Champions MFPA start their league commitments against Żurrieq Wolves on Match Day 1 of the VMFA Hyundai Premier League.

The Malta Football Players Association dominated the proceedings last year and were crowned as champions on their own merit. Despite all this, they suffered a setback last week as they were dominated by Gżira Veterans in the Super Cup.

Therefore MFPA are ready to bounce back against a modest Żurrieq Wolves who will try to be a tough nut to crach for their opponents. It will not be an easy task for the Wolves but in this league everything could be possible.

Super Cup champions Gżira Veterans will face newly-formed Hibernians. The Maroons are on a high after winning the first honour of the season winning 10-4 against MFPA. They have a strong team with Ryan Fenech, Alex Muscat, Andrew Cohen, Jonathan Pearson and Arthur Oyama who offer a good guarantee for success.

On their part, Hibernians will be led by Italo Sultana with the team from Paola who acquired some experienced players in the process.

Żejtun Red Stars face Luxol St Andrews in another interesting encounters. The team led by Carmel Formosa will try to make amends of the second part of last season which was a bit of a disappointment as they couldn’t keep up with MFPA’s pace.

Luxol as usual will be there without pressure ready to create surprises but most of all gaining precious points.

Rabat Veterans play against Birkirkara St Helen’s in one of the matches which promises to be a balanced one. Both teams had a positive season and now their aim is to up their tempo to get a better position in the table.

The programme of this week’s matches is as follows:

Gżira United Veterans won the VMFA Super Cup after surprising champions MFPA winning 10-4 in the process.

The Maroons, who had a stronger side than last season, were trailing 3-1 at some point but after a quickfire reaction, they turned the tables into their favour to get a merited victory.

Former Maltese international Andrew Cohen notched a poker with Alex Muscat hitting a treble. Dino Cachia, Gilbert Camilleri Lowell and Arthur Oyama completed the score for the Maroons.

For MFPA, Aleksandar Ribic was three times on target with Jonathan Bondin adding to their tally.

At the end of the contest, VMFA committee member Chris Fenech presented the cup to the Gżira United captain Alex Muscat.

Gżira United Veterans: Matthew Towns, Alex Muscat, Andrew Cohen, Dino Cachia, Gilbert Camilleri Lowell, Jamie Pace, Kevin Vella, Roderick Sciberras, Trevor Cilia, Artur Oyama, Jonathan Pearson, Ryan Fenech.

MFPA: Reuben Gauci, Alexander Ribic, Branko Nisevic, Carlo Mamo, Jonathan Bondin, Michael Mifsud, Roderick Bajada, Mark Zammit, Manuel Sevasta, Stephen Wellman.

Referee: Gjorgji Bitri

Former Maltese international player Alex Muscat was chosen as the VMFA Player of the Year during the annual awards night held at Żurrieq Wolves.

Muscat, who plays for Gżira United Veterans, had an exceptional season as he also won the top scorers’ list with 26 goals. He also helped his team finish second in the Hyundai VMFA League.

Meanwhile, MFPA were the main protagonists of this season as they clinched the double (league and KO).

On the other hand, Gżira United won two other trophies, the David Cluett Memorial Cup and the Super Cup.

The Maltese selection from the VMFA saw off the English Fans 3-0 in an international friendly played at the Luxol Stadium.

The Maltese held most of the proceedings but found a determined English side who had a couple of chances although they didn’t manage to find the back of the net.

The Maltese side were leading 2-0 before half-time as Michael Galea scored a brace.

In the second half, both coaches Joe Micallef for the VMFA Selection and Garford Beck for the English Fans made a lot of substitutions with the Maltese managing to score another goal through Claudio Calleja who took advantage of a defensive blunder.

The English Fans is a team who plays regularly when the English national team play overseas. A few months ago they even had the chance to take part in an international tournament in Qatar during the World Cup 2022.

For the Maltese side, this was their second win in a few days as they had also won Glendale United PA 12-1.

Referee: Lorry Sammut

Malta Veterans obtained a mammoth 12-1 victory over English side Glendale Utd PA Vets in an international friendly played at the Luxol Stadium.

The Maltese side was dominant for long stretches of the match as they managed to score in a regular way.

Gareth Magri, Claudio Calleja, Mario Camilleri, Jurgen Mifsud and Craig Schembri netted a brace apiece while Adam Smeir and George Frendo added more goals for the Maltese Veterans.

MFPA managed to win the VMFA Trophy after seeing off Żejtun Red Stars 4-2 in the final. This was MFPA’s second success of the season after clinching the league to obtain a double.

MFPA administered most of the proceedings with Żejtun trying to produce a reaction but the latter found their opponents’ defence in good form to achieve their main aim.

Mark Zammit surged MFPA ahead with Michael Mifsud doubling the score.

Żejtun reduced the score but Aleksandr Ribic restored his team’s advantage before the interval.

In the second half, the plan of the match barely changed with MFPA finding the time to score their fourth goal through Mark Barbara, with Gilbert Camilleri Lowell scoring a beauty of a goal to make the final score 4-2.

After the end of the contest, VMFA president Malcolm Camilleri presented the cup to MFPA captain Carlo Mamo.

