DEEM CAMILLERI

Gzira United and Birkirkara St Helen’s are still joint leaders of the VMFA Cisk Premier League table as they won their respective matches.

Birkirkara were clinical and took many of their chances as they ran out with a convincing 9-3 win over a lacklustre Rabat.
Firas Aboulezz scoring a hat-trick while Malcolm Bugeja and Daniel Cremona both added to the score line with a brace each. Kevin sammut and Andy Portelli were the other two who joined the party of goals.

Rabat looked for a way to come back into the game with three goals from Timothy Spiteri, Darren Galea and Joseph Caruana but these goals only sufficed into making matters more respectable and nothing more.

Gżira edged Hibernians 3-2 in a highly balanced encounter. Gzira coming out as winners thanks to a brace from Gilbert Camilleri Lowell and another one from Dino Cachia proving to be crucial. Hibernians were unlucky to not get anything from the game with Glenn Bonello scoring a brace which wasn’t enough for the team from Paola.

These were important wins for Birkirkara and Gzira respectively as they continue to cement their place at the top of the table as joint leaders. Birkirkara now on top on goal difference due to their huge win against Rabat.

Zejtun Redstars came out as deserved winners over their opponents Luxol. Beating the latter 6-3 with two braces from Malcolm Camilleri and Pierre Spiteri respectively, while Renjos Farrugia and Nikolai Filipov also contributed to Zejtuns victory. Manolito Micallef, Micheal galea and Luke Satariano also got on the scoresheet but their efforts only proving as consolation.

MFPA were dominant against Żurrieq Wolves as they won 7-0. Man of the Match Mark Barbara scoring a poker, while Thomas Paris and Roderick Bajada also adding to the flurry of goals, with a brace and a goal respectively.

STANDINGS – VMFA CISK PREMIER LEAGUE

Gżira United, Birkirkara St Helen’s 19, MFPA 14, Hibernians 12, Rabat Veterans, Luxol 10 , Żejtun Red Stars 9, Żurrieq Wolves 0

The second round of the CISK Veterans Premier League is all set to kickoff on Wednesday night as Matchday 8 will commence with Zejtun Red Stars Veterans taking on Luxol St Andrews Veterans.

The Red Stars have to improve in their performance as they only grabbed six points from the first round. One of their problems seems to be the attack as they are not being consistent in front of goal.

On their part, Luxol started very well their commitments of the first round but suffered some unexpected defeats that left them only with ten points in the table.

Luxol won their first encounter against Żejtun 6-1.

Żurrieq Wolves A.S.C will look to open their points tally for the season as they come up against the Malta Football Players Association (MFPA). The latter are on a high after winning the David Cluett Memorial Cup as they saw off Hibernians 3-1. They are favourites to win the three points at stake to resume their quest for the title.

MFPA won 3-1 their first match against the Wolves.
The last two games of Matchday 8 will take place on Thursday when joint leaders Birkirkara Saint Helen Veterans FC encounter Rabat Veterans.

The Birkirkara side are having a positive season as they have a total of 16 points. The team are scoring important goals and their players are having a consistent season.

Rabat had their ups and downs till now but hope to create the surprise.

In the first round, Birkirkara won 5-3.

The last match of this Matchday will feature Gzira United FC Veterans who will look to strengthen their grip on first place as they face third place Hibernians FC Veterans a crucial fixture which could definitely be considered as a six-pointer at the upper end of the table.

Gżira had the upperhand in the first round as they saw off Hibernians 5-3.

STANDINGS – VMFA CISK PREMIER LEAGUE

Gżira United, Birkirkara St Helen’s 16, Hibernians 12, MFPA 11, Rabat Veterans, Luxol 10 , Żejtun Red Stars 6, Żurrieq Wolves 0

The Veterans Malta Football Association organized a testimonial game between the friends of the former Floriana and Maltese national team goalkeeper David Cluett.

This game was held before the final of the David Cluett Memorial Cup at St Dorothy’s Ground in Żebbuġ. Several former players took part in this game including Dennis Cauchi, Mark Galea, Mario Caruana, Charles Sciberras, Richard Buhagiar, Malcolm Camilleri, Ernest Barry, Martin Gregory and Michel Degiorgio. They were also joined by Carlos Cluett and Daniel Cluett who also had the chance to play part of the game.

In the presence of Fr Hillary Tagliaferro and the guests for the occasion Carmel Busuttil, John Buttigieg and Edwin Camilleri, several of these players recounted nostalgically those moments when they used to grace the football field with their style of play.

VMFA president Malcolm Camilleri thanked all the players who attended this match. He reitarated the fact that the aim of this association is to keep these former international players active in a sporting and friendly spirit.

