain). The terms of office of four European members of the FIFA Executive Committee: Lennart Johansson (Sweden), Antonio Matarrese (Italy), Per Ravn Omdal (Norway) and David Will (Scotland) will end at the coming FIFA Congress.
- Three Premier League players were handed a one-match ban by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner. Liam Mangion of Lija Athletic was suspended for one match after collecting a fourth yellow card in Sunday's 0-7 defeat to Sliema. Mangion will miss the bottom-of-the-table clash against Naxxar Lions on March 10. Jamie Pace of Pietà who was sent off in the last league game against Hibernians will now miss next Sunday's Relegation Pool match against Marsa. On the other hand, Cedric Caruana who was given marching orders during extra-time of the Championship/Relegation Pool decider on Tuesday was also suspended for one match and will be missing next Saturday's Championship Pool match against leaders Birkirkara.
On Monday, another three players were suspended. Minabo Asechemie and Igor Stefanovic have already served their one-match suspension in the decider against Floriana while Matthew Galea of Hamrun who collected his fourth yellow card in the derby against Marsa will be missing the next league game against Sliema Wanderers.
Tue 26
- Premier League - Championship/Relegation Pool Decider Floriana vs Marsa 0-0 after extra-time (4-3 after penalty shoot-out)
- The Carnival Football Festival organized successfully by the Sliema Wanderers F.C. Nursery last month. The ball started rolling on February 1 when a press conference was organized for the local media. During the press conference, the Sliema Nursery announced its new sponsors - the General Soft Drinks as the festival main sponsors and The Athlete's Foot as the nursery kit sponsors. On Saturday February 9, the festival started with a mass. Then all the participating teams marched together to the University Ground bearing the club banner and also the fair play banner. The festival kicked off following the opening speech by the chairman of the Sliema nursery, Mr. Victor Scerri. The festival was open for four categories - Under 10, Under 11, Under 12 and Under 13.
In the U-10 category Mosta emerged as winners after a stiff challenge by Hamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers. Games were played on a 7-a-side basis and with a good standard of football. In the U-11, Sliema Wanderers were technically the better side, deserving the title. The English team Bradford-on-Avon dominated the U-12's category with some good physical and direct football. The most balanced category was the U-13 in which, as results show, the difference between the participants teams was minimal. Floriana showed consistency with strait three wins and won this category after a 1-0 hard fought won over sporting rivals Sliema Wanderers.
Finally Ms Sarah Young, representing the General Soft Drinks, presented trophies and medals to all winning sides and also a trophy to all teams and a certificate of participation to all players. It was also a great gesture by the sponsors to present a framed colour photo to all teams as a festival memento.
Mon 25
- The President of the Marsa FC, Joe Gauci was attacked on Sunday shortly after appearing on NET television's sports programme, 'Replay'. An unidentified man attacked the 45-year-old Marsa president with a sharp instrument as he left NET's premises and got into his car which was parked in Mountbatten Street, Hamrun. Gauci sustained slight injuries to his face. The Marsa president went to the Hamrun police-station to report the incident and then went to St. Luke's Hospital for treatment. Marsa ended their second round commitments in joint-sixth place with Floriana after beating rivals Hamrun Spartans 3-2 in the derby on Saturday. They are now set to face the Greens in a play-off for a place in the Championship Pool on Tuesday.
- On Monday morning, Hamrun Spartans filed a protest against the result of the derby against Marsa played on Saturday. Hamrun were claiming that the registration of Marsa players Ivan Casha, Alan Mifsud and Wayne Attard is irregular. However the MFA Protests' Board did not uphold the protest.
The Spartans stated that the documents involved in the registration of these three players who joined Marsa from Hamrun were signed by the same persons who signed the registration of Michael Degiorgio. Marsa had won a protest last November when they had claimed that Degiorgio's registration was irregular. Therefore according to Hamrun, if Degiorgio's document was irregular, so are those of Casha, Mifsud and Attard.
