The David Cluett Memorial Cup holders MFPA started their commitments in the best possible way when they saw off debutants Floriana Veterans 6-2.

Their prolific striker Aleksandar Ribic netted a brace while George Frendo, Julian Galea, Thomas Paris and Jonathan Bondin added more goals for the Malta Football Players Association.

The Greens had Gilbert Scerri who scored a personal double.

Rabat achieved a good 6-2 victory over Żejtun Red Stars in order to advance to the last four of this competition.

The main protagonists for the Magpies were Melvin Borg, Ibrahim Tarek and Timothy Zammit who scored twice each.

Żejtun Red Stars reduced the scoring margin with a double by Noel Tabone.

Gzira United registered the biggest victory of the day after a 11-1 scoreline against Hibernians.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was the protagonist for the Maroons when he scored four goals, with Ian Zammit scoring a hat trick. Arthur Oyama netted a personal brace while Kevin Sammut and Daniel Mariano Bueno added to their tally.

Ilia Nazarov scored the only goal for the Paolites.

Three goals by Firaz Aboulezz and another goal by Bojan Kaljevic were enough for Birkirkara St Helen’s to beat Żurrieq Wolves 4-1. For the latter, Kevin Vella reduced the scoring margin.

Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Veterans Malta Football Association (VMFA) on Tuesday, marking a significant step in integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into Malta’s football community.

Under the agreement, Chinese medical teams from the MRCTCM will offer TCM treatments and rehabilitation services to retired Maltese footballers who are still actively competing. This follows the MRCTCM’s partnership with Senglea Athletic Football Club in August, the first introduction of TCM to Malta’s football scene.

VMFA President Malcolm Camilleri highlighted the importance of this collaboration for the association’s eight teams of retired players, aged 35 to 55, many of whom suffer from muscle pain, ligament injuries, and other sports-related conditions. “It’s a good thing that we have someone to take care of our injuries,” said Camilleri, expressing optimism about TCM’s ability to alleviate and heal these injuries.

The MoU, valid for two years, may be extended if successful, with Camilleri hoping for an even longer-term partnership.

Feng Hua, head of the 19th Chinese medical team for Malta, explained that TCM therapies such as acupuncture and massage can help football players by relaxing muscles, reducing inflammation, and speeding up recovery with minimal side effects. She stressed that the partnership aims to provide holistic care, including rehabilitation and mental well-being, while also boosting awareness of TCM in Malta.

The MRCTCM, established in 1994 through a collaboration between the Chinese and Maltese governments, has treated around 250,000 Maltese patients with the help of 19 Chinese medical teams over the years.

Holders Malta Football Players Association (VMFA) will begin the defence of the David Cluett Memorial Cup when they play against debutants Floriana. as the draws for this competition organized by the Veterans Malta Football Association were held yesterday. This competition will also open its season on the 18th of September.

Meanwhile in the other quarter-finals, last year’s finalists Hibernians have a tough match against Gżira United while Rabat Veterans and Birkirkara St Helen’s were pitted to play against Żejtun Red Stars and Żurrieq Wolves respectively.

The semi-finals of this competition will be played on September 23 with the final scheduled three days later.

This is the third edition of this competition which commemorates the former Floriana and Malta goalkeeper of Floriana and of the Maltese national team David Cluett.

Photos: Domenic Aquilina

The Malta veterans won the MUSC Cup after beating Manchester Reds 4-0 in a game played at the Centenary Stadium.

The Maltese players took advantage of the opportunities that came their way and punished the Manchester veterans four times without reply.

This match was organised by the Manchester United Supporters Club Malta and was the climax to a series of events commemorating the club’s 65th anniversary. Former Red Devils’ players such as Jaap Stam, Ronny Johnsen and other former players had the chance to measure themselves with the Maltese Veterans.

The Maltese surged ahead in the first half courtesy of a Michael Galea’s header while in the second half Mark Barbara, Kevin Sammut and Ian Zammit added more goals for their team.

At the end of the contest, Manchester United Supporters Club president Joseph Tedesco presented the cup to veterans’ captain Brian Said.

The Maltese started with this formation:

Mario Muscat, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Carlo Mamo, Brian Said, Stephen Wellman, Gareth Sciberras, Kevin Sammut, Roderick Bajada, Michael Galea, Jamie Pace, Aleksandar Ribic.

The Veterans Malta Football Association held its Annual General Meeting yesterday at the MFA Headquarters in Ta Qali.

VMFA President Malcolm Camilleri thanked the three outgoing Executive Committee members, Chris Fenech (General Secretary) as well as Executive Committee members Mark Mizzi and Eric Saliba.

Three new members were appointed to the VMFA Executive Committee, namely Kevin Loughborough, Mario Camilleri and Charles Polidano, with Malcolm Camilleri (President), Stephen Wellman (Vice-President), Mark Micallef (Treasurer) and Antoine Sammut (Committee Member) retaining their posts.

VMFA re-iterated that it will continue working towards attracting a number of ex-players to the league which already boasts over 30 ex-National Team players and confirmed that next season at least two new teams will be joining the VMFA Premier League.