MFPA won the second edition of the David Cluett Memorial Cup when they beat Hibernians Veterans 3-1 in the final.

It was a very balanced game at first with both sides defending boldly to deny the respective strikers to score.

Shortly before the end of the first half, MFPA surged ahead through Stephen Wellman who saw his grounder beat Camilleri.

In the second half, MFPA remained consistent and doubled the score through Alexander Ribic who received well from Thomas Paris before slotting home.

Hibernians entered the game after Ilia Nazarov advanced from the right and scored with a low shot to make it 2-1.

Despite everything, MFPA were a determined lot and scored the third goal as Alexander Ribic took advantage of a quick counterattack that caught the Paolites defence unprepared.

At the end of the match, MFPA captain Carlo Mamo was presented with the winning cup amid the joy of his team mates.

MFPA: Etienne Scicluna, Alex Ribic, Carlo Mamo, Gareth Sciberras, Luke Cauchi, Manuel Sevasta, Stephen Wellman, Alexander Marinkovic, Mark Zammit, Thomas Paris.

Hibernians: Clinton Camilleri, Adrian Lanzon, Alan Tabone, Ilia Nazarov, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Leandros Calleja, Massimo Schembri, Mauro Brincat, Renato Conceicao, Roderick Farrugia, Stefan Cauchi, Thomas Caruana.

Referees: Gjorgji Bitri, Peter Abela.

MFPA and Hibernians Veterans will contest tomorrow’s David Cluett Memorial Cup Final after winning their respective semifinal encounter.

Malta Football Players Association produced a perfect game against Birkirkara Saint Helen Veterans FC beating them 6-0. Mark Zammit and Thomas Paris were on top form as they scored a hat-trick each.

In the second semifinal, Hibernians FC Veterans saw off Rabat Veterans 6-2. The Paolites had six different scorers as Thomas Caruana, Leandros Calleja, Massimo Schembri, Ilia Nazarov, Lawrence Vella and Adrian Lanzon hit the target for their team.

Rabat reduced the arrears through Ibrahim Tarek and Chris Muscat.

The final of the David Cluett Memorial Cup will be played tomorrow at the St Dorothy’s Ground in Żebbuġ with the kick-off set at 8pm.

MFPA, Birkirkara St Helen’s, Hibernians and Rabat booked a place in the semifinals of the David Cluett Memorial Cup.

Hibernians obtained a hard-earned victory over holders Gżira United as they saw them off 3-2.

The match was uncertain till the very end with the Paolites managing to turn the result to their favour after being 1-0 down before half-time. In the second half they scored three goals with the Maroons netting another dramatic goal that despite everything was not enough.

Adrian Lanzon, Mauro Brincat and Leandros Calleja were on target for the Paolites with Gżira reducing the score through Valdo Alinho and Christian Cassar.

Malta Football Players Association managed to beat Zurrieq Wolves in a very tight contested match. Roderick Bajada put Mfpa ahead in the first half and closed the score 1-0 at the break. Zurrieq went out to search for an equalizer and half way trough the second half Robert Zammit scored to level the score to 1-1. As the game was approaching the final whistle Mfpa striker Aleksander Marinkovic scored the winning goal to make the final score 2-1.

Birkirkara Saint Helen Veterans FC defeated Luxol St Andrews Veterans 9-5. The former team played some attractive football throughout the game as Firas Aboullez hit a poker, Malcolm Bugeja scored a hat-trick and Daniel Cremona scored two goals.

For Luxol Michael Galea also scored a hat-trick while Mauro German Camoranesi and Luke Satariano scored the other goals.

The semifinals of this competition are scheduled on Monday as MFPA meet Birkirkara St Helen’s while Rabat face Hibernians.

Gżira United and Birkirkara St Helen’s registered important wins at the end of the first round of the VMFA Cisk Premier League as they maintained their leadership in the table.

Gżira United recorded an important 6-4 win over Rabat Veterans.

Ian Zammit maintained his goal scoring spree as he netted a brace with Jonathan Pearson, Lydon Micallef, Gilbert Camilleri Lowell and Dino Cachia also on target.

Rabat stayed in the game after goals from Darren Galea (2) Dylan Falzon and an own goal.

Luxol St Andrews Veterans bounced back after last week’s heavy defeat against MFPA as they won a tight match against Hibernians FC Veterans 6-4.

Prolific scorer Michael Galea was on fine form as he netted a poker, Manolito Micallef and Clayton Bonello scored a goal each. Hibernians’ goals came from Jeffrey Chetcuti, Alan Tabone, Ilia Nazarov and Mauro Brincat.