Sun 24
- Premier League Pieta H. vs Hibernians 0-1, Sliema W. vs Lija A. 7-0
- First Division Mqabba vs Balzan Y. 0-0, St. Patrick vs Xghajra T. 1-2
- Second Division Dingli S. vs Luqa SA 1-2, Zebbug R. vs Msida SJ 1-2
- Third Division Sta. Lucia vs Siggiewi 1-3, Vittoriosa S. vs Gharghur 2-0
- Women's League Melita vs Raiders 0-1, Hibernians vs Birkirkara 1-0
Hibernians were once again crowned champions of the Women's League. For the fourth year in succession, the Paolites managed to claim the title thanks to a 1-0 win, a goal by Lyndsay Shead, over second-placed Birkirkara. With three matches to go for the end of the season, Hibs lead by 12 points over Birkirkara. The Paolites are yet to suffer a goal after 12 matches. They only dropped two points in a draw, winning the other eleven matches.
- Gozo - First Division Zebbug R. vs Xewkija T. 1-2, Ghajnsielem vs Sannat L. 4-2
Sat 23
- Premier League Naxxar L. vs Floriana 0-3, Hamrun S. vs Marsa 2-3
- Second Division Mellieha vs Senglea A. 1-1, Sta. Venera L. vs Gzira U. 2-4
- Gozo - First Division Nadur Y. vs Victoria H. 5-4
- Gozo - Second Division Xaghra U. vs Qala SJ 7-0
Fri 22
- Third Division Ghaxaq vs St. George's 0-7, Ta' Xbiex vs Pembroke A. 0-2
Thu 21
- Naxxar Lions striker Daniel Bogdanovic is set to join 1.FC Kosice in Slovakia following a trial with the club. But for the transfer to go through and the clearance to be issued, the Yugoslav-born striker has to pay an amount of money he owes.
After watching him in action during the Rothmans International Tournament, officials from the club invited the Malta international striker for a trial. The trial turned out to be a successful one and he was also included in a friendly match on Tuesday where he managed to score a goal in a 2-0 win.
Daniel Bogdanovic arrived in Malta in October 1998 together with his father Milosar Bogdanovic who coached Hamrun Spartans for a short period during season 1998/99. Bogdanovic moved to Gozo and later played in Tunisia where he managed to win three National League titles with Esperance Sportive Tunis.
The Yugoslav striker joined Sliema mid-way through last season after a short trial with Floriana. This summer, Bogdanovic had joined Vasas SC in Hungary on a free-transfer together with Orosco Anonam. After playing, and scoring regularly, in friendly matches, he only made a couple of short appearances in league matches before having to return back to Malta when the bankrupt club was no longer able to honour his contract and pay his salary. With Naxxar, Bogdanovic was a key player and a regular scorer, proving to be one of the most in-form strikers in the Premier League.
Kosice are currently in relegation trouble as they are ninth out of ten teams in the Mars Superliga. At the end of the first round, they lie four points ahead of wooden-spoonists ZTS Kerametal Dubnica n/Vahom. The second round gets underway this weekend when Kosice meet Matador Puchov.
Wed 20
- Birkirkara midfielder Joe Brincat and Valletta defender Darren Debono will both miss the first game in the Championship Pool after being suspended by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner. Brincat and Debono together with Pietà striker Malcolm Licari collected their fourth yellow card during the weekend. But while Licari will miss the last match from the first phase against Hibernians, Brincat and Debono will be unavailable for the first league game from the Championship Pool since the second round commitments for Valletta and Birkirkara are over.
Tue 19
- Malta will be hosting France on Wednesday October 16 at the National Stadium - Ta' Qali in the Group 1 of the Qualifying Round of the 10th European Championship - EURO 2004 in Portugal. This emerged from a meeting which was held in Cyprus in order to discuss the schedule. Malta was represented by MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud, general secretary Joe Gauci, treasurer Alex Manfre and national coach Sigi Held. Malta starts its commitments in Ljubljana, Slovenia on September 7. Malta hosts Israel on October 12 and then France four days later. Malta then travels to Nicosia to play against Cyprus on November 20. After a four-month break, Malta plays against France at the Stade de France on March 29, 2003. Malta hosts Slovenia at the National Stadium on April 30 and Cyprus on June 7, 2003. The last match for Malta is against Israel in Tel-Aviv on September 9, 2003.
- The committee of Sliema Wanderers is expected to take disciplinary action against the players following the disappointing performance by the Blues in their last league match against Floriana on Sunday. Sliema lost 0-2 enabling the Greens to register a double as they had also won the game 1-0 in the first round.
