by Swieqi United and Mgarr United will conclude the highly-anticipated double-header at Mgarr Ground this afternoon (KO 16:30), following the other top-four encounter between Birkirkara and Hibernians. The results of the two matches could possibly conclude the title race this afternoon. The two camps weighed in on the encounter, and the exploits with Malta’s national teams during the international break.
Striving To Bounce Back
The two teams come into it determined to improve showings following defeats to Birkirkara and Hibernians, respectively, just before the break. Matches between the two have gone either way, with a draw also in the first encounter, making this a match that is truly up for grabs.
Asked whether the international break came at a good time to take a step back and process the defeat against Birkirkara, Swieqi United’s Dorianne Theuma suggested the contrary, “Most of the team were still training or playing with the senior or U17 national team until Tuesday. Therefore, we were very tight with time to prepare for the upcoming match. In my opinion, it would be ideal to play immediately, rather that take a step back after a loss. Everything will be fresh to amend and fix. However, we are still ready and looking forward to tomorrow’s game.”
On the other hand, Mgarr United had a lacklustre performance against Hibernians, ultimately losing out by 1-0. The team also suffered more injuries as Luana Cabral was stretchered out from the pitch, while Joelma Alves Gabriel was also substituted early.
Asked about the performance and the effect of these injuries, Mgarr United’s coach replied, “We are currently assessing the situation regarding Joelma Alves Gabriel and a couple of other players who sustained injuries. These injuries in the first half were a set-back, though the match did have its moments of quality from both sides. It was essentially a balanced game, but Hibernians managed to create and capitalise on better opportunities, which made the difference. We are now focusing on recovery and analysis to improve our performance in similar scenarios.”
Taking Stock Of The International Break
Swieqi United had six players called up to the U17 team, while four made it into the senior team. As coach of the U19 team, while also the captain of the senior squad, Dorianne Theuma was probed about the challenges in switching responsibilities between playing and coaching throughout the season at club level, which she also ended up doing in the national team fixture between Malta and Belarus.
She weighed in, “I love both roles and manage both to the best of my abilities. It is not easy and coaching needs a lot of preparation and commitment. Of course I cannot be at two places at once and thanks to my right-hand with the U19, Mandy Debono, we try to mange the circumstances as they come.”
Speaking about the unexpected situation in the match against Belarus while on international duty as a player which prompted her to assist from a technical perspective due to Manuela Tesse’s sending off, Theuma continued, “The international window of the the senior national team was a successful one with two good results. As I do at club level, with national it’s no different and I’m always available to give a helping hand. It was a very unexpected situation, but we all know what Coach Manuela (Tesse) wants from us players, and in the moment I knew what was needed from me.”
Meanwhile, Mgarr United’s coach expressed his pride in the call-up of three players with the senior national team of Malta, “I am extremely proud of our players who played in the national team. Seeing players like Brenda (Borg), Rebecca (Bajada) and Yulya (Carella), who we coach at club level, contribute significantly on the international stage is a truly gratifying experience.”
The coach nodded to the positive effects of having players playing against calibre international opponents, while making clear the intentions to increase development, “This exposure at the international level not only boosts the individual players’ confidence, but also brings valuable experience and a higher level of play back to our club. We’re excited about the prospect of more players from our team reaching national team honours in the future.”
Getting To The Business End
Swieqi United will be keen to show a positive response in search of denying Birkirkara early celebrations, should the latter manage to secure a victory against Hibernians earlier in the afternoon. The Owls will also have a point to prove after Mgarr United won the previous fixture on home turf.
Dorianne Theuma backed her team to show the desire for the victory, while not underestimating the Greens, “I will never question the team’s fighting spirit. Despite the circumstances and some disappointing results, the team has always shown great character and dedication. We are fully aware of Mgarr’s strengths and know they are a hard team to beat, especially when playing in their home ground. However, every game has its own story and I know we are ready to give our one hundred percent and fight to earn a positive result.”
On the other side of the coin will be Mgarr United, who is wary of the threat considering that results have gone either way, “It’s important to remember that each game writes its own story. Our previous victory against them doesn’t necessarily give us an upper hand, as football can be unpredictable, highlighted by our varied past results against them like the 5-1 defeat. Swieqi United is a strong team, and so are we.”
Asked about whether the match warrants any difference in preparation considering it’s bearing on the league title, Mgarr United’s coach suggested is a team fully focused on their own agenda, “Our focus isn’t on the implications of the match for the league title but on our own performance and improvement. Our aim is to win every match, regardless of its potential impact on the league standings. We would love to replicate our strong performance last time round against them.”
The two teams head onto the pitch at Mgarr Ground at 16:30, following the other top-four clash between Birkirkara and Hibernians (14:00).
Lead Image: Michael Azzopardi (Swieqi United FC)
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