by Mgarr United and Swieqi United will kickstart the return of the Assikura Women’s League for this calendar year. Mgarr United’s Ryan Vella promised a debut and a side excited to show their growth. Likewise, Dorianne Theuma hailed the unity in the team in turning around a tough start into a side that is looking to maintain first place.
Taking Stock Of The First Half Of The Season
Although the game is the final match of the first phase, Mgarr United & Swieqi United will face only direct confrontations from here until the finale of the Assikura Women’s League this season. Separated by just four points, Mgarr United will be seeking to keep pressure and cancel out the narrow first round defeat to Swieqi United. However, in first place, Swieqi United find themselves with something to defend, as a side who have gone from strength to strength since then.
Into the first full season in charge of their teams, the two coaches were questioned on the utility of the performances and lessons from the first half of the season, as they prepare for this final phase.
Mgarr United’s Ryan Vella appears upbeat about the prospects, “As a team we’re really looking forward to play these next matches. We know that it’s going to be really intense and we need to face every game in the best possible shape: physically and mentally. However, we’re excited – it’s a big chance to see how much we improved as a team from previous matches against the best teams in the league.”
Swieqi United’s Dorianne Theuma hailed the team’s path to get to this stage of the season and is keen for the team to continue in the same vein. She said, “The first part of the season has shaped us into the team we are today. It’s been a challenging journey, but we’ve grown stronger with each game, steadily improving and, hopefully, earning the respect of our opponents along the way. Now, with ten finals ahead, we are fully aware that every team is capable of dropping points. By maintaining our current mentality and work ethic, we’re committed to approaching each game one step at a time, focusing on the task at hand.”
Squad Evolution
Mgarr United have had plenty of change going into this season, with no less than five new signings. However, the Greens have dipped into the market once more, bringing Argentinian Luz Hernandez over the break.
Ryan Vella gave some insight into the club’s decision to bring her on board, “Even though we scored quite a lot of goals during the first stages of the season, we felt that we lacked that player with a natural striker’s instinct. The players that played in that position so far – even though they did a very good job – weren’t in their most comfortable position in the pitch. So, signing Luz we feel that we’ll strengthen a lot of departments especially in the forward areas.”
The Greens’ coach also gave the thumbs up for the debut tonight, adding further excitement to the battle, “Luz has been training with us for a while now and she integrated very well with the team already. She’s ready to play next game for sure.”
However, they could have to contend with a few new faces on Swieqi United’s side as well. The Owls have evolved as a squad, with more youngsters making the leap with appearances from the U19 team to the senior team. Their final fixture before the break included a strong contribution by Tea Kimamo, as well as Ghanaian Asana Alhassan, who was given the nod from the start.
Despite her young age and debut in the league, Alhassan appeared confident in the pitch and also delivered a spectacular goal. Probed about Alhassan’s appearance, the Owls’ coach praised the Ghanaian’s trajectory, “Asana is an 18-year-old with a lot of potential who is steadily adapting to our style of play.”
Questioned about whether such performances add pressure to her decisions in selecting her squad, the Swieqi United coach hailed the unit and competitive spirit, “For us coaches, having options in players is not a pressure but a privilege, and also fosters healthy competition within the squad. As the season enters a critical phase, every player’s contribution becomes invaluable, and having such options only strengthens the team as a whole.”
Three Points To Pull Away Or To Tighten The Race
All matches afford the same amount of points and that appears to be the mentality that the two teams’ coaches appear to be drilling into their sides ahead of tonight.
The two pack plenty of pace, which was nullified in Dingli Ground in the first encounter. The Centenary Stadium will afford them to stretch their legs. However, the two were questioned on whether the similarities and the known established style of play will push the teams for some more creativity to get the better of each other.
Ryan Vella was not willing to divulge too much but keen on his continuous improvement approach, “For us – it’s just another game. Our focus is solely on improving our performance from previous games and starting building consistency and momentum heading into a crucial stage of the season. We’ve been preparing really well during the week to face the league leaders. It will be an intriguing encounter and a good match – and we look forward to it.”
Counterpart Dorianne Theuma suggested that the team is backing their established approach, “We need to stay true to our identity and focus on playing our game. It’s crucial that we perform at our maximum potential, not just tomorrow but throughout the remainder of the season.”
Well, with a promised debut, two sides who have delivered some good football this season, and just four points between them, the stage is set for an exciting return to the Assikura Women’s League. The Centenary Stadium will host the two sides, with the match starting at 20:15.
Lead Images: Lara Schembri / Elise Bajada
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