Malta, Times of Malta, Inglês

Change of venues is becoming a regular feature in Maltese football. Unlike larger leagues where clubs usually play at dedicated home grounds, we have presently got three stadiums functioning if we can say so. The Centenary Stadium, Tony Bezzina Stadium and Victor Tedesco Stadium.

As a result of the adverse weather conditions which caused havoc in our country, the surface of the Tony Bezzina Stadium has practically become unplayable. Thumbs up to the management and groundsman of this stadium who are so dedicated and work round the clock in order to get the surface of the stadium in perfect condition. But miracles rarely happen and reality is all that counts.

As a result of the above,  fixtures are often moved to balance heavy scheduling demands across multiple competitions, including the Premier League and also lower divisions. Sometimes fixture congestion is being created and these changes also cause inconvenience to the supporters. The League organisers usually communicate venue changes in advance to ensure fixtures are fulfilled smoothly and competitively but sometimes this can’t be the case as happened during the past weekend.

And this brings us to the point of the  urgent need of new and improved football stadium or stadiums, mainly to support the domestic leagues. The condition of the Ta’ Qali National Stadium pitch deteriorated significantly after heavy rain, forcing matches to be shifted to smaller venues. In fact the next appointment at the National Stadium after a long lay-off is for today week when the Super Cup Final will take centre stage. This situation didn’t help.

The problem is that the heavy utilisation of the limited number of available stadiums not only strains playing surfaces but also impacts scheduling, fan experience, and the ability to host multiple fixtures, especially when unforeseen events occur. Smaller venues like the Centenary Stadium and the Tony Bezzina Stadium can sometimes become overcrowded especially when high-profile matches take place. In fact this was there to see in the last high profile match played at the Tony Bezzina Stadium between Valletta and Hamrun Spartans.

In response to these challenges, the Malta Football Association is developing a long-term Masterplan for the Ta’ Qali Sports Complex, aiming to upgrade existing facilities, improve spectator amenities, and possibly expand capacity and infrastructure to better meet modern standards. To add to this even the MPL are exploring the possibility of building their own stadium.

If we want that the game continues to evolve, we need to invest more in infrastructure. The challenges are there but we have to tackle them urgently in order to keep moving forward and  in the right direction.

‘ We have to be more clinical’

–       Giacomo Modica, coach Hamrun S. FC

‘It was a difficult match but to be honest we made it more difficult. We have to be more decisive especially in front of goal.’ This was the first reaction by Hamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica who continued, ‘We were in control for long stretches but we brought the pressure on us. We are complicated things when we should have been winning comfortably. We have to start closing the matches when we are dominant. But I’m happy with this group, enjoying every day coaching them. We are definitely on the right track.’

‘My players kept on pushing till the end’                               

–       Pablo Doffo, coach Sliema W. FC

‘I believe we had a good performance but when you lose this doesn’t count’. The first words expressed by Pablo Doffo following the defeat against Hamrun Spartans. The Sliema coach continued. ‘I’m just the same proud of my players since they kept on pushing till the very end. The quality is there cause we also showed it against Hamrun, but football is all about results. We have to keep on pushing and finally the results will come our way.’

CURIOSITIES 

v  Valletta were losing against Naxxar Lions by two goals and turned the tide in their favour winning by a 4-2 scoreline. The last time Valletta were 2-0 down and ended up winning, it was eleven years ago, the 3^rd January, 2015  against Qormi.They were losing 2-0 at half time and won 3-2.

v  Valletta conceded for the first time since mid-December when they lost to Sliema Wanderers by a 2-1 scoreline. Apart from that, Yuri Messias is now just one goal off the top of the top scorer standings with the present leader being none other than Lucas Villela who is no longer playing in the Premier League.

v  Ħamrun Spartans are undefeated in their last six matches and this was their second consecutive clean sheet, totalling 11 from 19 games. On the other hand their opponents Sliema Wanderers suffered a second consecutive defeat, the third from four matches since Pablo Doffo took over

CLOSING ROUND TABLE 

Gżira Utd.                    9

Floriana                       9

Valletta                        7

Ħamrun S.                  7

Hibernians                   6

Marsaxlokk                 6

Birkirkara                    3

Naxxar L.                    3

Sliema W.                   3

Tarxien R.                   0

Żabbar SP                   0

Mosta                          0

RESULTS – MD 19

Tarxien R. – Gżira Utd.                       1-2

Birkirkara –  M’Xlokk              0-1

Ħamrun S. – Sliema W.                      2-0

Hibernians – Mosta                 1-0

Valletta – Naxxar L.                4-0

Żabbar SP – Floriana              0-3

NEXT MATCHES – MD 20

Tuesday 3rd February

Centenary Stadium

6.30pm            M’Xlokk – Sliema W.

9.00pm            Birkirkara – Tarxien R.

Victor Tedesco Stadium

7.00pm            Gżira Utd. – Ħamrun S.

Wednesday 4th February

Centenary Stadium

6.30pm            Naxxar L. – Mosta
9.00pm            Hibernians – Żabbar SP

Tony Bezzina Stadium

7.30pm            Valletta – Floriana

CLEAN SHEETS