by Following numerous transfer and contract announcements that have started to paint a picture of the sides competing next season, Friday evening’s draws have added another layer of detail to next season’s Assikura Women’s League.
Confirmation of Rumoured Changes
As has already been speculated, the league is expected to undergo a few drastic changes. Perhaps the biggest change of all will be that several matches will be played on weekends, in contrast to previous years where matches were played in mid-week.
Additionally, the league is expected to begin earlier than usual, which will likely be towards the final weekend of August and will run until late in March. The number of total fixtures will also increase from the eighteen that were played until last year.
Though final details on the league changes and official fixture dates will be published in the coming weeks, the first fixtures have been drawn and there is plenty to get excited about.
First Fixtures
Perhaps one of the most anticipated matchups on the first weekend will be that between Hibernians and the newly-minted side of Valletta FC Women. The latter is comprised of many players who until last year played for Raiders Lija. If last season is anything to go by, the two sides finished in fourth (Hibernians) and fifth (Raiders Lija now Valletta Women), but were embroiled in a tight mid-table battle with Mgarr United (who finished third) for a good spell. Considering this, it will be interesting to see how Hibernians and Valletta balance out, based on the already announced recruitments but also with perhaps more transfer news still to be dished out from both sides.
The defending champions Birkirkara will no doubt set forth with the ambition to win their first fixture, which will see them face a new side in Lija Athletic. Although speculation of the latter’s involvement in the senior league is now confirmed, the side is still yet to announce senior squad members. It will be interesting to see the developments with the league expected to start in just a bit over a month’s time, and with several teams already in their preseason preparations. Despite this, the addition is one that adds another dynamic to the league and one must wait to see how things shape out once the first whistle blows.
Meanwhile, Swieqi United will be welcoming Mtarfa, with the two hoping for as good a start as possible. Having said this it is likely that the definition of this will be very different for the two, based on their objectives for next season. The Owls (Swieqi United) have made clear their aims to secure their maiden league title and thus a decisive win will be on their agenda. On the other hand, Mtarfa will aim to improve on last season’s finish, and being as compact as possible in their first outing would likely be one of their main priorities going into the match.
Similarly, San Gwann will host Mgarr United in another match-up that last season was often heavily one-sided towards the Greens (Mgarr United). However, both sides have bolstered their staffing and already announced some new recruits who will be hoping to hit the mark from the initial kick-off.
Fixtures will come thick and fast once the first matchday commences. Based on last year’s results, one expects that if the first fixtures set hearts racing at the return of football, matchday two will lead to a different level of heart palpitations. It pits Birkirkara against Swieqi United, Mgarr United against Hibernians, while Mtarfa will face Valletta, as Lija Athletic host San Gwann.
Until then, it will be interesting to see how further transfers shape up the sides and how they will affect the proceedings in the first kick-off. However, one thing’s for sure, the calendar is about to get busy with football fixtures again very soon.