Birkirkara Saint Helen Veterans FC came from 1-0 down at half time against Zurrieq Wolves to win the match 5-2. Daniel Cremona and Malcolm Bugeja scored a brace each while Claudio Calleja scored the other goal

MFPA continued their progress as they won 8-2 against Żejtun Red Stars.

Luke Cauchi scored a hat-trick with Aleksandar Ribic, Branko Nisevic, Carlo Mamo, Gareth Sciberras and Manuel Sevasta also finding the back of the net.

Mark Ellul and Nikolay Filipov were Żejtun’s scorers.

STANDINGS – VMFA CISK PREMIER LEAGUE

Gżira United, Birkirkara St Helen’s 16, Hibernians 12, MFPA 11, Rabat Veterans, Luxol 10 , Żejtun Red Stars 6, Żurrieq Wolves 0

Match Day 7 of the VMFA Cisk Premier League will commence today with four important fixtures that will end the first round of this competition.

Hibernians FC hope to maintain their good form of late as they meet Luxol St Andrews. The Paolites are coming from two smart victories over MFPA (6-2) and Rabat Veterans (6-4) and are now second in the table, one point behind the leading duo.

Leandros Calleja is shining for Hibernians having scored six goals during this season.

On their part, Luxol are coming from a heavy 10-1 defeat against champions MFPA and are ready to make amends in today’s game.

Birkirkara St Helen’s are ready to finish the first round on top as they meet Żurrieq Wolves. The latter are still searching to break their duck as they lost all their six outings.

The Stripes have a strong side and are favourites to win the three points at stake.

In the most awaited clash of match day 7, Gżira United play Rabat Veterans. Both sides had a successful tournament till now although in the last match, the Magpies conceded their second defeat of the season as they lost 6-4 against Hibernians.

Gżira are joint leaders with Birkirkara and are adamant to continue this run although they know that this will not be an easy outing.

Champions MFPA cross swords with Żejtun Red Stars in a match which promises to be a highly balanced one.

MFPA are making progress after a very shaky start and last week’s 10-1 win over Luxol showed that the team is still in the contention for the league.

Żejtun Red Stars are also improving in their outings and although they lost 5-3 against Birkirkara St Helen’s, they still showed their fighting spirit throughout the game.

STANDINGS– VMFA CISK PREMIER LEAGUE

Gżira United, Birkirkara St Helen’s 13, Hibernians 12, Rabat Veterans 10, MFPA 8, Luxol 7, Żejtun Red Stars 6, Żurrieq Wolves 0

Hibernians climbed second in the VMFA Cisk Premier League as they brushed aside the stiff opposition given by Rabat Veterans to win 6-4.

It was a well-balanced match between two teams who had in their ranks some good quality players. In the end, the Paolites had the last laugh to get the most important three points and leapfrog the same opponents and go on the 12-point mark, one point behind joint leaders Gżira United and Birkirkara St Helen’s.

Leandros Calleja, Ilia Nazarov, Mauro Brincat, Roderick Farrugia,Thomas Caruana and an own goal scored for Hibs with Rabat always in the game through a hat-trick by Ibrahim Tarek and a goal by Chris Muscat.

Champions MFPA returned to winning ways after seeing off Luxol St Andrews 10-1. The latter were a disappointing lot as they suffered a lot in defence with the Malta Football Players Association taking advantage.

MFPA had Aleksandar Marinkovic notching a hat-trick with Roderick Bajada and Gareth Sciberras helping themselves with a brace. Thomas Paris, Carlo Mamo and Jonathan Bondin also were on the score sheet for their team.

Mano Micallef was on target for Luxol.

STANDINGS– VMFA CISK PREMIER LEAGUE

Gżira United, Birkirkara St Helen’s 13, Hibernians 12, Rabat Veterans 10, MFPA 8, Luxol 7, Żejtun Red Stars 6, Żurrieq Wolves 0

Rabat Veterans are ready to join Gżira United and Birkirkara St Helen’s on top of the VMFA Cisk Premier League as they meet Hibernians in the most awaited fixture of match day 6 which will be completed this week after being postponed due to inclement weather.

Both clubs are passing from a bright patch with the Paolites one point behind the Magpies. Both of them are coming from a victory and their main aim is to continue with this winning trend.

Hibernians have a very good and balanced squad and will certainly be a tough nut to crack for the Magpies.

MFPA hope to return to winning ways as they meet Luxol. Both sides have lost their last encounter and are willing to gain points especially Luxol who want to remain as part of the title contenders’ group.

STANDINGS – VMFA CISK PREMIER LEAGUE

Gżira United, Birkirkara St Helen’s 13, Rabat Veterans 10, Hibernians 9, Luxol 7, Żejtun Red Stars 6, MFPA 5, Żurrieq Wolves 0