MFPA: Matthew Xerxen, Aleksandr Ribic, Branko Nisevic, Carlo Mamo, Charles Polidano, Manuel Sevasta, Michael Mifsud, Roderick Bajada, Stephen Wellman, Mark Barbara, Mark Zammit.

Żejtun Red Stars: Ludvic Fardell, Eric Saliba, Etienne Farrugia, Joseph Chetcuti, Michael Borg Olivier, Michael Ciappara, Nenad Stankic, Noel Tabone, George Frendo, Gilbert Camilleri Lowell.

Referee: Lorry Sammut.

Żejtun Red Stars and MFPA are the finalists of the VMFA Trophy as they eased past their respective opponents in the semifinals played yesterday.

A rollercoaster of emotions was witnessed in the first match as Żejtun Red Stars edged Birkirkara St Helen’s 10-9.

The Red Stars were leading 10-4 at some time but risked a lot in the last part of the game as the Birkirkara side made a swift reaction and scored five goals in the process although they were still eliminated.

Gilbert Camilleri Lowell netted a poker while George Frendo and Joseph Chetcuti scored a hat-trick with Birkirkara replying through braces by Claudio Calleja, Andy Portelli and Glenn Bonello with Etienne Farrugia, Robert Perkins, Christian Caruana also finding the back of the net.

Referee: Lorry Sammut.

Newly crowned league champions MFPA are still with the chance of obtaining a double after seeing off Luxol St Andrew’s 5-3.

It was a well-balanced encounter with MFPA who always had the edge but with Luxol who always hit back.

Mark Zammit was MFPA’s inspirational player as he netted a hat-trick with Mark Barbara and Alexander Ribic also on target.

Luxol scored their goals through Tim Elis, Michael Galea and Luke Satariano.

Referee: Lorry Sammut.

Luxol St Andrew’s and MFPA have qualified for the VMFA Trophy semifinals after winning their respective quarter-final matches.

MFPA saw off Rabat Veterans 10-6 in a very interesting match played in very bad weather conditions.

The Malta Football Players Association established an initial 5-0 advantage before the interval only to see Rabat scoring four goals to reduce the margin but with the Blues who weren’t so impressed as they netted some vital goals that gave them the final qualification.

Alexander Ribic scored a poker while Mark Barbara netted a hat-trick. Thomas Paris helped himself with a brace while Carlo Mamo added to their tally.

Christian Muscat scored a double for Rabat while Darren Galea, Dylan Falzon, Timothy Zammit and Kevin Loughborough kept their team in the game.

Referee: Reno Galea.

Luxol St Andrew’s also obtained their qualification to the last four of the competition after edging Pieta’ Hotspurs 3-2.

Michael Galea was their inspirational player as he scored a hat-trick with Pieta’ having Roderick Farrugia and Lawrence Vella on target.

Referee: Reno Galea.

The VMFA Trophy semifinals will be played next Monday as Żejtun Red Stars face Birkirkara St Helen’s while Luxol St Andrew’s will cross swords against MFPA.

Żejtun Red Stars and Birkirkara St Helen’s booked a place for the VMFA Trophy semifinals as they ousted their respective opponents.

Żejtun Red Stars saw off Gżira United Veterans 5-4 although they didn’t find the going easy with the Maroons giving their all to make it to the semifinals.

Gilbert Camilleri Lowell was inspirational for his team as he netted a hat-trick while Nikolay Filipov helped himself with a brace.

Gżira stayed in the game as the league’s top scorer Alex Muscat netted a hat-trick with Trevor Cilia also finding the back of the net.

Birkirkara St Helen’s beat Żurrieq Wolves 2-1 to make it for the last four of this competition.

It wasn’t an easy stroll for the Stripes who found the Wolves concentrated and not in the mood of giving any favours.

Despite all this, Birkirkara managed to qualify courtesy of a Clarence John Conger Thompson own goal and Andy Portelli’s goal with Alex Abdilla reducing the score for Żurrieq.

Next week, two other quarter-finals will determine the last two teams to qualify for the semifinals as champions MFPA play against Rabat Veterans while Luxol face Pieta’ Hotspurs.

The new VMFA Hyundai Premier League MFPA champions ended their commitments for this season in the best possible way when they beat Żurrieq Wolves 6-3 .

The Malta Football Players Association did not find it easy to impose their typical style of play for long stretches of the game as Żurrieq kept their pace despite the difference in the standings.
Stephen Wellman scored twice while Jonathan Bondin, Thomas Paris, Alexander Ribic and Roderick Bajada also found the back of the net.

Żurrieq scored thanks to Nicolai D’Amato, Mario Camilleri and Jurgen Mifsud.
At the end of the match, VMFA vice-president Stephen Wellman presented the cup to Branko Nisevic amidst the joy of the MFPA players.

In another game, Birkirkara St Helen’s finished the league in third place although they found it Rabat Veterans as a tough nut to crack. The final scoreline was 6-4.
Claudio Calleja was the protagonist for the Stripes as he scored a poker while Glenn Bonello was had a personal brace.

Rabat stayed in the game as Adam Smeir scored a hat-trick with Christian Muscat adding another for his team.

Meanwhile Alex Muscat of Gżira United finished as the best scorer with 26 goals followed by Adam Smeir of Rabat with 22 goals and Claudio Calleja of Birkirkara St Helen’s with 22.

FINAL STANDINGS – VMFA Hyundai Premier League