Ironically following the first round defeat to Floriana, a similar meeting was held in order to discuss the club's situation. However the main difference is that at that time, the main target seemed to be coach Jeff Wood and now, players are carrying the blame. It is believed that president Robert Arrigo and his committee were furious with the players following their poor performance. All the players who were included in Sunday's game are being accused of not giving their hundred per cent.
Among the measures which could possibly be taken is that of putting the players' salaries on hold. Sliema, so far, are one of the very few clubs which were paying their players on time. Sliema players are being paid a fixed amount of Lm150 plus a bonus for each game depending on results. Players are also expected to be fined Lm300 each.
The defeat to Floriana meant that Sliema lost the opportunity to move in second place behind leaders Birkirkara with the possibility to move on top of the table when they meet Lija Athletic in the last match from the end of the first phase.
Mon 18
- Birkirkara FC midfielder Joe Brincat was voted as the Rothmans Player of the Month for January 2002. Brincat was one of the key players for the Stripes which helped them move on top of the table. The 31-year-old Malta international striker made his debut in the Premier League with Hamrun Spartans during season 1986-87. He played for eight years with Hamrun before moving to Floriana in 1994-95. After less than four years with the Greens, Brincat joined Birkirkara. In his career, Joe Brincat won all major honours the local game can offer, including the Player of the Year award in 1992-93 and League Top Scorer with 19 goals in 1997-98 after scoring 8 goals for Birkirkara and 11 goals for Floriana.
Brincat considers one of the highest points in his career the Premier Division title with Hamrun Spartans in season 1986-87 at the age of 17 years. Other high points in his career were the qualification for the first round proper of the UEFA Cup this season with Birkirkara, at the expense of Lokomotiv Tbilisi, and the goal he scored for Malta in the 1-2 home defeat to Germany in a friendly international in September 1998. Joe Brincat's ambition is to retain the Premier Division title with Birkirkara this season.
Joe dedicates this award to his family and to his parents. In fact, he always spends any spare time in the company of his family.
Sun 17
- Premier League Floriana vs Sliema W. 2-0, Valletta vs Birkirkara 0-0
- First Division Qormi vs Marsaxlokk 1-1, Mosta vs Rabat A. 2-3
- Second Division Melita vs Attard 2-2, Zurrieq vs Tarxien R. 0-0
- Third Division San Gwann vs Kirkop U. 1-0, Mgarr U. vs Gudja U. 2-2
- Women's League Rabat A. vs Hibernians 0-1, Birkirkara vs Mosta 1-0
- Gozo - First Division Sannat L. vs Zebbug R. 2-4, Oratory Y. vs Ghajnsielem 2-1
Sat 16
- Premier League Marsa vs Pietà H. 2-3, Lija A. vs Hamrun S. 1-2
- Second Division Msida SJ vs Dingli S. 4-0, Luqa SA vs Mellieha 2-4
- Gozo - First Division Xewkija T. vs Victoria H. 3-3
- Gozo - Second Division SK Victoria W. vs St. Lawrence S. 2-2
Fri 15
- Third Division Gharghur vs Birzebbuga SP 0-4, Siggiewi vs Zejtun C. 0-1 abandoned on 58 minutes due to fog
Thu 14
- Malta's win in the eleventh edition of the Rothmans International Tournament was shadowed by the serious injury incurred by Malta captain David Carabott. Six minutes from time, Moldova defender Eduard Grosu tried to block a run by Carabott in rugby-style and the Valletta player was forced to abandon the pitch on a stretcher and was immediately taken to hospital. Carabott, who was playing the 107th match for the national team, fractured the shin of his left leg. He underwent an operation late on Wednesday night. Carabott will be operated once again early next week. This was a deep blow for Malta and Valletta as this injury is expected to leave David Carabott out of the pitch for several months.
- Naxxar Lions player-coach Edmond Lufi was handed a four-month ban. However this suspension is limited to banning Lufi only from acting as coach. Lufi was reported for dissent during the Youth League Section B match against Siggiewi which the latter won 3-2.
