by Birkirkara and Swieqi United will walk onto the Centenary Stadium pitch at 14:00 with the target of lifting the Super Cup trophy. Coaches Vince Galea and Dorianne Theuma downplayed their debut as coaches of the teams in a Super Cup final, firmly focused on the players they lead.
Although the same two emblems feature in this year’s final, this afternoon’s match presents an opportunity for new records to be set by those bold and passionate enough to stand up and be counted, whether on the pitch, in the dugout or in the stands.
Same Teams But Plenty Of Change
It will be a familiar sight in the women’s game as Birkirkara and Swieqi United take to the pitch to contend the Super Cup final this afternoon. However, there is plenty of change behind the two teams from those two that walked the same steps last year, as this season has already showed.
Birkirkara’s Vince Galea and Swieqi United’s Dorianne Theuma will be in the dugouts, with the two coaches in their maiden season in charge of the teams. Galea took over on his return to club leadership following a stint with the U17 national women’s team.
Meanwhile, Dorianne Theuma is into her maiden season as a coach of the senior team of Swieqi United, having captained Swieqi United last season in the same final where they succumbed to a 2 – 1 defeat.
The two coaches will be contesting the first Super Cup final as head coaches, but asked about what it would mean to them to lead their sides to the trophy, the two appear to shed the spotlight that it brings on them.
Birkirkara’s Vince Galea replied, “It will mean a lot for our club, team, but most of all our players. I am honoured to be leading the team in this local final, but it’s secondary. The players are always the protagonists.”
Similarly, Swieqi United’s Dorianne Theuma appears focused on the opportunity for her team to show their upward trajectory, “It’s always great to win trophies, but as a coach I want the team to build on what we have been working on throughout the season. Competing in this final is something we worked hard for last season and of course winning will be a bonus prize for us, giving us that extra boost which is always nice mid-season.”
As expected, the two coaches have brought on new philosophies. That, together with transfers and injuries continuing to stir the pot, different players have taken to the fore this season and they will have the chance to stand out once more on the big stage this afternoon.
A Final Following A Month Break
The two teams have won a fixture against each other already this season, with Birkirkara initially coming out on top by 4-1, before Swieqi United returned fire just before the break with a 3-0 victory. The two coaches were questioned on the impacts of a month’s break before this final.
Birkirkara’s Vince Galea gave a view of what the month entailed within the club, “There were positives and negatives in this long stop with youth and senior team international breaks. We had the chance to work on the physical aspect while continue to work on recovering important players. It gave us the chance to have more young players training with the senior team, something that we are pushing on during this season.”
Eyeing the final, the Stripes’ boss feels the team is ready, “Obviously this long stop broke the game rhythm, although we organised two friendly games as preparation. Like Swieqi, we had only three days to prepare with the whole squad, but yes we believe that we are prepared for this game.”
Similarly, Dorianne Theuma acknowledged the challenge in having had limited time to prepare with the entire squad, but backed her team to be ready for the challenge, “Having nine players on international duty is never an ideal scenario before a final. We had the full squad for three sessions only. However, we worked hard these past weeks and all players came back motivated, with the right mindset ahead of Sunday’s game.”
The last match the two played saw Maya Cachia taken off early following a head injury, but Vince Galea gave the thumbs up on her return between the posts. On the other hand, Jade Flask will still be sidelined for Swieqi United. Neither coach was willing to share details on any new injuries, but both sides will certainly take to the pitch without several long-term absentees.
Records Will Be Set, But Probably Not In Attendance
The two teams will take to the pitch with the possibility of etching new records, as Birkirkara chase an eighth record-breaking Super Cup title, while Swieqi United seek to put their name on the trophy for the first time.
Last year’s edition broke the women’s football record attendance for a domestic match, with 671 making it to the stands. This year’s league attendances have generally been poor, and with scant promotion of the final on every front, the probabilities look meagre. Still, the two coaches were probed on whether they believe this final could inject some passion into the women’s game.
Vince Galea underscored the importance of promoting the women’s game, calling on Birkirkara’s faithful to show up to the stands, “Hopefully yes, such games should be followed and supported. The women’s game needs full support from all stakeholders to continue to improve and grow. On the day, we will count on our supporters.”
However, Dorianne Theuma is not too sure that this particular record will be broken, although hopeful, “Not a lot of promotion was done this year, compared to last season, so not too sure. We are hoping for good weather which might attract a few more spectators to come watch on a sunny Sunday.”
The stage is set, the players ready to put on their shirts and the coaches will likely find their voice more as they take to the dugout and hear the kick-off whistle at 14:00. The Centenary Stadium awaits and with it, a chance to be part of the story of the women’s game, whether on the pitch, the bench or in the stands. Tickets are available online or from the gate.
For those unable to make it to the stands, the match will also be livestreamed on the Malta FA Youtube Channel.
Lead Image: Elise Bajada
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