by Birkirkara and Valletta will be the first teams to battle for points in the Assikura Women’s League tonight at the Centenary Stadium at 20:30. Billy Mock & Anton Cremona discussed season ambitions, philosophy and the balancing act with the youth league on tonight’s match selection and expectations.
Fresh Hopes
Birkirkara and Valletta will be taking to the pitch with new leadership in the dugout and their own targets for the season. Birkirkara will be led by Billy Mock, following his departure from the administrative section of Swieqi United.
Billy Mock spoke in no uncertain terms that lifting the league title and a return to UEFA Women’s Champions League football is what the team is desiring at the end of the campaign, “Back to Europe is the main objective. But we respect Swieqi United, Mgarr United, and Hibernians. They are all very good teams.”
Mock is determined to get there with a total football philosophy, “I will never change this modern style of today’s football game. But from a street football style, it must also be in an organised manner.”
In the opposite dugout will be Anton Cremona, who will be leading Valletta following a short stint with the Lija Athletic team at the end of last season. Cremona acknowledged that building positively is the name of the game for the Citizens this year with a long-term vision, “Our objective is to build up new team for this season as part of a three-year plan, and to mix experience players with the younger players for the future.”
As to the footballing philosophy, Cremona replied on the desire from the club to implement the strengths from coaching in the male sector into the female one, “The club has asked me to build from scratch and they asked to use my experience from male sector to female sector.”
Expectations Amid A 135 Minute Rule
The two clubs had their U21 teams playing matches on Tuesday, the opening matchday of the Assikura Women’s Youth League. Having recruited several young players within that cohort, and seemingly targeting to utilise youth squads, the two coaches who were both involved also on Tuesday were questioned on the impact of the rule on tonight’s selection.
Billy Mock gave no insight into the exact impact on selection, but was critical of the last minute adjustments to the rule, “Paprata. They came out with a new format less than three hours before Tuesday’s kick-off.”
Posed a similar question, Valletta’s Anton Cremona gave the picture of the impacts of the new rule on his selections between the two matches, “Yes this is a huge problem for me because I can’t use best players to play. I have to think what we need for the next game, so I prepared I team for Tuesday’s U21 game with players in mind not to start because of today’s senior team match. If there are players that can make it to both teams, why don’t let them play? As coaches (I think) know how much time they can play and the time needed for recovery.”
Taking it in stride, Mock discussed the bearing of setting up things in the off-season on tonight’s match, his debut as coach of Birkirkara, against a Valletta side which also had its fair share of change.
Questioned on whether he believes he can bank on the experience in his team to get things over the line in the first match, Mock replied, “We have a strong team. We are now believing. Our aim is still to play good football, and we will also keep focusing on development from u13s upwards, training the same way and playing the same style too. It has nothing to do with experience. It is more about believing in one’s methodology, how we train and play.”
As to the balance of tonight’s match between two sides undergoing transition, Anton Cremona underlined that his side have gone through more change. Although acknowledging that things could be tough for his team at the start, Cremona was positive on the long-term future, “Birkirkara made some changes, we have a new team. Once we come together and know each other well, we can be good. We worked hard to build the team still have to make some more signings in the coming days. It will be a difficult game for us but we are preparing very well.”
The newly resurfaced Centenary Stadium awaits as the two initiate the Assikura Women’s League at 20:30 this evening.
Lead Images: Lara Schembri
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