- The closing date for entries to the first competition of the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge 2002 is this Saturday, 23rd February 2002. Chelsea Supporters Club - Malta reminded all Nursery Clubs that the competition is open for young footballers born in 1989 and in 1990, registered with nursery clubs in Malta and Gozo. The participants will be asked to perform three set exercises in the following skills - dribbling, ball juggling and shooting. This challenge will take place in two sessions. The first will be held on March 23, and the final session on April 13, 2002.
Wed 13
- Rothmans Tournament Malta vs Moldova 3-0, Lithuania vs Jordan 0-3
- After the win over Jordan and the draw with Lithuania, Malta climbed five places in the FIFA World Rankings as published on Wednesday. Malta now lies in the 126th place. Among the other European countries, Malta moves closer to Azerbaijan and the Faroe Islands who are now ranked 114th and 119th respectively. Both countries lost one place. Behind Malta are Andorra (142nd), Luxembourg (145th), Liechtenstein (152nd) and San Marino (158th). There were no changes at the top of the rankings with France on top, followed by Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Colombia, Italy, Spain, Holland, Mexico and England.
- Maltese referee Joe Attard controlled the friendly match between Italy and the United States which was played in Catania. The match ended in a 1-0 win for Italy, a goal by Alessandro Del Piero. Attard, one of Malta's four referees on the FIFA list, was by Philip Agius and Ronnie Farrugia.
Mon 11
- Rothmans Tournament Moldova vs Jordan 2-0, Malta vs Lithuania 1-1
- Damian Iwueke is the first MFA/FIFA licenced players' agent in Malta. According to the Players' Agents regulations approved by the MFA, players and clubs are no longer allowed to deal with persons who are not licenced agents in the transfer of players. Penalties for engaging the services of non-licensed agents may include suspension of a player and/or a club, a fine of Lm3,000 for players and Lm5,000 for clubs and a ban for players or clubs on any kind of national and/or international football activity. Among the Nigerian players who arrived in Malta thanks to Iwueke are Murphy Akanji and Orosko Anonam of Sliema, Sunday Eboh and Chris Okoh of Birkirkara, Maczerob Okoro of Valletta, Digger Okonkwo of Pieta, Daddy Okeke of Lija, Ferdinand Onovo of Mosta, Minabo Asechemie of Marsa, Anthony Evi-Parker of Nadur and Benneth Njoku of Xewkija Tigers.
Sun 10
- First Division Qormi vs Mosta 1-3, Rabat A. vs St. Patrick 4-2, Marsaxlokk vs Balzan Y. 2-0, St. Andrews vs Gozo 1-1
- Second & Third Division Knock-Out Zebbug R. vs Senglea A. 2-0, Msida SJ vs Dingli S. 1-1 aet (1-4 pen)
- Third Division Vittoriosa S. vs Fgura U. 2-1, Sta. Lucia vs Sirens 2-2
- Women's League Birkirkara vs Rabat A. 2-0, Mosta vs Raiders 4-1
Sat 9
- Rothmans Tournament Lithuania vs Moldova 1-0, Malta vs Jordan 2-1
- The contract signed by MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud and which raised so much controversy over the past months after all turned out to be a better deal than the one which the Premier clubs had negotiated with another TV rights company.
Thanks to the contract with CWL, the company with which the MFA has been working for the past decade, the association receives 3,850,000 Swiss Francs (equivalent to about Lm 1,050,000). On the other hand, VH Sport Media's offer would have amounted to 3,833,000 Swiss Francs (about Lm1,045,000) which is therefore about Lm 5,000 less than that of CWL.
According to the draws for the European Championships which placed Malta in a group with France, Slovenia, Israel and Cyprus, both CWL and VH Media would have offered another sum but only if this exceeded a certain ceiling. Only if for example, Malta would have been drawn with a big country from the second level of seedings, like England instead of Slovenia, would the VH Media offer turn out to be better.
- Sliema Wanderers goalkeeper was back in action for Nigeria when he was named in the starting line-up in the final for third and fourth place in the African Nations Cup which is being held in Mali. The Super Eagles defeated hosts Mali 1-0, a goal by Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Akanji, who played a good game keeping the Mali strikers at bay, was one of the several non-regular players who were included by coach Shuaibu Amodu. Nigeria did not live up to the expectations during the tournament and the current situation is being described as the end of an era.