The Malta Veterans dominated the match hammered Whitegate United 6-1 in an international friendly played at the Charles Abela Stadium in Mosta.

The Maltese led by coach Joe Micallef were winning 1-0 until the interval with the second half which resulted in an aggressive one as they managed to score five more goals.

Adam Smeir put the Maltese ahead on 35 minutes with Ian Zammit doubling the score on the hour mark.

On 67 minutes, the Maltese made it 3-0 after David Azzopardi passed to Luke Satariano who made no mistake.

Although Whitegate United reduced the score in the 71st minute, the Maltese remained concentrated and scored three more goals through Daniel Cremona, a beautiful free kick by Kevin Sammut and another goal by Adam Smeir who thus completed a personal brace.

Malta: Roderick Debattista, Jonathan Bondin, Gareth Magri, Eric Saliba, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Kevin Sammut, Daniel Cremona, Ian Zammit, Alan Tabone, Adam Smeir.

Subs: Ivan Cassar, Luke Satariano, Ayrton Buhagiar, Manuel Sevasta, David Azzopardi, Roderick Farrugia.

MFPA made a treble of successes in the Malta Veterans Football Association when they won the VMFA Trophy after beating their rivals Gżira United Veterans 2-1 in the final.

In fact, this team added another trophy to their shelf as after winning the championship they had also lifted the David Cluett Memorial Cup.

It was a very hard-fought game with the Malta Football Players Association opening an early lead and although they were overtaken by the Maroons, it didn’t take long for them to re-establish their advantage which was also decisive.

MFPA went ahead through Aleksandar Ribic with the first half ending 1-0.

In the second half, Gzira United came out well and equalized through Matthew Bartolo. Despite everything, it was a temporary joy for the Maroons as Gareth Sciberras scored the winning goal for MFPA.

At the end of the match, Malcolm Camilleri , the president of the Veterans Malta Football Association presented the cup to the MFPA player Jonathan Bondin.

Referees: Jason Penza and Lorry Sammut.

MFPA and Gżira United meet this evening at the St Dorothy’s Grounds for the VMFA Trophy final. It will be the last encounter of a scintillating 2023/24 season which MFPA dominated with the league title. The latter hope to make a treble of successes as they meet their arch-rivals Gżira United who during the whole season were a tough nut to crack.

MFPA won the title acquiring a five-point advantage over the same Maroons. The team started the season on a not-so-positive note but during the second round they started to gain ground to get the most important objectives.

On the other hand, the Maroons could have done better in some championship matches but now they have the chance to get sweet revenge of the rivals.

Both teams faced each other four times during this season as Gżira won the first encounter 8-5 with MFPA prevailing 8-2 and 4-2 while the last match ended in a 4-4 scoreline.

MFPA ousted Żurrieq Wolves 11-6 and Birkirkara St Helen’s 3-2 while Gżira eliminated Luxol 9-3 and Rabat 8-6 after the penalty shoot-out.

There will be an interesting duel between the league’s top scorer Ian Zammit (Gżira) and Aleksandar Ribic (MFPA)

The match will kick-off at 7.30pm and will be live streamed on the Facebook Page IL-MIXJA SAR-REBĦA.

The Malta Veterans National Team will play the fourth match of the year as they play Whitegate United FC at the Charles Abela Stadium. This English team comes from the Cheshire area and has been established since 1959.

Coach Joe Micallef called a squad of 18 players for this match:

Goalkeeper: Roderick Debattista, Ivan Cassar.

Defenders: Brian Said, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Carlo Mamo, Eric Saliba, Manuel Sevasta, Roderick Farrugia, Gareth Magri.

Midfielders: Kevin Sammut, Jonathan Bondin, Alan Tabone, Daniel Cremona, Luke Satariano, David Azzopardi.

Forwards: Ian Zammit, Ayrton Buhagiar, Adam Smeir.

In the previous matches, the Maltese Veterans beat Iberos FC 3-1, Amfora Club Prague 4-1 but lost 3-0 against Royal Navy FA.

The match between the Malta Veterans and Whitegate United FC kicks off at 7pm.

MFPA and Gzira United Veterans will contest the VMFA Trophy final after winning their respective semi-final encounters.

Holders MFPA did not find it easy at all to beat Birkirkara St Helen’s 3-2.

It was a close game with both sides attacking boldly although in the end it was the Malta Football Players Association who emerged victorious.

Alexander Ribic, Gareth Sciberras and George Frendo scored the goals for MFPA with Kevin Sammut standing out for Birkirkara after netting a brace.

Referee was Peter Abela.

Rabat and Gżira United offered a wonderful and balanced game that had to be decided on penalties with the Maroons emerging victorious 4-2. The score until regulation time was 3-3 with Adam Smeir scoring a double for Rabat and Ibrahim Tarek also among the scorers.

Gzira always remained in the game with Arthur Oyama scoring a double and Kevin Vella who also found the back of the net.

Referee was Peter Abela.

The VMFA Trophy final will take place next Wednesday at St Dorothy’s Grounds in Żebbug.