by Hibernians will be welcoming Birkirkara this evening at the Centenary Stadium at 20:30. Martina Borg and Billy Mock weighed in on a winning start, while giving insight into their decisions as they shape their sides for the campaign with a tough battle ahead.
Winning Starts
The two sides will take to the pitch with the confidence of three points in the bag earned in the opening weekend. The two coaches were probed on their assessment of the win on their first match in charge of their teams, while for Hibernians’ Martina Borg it was also her debut as a senior team coach.
The Hibernians’ coach was pleased with the patience shown by her side to get the win against San Gwann following two quick goals after the hour mark. “It was the first game so I’m glad the team got the win but of course there were things that I would like to improve. We did not know much about our opposition other than that we expected that they would set up a low block which would make it difficult for us to find a way in. However, I’m happy with the way the team remained patient even in the second half to get that first goal.”
Billy Mock’s side earned a 5 – 1 win against Valletta for a winning start. The Birkirkara coach was pleased with the performance, “I don’t look at the score. I look at the way we play. I was satisfied because we created a lot of chances.”
Changed Teams & Positions
The two coaches set about their business and their impact is seen in their own merit.
Besides implementing her own philosophy, Martina Borg’s setup immediately caught the eye in the decisions to switch the positions of Kayleigh Chetcuti and also the choice of pushing Natalee Geren into midfield from the start.
Probed about these choices, Borg weighed in, “These decisions stemmed from the desire to be the most effective we could be. Kayleigh is more of an explosive player and I believe she can give us a lot on the wing. Meanwhile, Nat(alee) is a player that can give a lot of energy and stamina, so I believe that putting her in the middle with Nicole (Sciberras) can help us a lot. They are the engine of our team.”
Billy Mock opted for plenty of young players amid the returning senior skeleton of the side. Captain Stephania Farrugia’s return surely boosted the team, but the side featured a lot of young players, including a debuting start for Ana Mercieca at the top.
Giving insight Mock replied, “Our senior team is composed of so many young players. We all train together, U21 and seniors. This will help our young players to feel confident whenever they play for the seniors. Obviously, this system of training will help them grow in confidence faster. I was quite happy with their performance.”
Expectations From The Opposition
As noted above the two coaches are new in their roles. Hibernians and Birkirkara are the two giants in the women’s game, with plenty going as a league title could make them the first club to reach thirteen titles. However, before they get to that, the two coaches must first find a way past each other tonight.
Martina Borg acknowledged that it is difficult to pin point whether the opposition will set up in the same way as they did, with a focus on her own team, “Of course Birkirkara also have a new coach so we’re preparing for a few different scenarios. However, most importantly we’re focusing on our game and our philosophy. I’m looking for consistency from the team. I believe that if we stick to our principles, we can have a good game and possibly even earn the win.”
Billy Mock appears to be also focusing on his own team, “I don’t really bother how other teams play because I train my team to play against different systems. Even in set-plays, we have our own ideas, both attacking and defending set plays. So, I will not change our system of play, whoever the opponents are. We just adjust the strategy slightly.”
There will also be several battles within the war as Amy Busuttil, Maya Cachia and Cali Schechinger could also be facing their former clubs for the first time since the summer.
With two teams heavily focused on producing their own best, the tactical battle kicks off this evening at 20:30 at the Centenary Stadium.
Lead Image: Elise Bajada
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