Fri 8
- Third Division Gudja U. vs Pembroke A. 0-2, Kirkop U. vs St. George's 1-1
- The national team of Jordan arrived in Malta on Thursday morning in view of the Rothmans International Tournament which gets underway on Saturday at the National Stadium. The squad, under the guide of coach Issa Mohammed Yacoub Alturik, held its first training session on Thursday afternoon and will be holding other training sessions on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday.
The delegations of Moldova and Lithuania are due to arrive on Friday. The Moldovan delegation will be arriving on a charter flight from Chisinau at 11:40 while that of Lithuania arrives at 15:45 on a charter flight from Vilnius.
Moldova will be holding training sessions daily between Friday and Tuesday. On the other hand, the Lithuanian squad will have three training sessions - on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday.
The Lithuanian squad is made up of goalkeepers: Eduardas Kurskis and Modestas Stonys; defenders Ignas Dedura, Darius Sanajevas, Tomas Kancelskis, Darius Regelskis and Marius Skinderis; midfielders Raimundas Kucys, Tomas Daumantas, Mindaugas Gardzijauskas, Robertas Ringys, Orestas Buitkus, Raimondas Zutautas, Nerijus Vasiliauskas and forwards Ricardas Beniušis, Tomas Danilevicius, Vitalijus Kavaliauskas and Andrius Puotkalis.
Thu 7
- Twenty-year old Simon Vella, a centre-half with Scottish Second Division side Stenhousemuir has been invited by the Malta Football Association to join the Malta squad for the Rothmans Tournament.
Vella, whose father is Maltese, started his football career as a schoolboy with Wimbledon where he played for several years until earning a contract and obtaining a regular place in Wimbledon's Reserve team. Last season, he was loaned to Sutton United. Following a trial with Scottish side Clyde, he signed for Stenhousemuir in August.
After obtaining the Maltese passport, he contacted the MFA showing his willingness to play for the national team. The Rothmans Tournament turned out to be an ideal opportunity for the association and national coach Sigi Held to offer Vella the possibility to join the squad on trial.
He arrived in Malta on Thursday and attended the first training session on Friday. He is therefore not expected to be included in the squad for the first match against Jordan.
Wed 6
- Hibernians striker Adrian Mifsud is ruled out of the Malta squad for the Rothmans International Tournament which gets underway on Saturday. Mifsud sustained an injury during Hibernians' last league match against Birkirkara last Saturday.
Birkirkara midfielder Antoine Zahra has regained full fitness after being on the sidelines for several weeks due to injury while Sliema duo Noel Turner and Brian Said were also confirmed in the squad despite resuming training only recently. On the other hand, Hubert Suda is unavailable for selection through a long-term injury.
Carlo Mamo and Daniel Bogdanovic are the most recent additions to the national squad.
The full squad at national coach Sigi Held's disposal is made up of goalkeepers: Saviour Darmanin (Pietà), Mario Muscat (Hibernians); defenders: William Camenzuli (Birkirkara), David Carabott (Valletta), Jeffrey Chetcuti (Valletta), Ian Ciantar (Sliema), Darren Debono (Valletta), Luke Dimech (Sliema), Carlo Mamo (Sliema), Brian Said (Sliema), Daniel Theuma (Valletta); midfielders: Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Joe Brincat (Birkirkara), David Camilleri (Sliema), Jonathan Holland (Floriana), Noel Turner (Sliema), Antoine Zahra (Birkirkara) and forwards: Daniel Bogdanovic (Naxxar), Malcolm Licari (Pietà), George Mallia (Floriana), Michael Mifsud (Kaiserslautern), Miguel Mifsud (Hibernians), Chucks Nwoko (Birkirkara)
Malta plays the first game on Saturday against Jordan at 5pm. Malta then faces Lithuania on Monday and Moldova on Wednesday.
- New Moldova coach Viktor Pasulko named a 22-man squad for the Rothmans International Tournament which kicks-off on Saturday. Pasulko, a former USSR international, replaces Alexandru Spiridon who had been acting as caretaker coach following the resignation of Alexandru Matsura, who resigned last June after a heavy 0-6 defeat to Sweden.
