by San Gwann and Valletta will initiate the final Assikura Women’s League weekend tonight at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (KO 20:30). San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri is willing his team to earn at least a point to secure a second-place finish, but Valletta’s Chris Vella suggests that City are heading into it with the sole purpose of completing the final phase shutout.
In Search of Reaching Objectives
San Gwann and Valletta will head into their final league match in search of a positive result not just to end the league commitments on a high but to fulfil objectives.
San Gwann come into it on the back of a defeat to direct rivals Lija Athletic, who secured the points to give themselves a chance of equalling the Yellows on points in the final matchday. That defeat means that San Gwann will need at least a point to ensure their place in second of the bottom four group.
Asked about preparations ahead of this final crucial encounter against the leaders Valletta, San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri cast words of concern, “Unfortunately, we did not have too much time for preparations. As has been mentioned throughout the season, we head into this final fixture with the U19s having played a match on Tuesday and now have a senior match later today, that does not make too much sense. It is evident for everyone that the U19 team and our senior team overlap significantly.”
Valletta will head into the match with a perfect points tally intact and seeking to complete the phase unblemished. The young team heads into it high on confidence, following a strong final phase and on the back of a commanding victory on Tuesday in the Assikura Women’s Youth League as well.
Team manager Chris Vella spoke of the team’s enthusiasm to finish things on a high, “The team is in very good spirits. Although we always maintain there is room for improvement , performances have been good and results positive. Keeping an unbeaten run after the league split was of paramount importance and certainly all the players will do their utmost to finish the job.”
The Prospect of Another Looming Battle
Valletta have completely shut out San Gwann throughout the season, but the scorelines have gotten closer in recent matches and this is something that Julian Camilleri is seeking to improve on.
Asked about the team’s belief in securing a positive result to secure second and deny Valletta a perfect final phase, Camilleri replied, “The last three games have been much closer and I believe we did not deserve to lose. We must fight until the end to have a positive result.”
The result would not only secure second place. The two teams know that they will meet again in under a month’s time in the Assikura Women’s Knockout quarter-final. However, asked about the relevance of achieving a victory to take a more positive moral into the Knockout fixture, Julian Camilleri replied, “Winning is always good for moral and confidence. However, whatever happens we cannot give up. We must always prepare for every match to the best of our ability.”
Meanwhile, Chris Vella’s side will head into it aware of the looming Knockout fixture and of San Gwann’s objectives, but appear reluctant to change the recipe that has led to their success in the phase, “We are well aware of San Gwann’s position and certainly it will give them an added push not to come out empty handed from this game. However, we will be approaching this game as usual with the added bonus of having a “dress rehearsal” for the Knockout quarter final.”
The two teams will initiate the final Assikura Women’s League weekend tonight at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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