Moldova meet Lithuania on Saturday, Jordan on Monday and then Malta on Wednesday.
The squad is made up of goalkeepers: Alexei Jmurco (Agro Chisinau), Alexandr Melenciuc (Constructorul Cioburciu); defenders: Liviu Andriuta (Dacia Chisinau), Alexandr Budanov (Constructorul Cioburciu), Andrei Donici (Agro Chisinau), Eduard Grosu (Tiligul Tiraspol), Ion Zabolotnii (Constructorul Cioburciu)
Maxim Cebotari (Unisport Chisinau); midfielders: Oleg Sischin (Saturn, Russia), Valery Andronic (Dinamo Poiana Cimpina, Romania),
Andrei Matiura (Zimbru Chisinau), Vladimir Japalau (Dacia Chisinau),
Alexandr Gatcan (Unisport Chisinau), Evgheny Boicenco (Agro Chisinau),
Vasile Postu (Unisport Chisinau), Ghenadie Orbu (Dacia Chisinau) and forwards: Igor Tigirlas (Serif Tiraspol), Ghenadie Orbu (Dacia Chisinau),
Dumitru Gusila (Zimbru Chisinau), Alexandr Golban (Dacia Chisinau),
Aurel Druta (Constructorul Cioburciu), Victor Barisev (Constructorul Cioburciu).
- Pieta defender Pierre Aquilina is the only player to be suspended in the Premier League by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner. Aquilina collected a fourth yellow card in the match against Lija on Sunday. He will now miss Pieta's next league match against Marsa on February 16.
Tue 5
- Premier League Hamrun S. vs Floriana 1-0
Sun 3
- Premier League Pietà H. vs Lija A. 3-0, Hamrun S. vs Floriana postponed
- First Division St. Patrick vs Qormi 2-1, St. Andrews vs Mqabba 1-1, Gozo vs Xghajra T. 1-1
- Second Division Gzira U. vs Zebbug R. 3-1, Senglea A. vs Zurrieq 0-0
- Third Division Mgarr U. vs Ta' Xbiex 0-2, San Gwann vs Ghaxaq 3-1
- Women's League Rabat A. vs Mosta 0-3, Melita vs Hibernians 0-0
- Sliema Wanderers goalkeeper Murphy Akanji was in action for Nigeria in the African Nations Cup quarter-final against Ghana on Sunday. Akanji replaced regular goalie Ike Shorunmu on 36 minutes as the latter suffered a head injury in a clash with a team mate. Nigeria had the lion's share of ball possession and Akanji had a relatively quiet evening. In fact the only difficult save he had to do occurred on 65 minutes when he performed a save from the corner as he dived on the foot of Emmanuel Kuffour. Garba Lawal scored for Nigeria on the 79th to put the Super Eagles in the semi-finals where they will be meeting Senegal.
- Pietà Hotspurs have sacked team manager Todor Raykov and appointed Patrick Curmi as the new manager.
In summer, Todor Raykov was appointed as head coach of the Pietà Hotspurs Youth Nursery. But after two consecutive defeats in the opening matches for Pietà Hotspurs, Italian manager Marco Savia resigned and Raykov stepped in as the new manager. However his appointment failed to produce the desired results. Match after match, players like Digger Okonkwo and Chris Okoh were left on the sidelines. The two Nigerian defenders, naturalised as Naltese, who were considered as the club's major signings after a most successful spell with Naxxar Lions, which had also earned them a place in the national squad. The team managed to win just nine points in two wins and three draws, losing the other eight matches. Pietà never managed to abandon the bottom places and they are currently ninth, one point ahead of wooden-spoonists Lija Athletic.
Patrick Curmi had started this season with Lija Athletic after winning the promotion last season. However last October, he had quit the club mainly due to interference by club officials. Patrick Curmi had started his coaching career as an assistant coach with Hamrun Spartans.
Sat 2
- Premier League Valletta vs Naxxar L. 5-1, Birkirkara vs Hibernians 1-1
- Second Division Attard vs Sta. Venera L. 1-0, Tarxien R. vs Melita 3-2
Fri 1
- Third Division Zejtun C. vs Sta. Lucia 3-0, Birzebbuga SP vs Vittoriosa S. 1-2