by Mtarfa & San Gwann will meet for the last time in the Assikura Women’s League this season tonight at the Centenary Stadium (20:30). The two teams continue to diverge in their progress, but both Mtarfa’s team manager, Mario Formosa, and San Gwann’s coach, Julian Camilleri, underlined the importance of striving toward their objectives.
Objectives Reached & Missed
Mtarfa and San Gwann will take to the pitch this evening in a season that has continued to separate two sides which were very evenly matched until two years ago.
Mtarfa’s six points amassed in the 2022/23 season appear a distant memory as the side continues to attempt to put points on the table this year. However, it is not for a lack of improvement from the Blues. On the contrary, it reflects the investment that teams around them have made, among other factors.
However, there have been positive signs with the team becoming more frequently on the scoresheet in recent weeks. However, the side could not replicate it’s goalscoring form last week against Lija Athletic, to whom they succumbed by 2 – 0 courtesy of a second-half brace. Mtarfa’s team manager, Mario Formosa, heaped praised on Lija Athletic, “Lija deserved to win last Saturday’s match. Although the season is nearly over, we are still a work in progress.”
Reflecting on the season, he continued, “In December we found a disastrous situation and the team improved under the new coaches Simon Spiteri and Christian Curmi. However, of course setbacks are part of the process. The prohibition that our mother-club got during December and that is still active did not help out either.”
There was a positive in the return of Estelle Borg in the match, “Estelle is one of our top players. Her injury affected us but we hope that she will shine in the last few matches of this season.” Meanwhile, Mario Formosa confirmed that Ruth Micallef is sidelined for the rest of the season, “Unfortunately Ruth will return next season. Her injury was a very big blow for us as she was my main transfer target during the 2024 summer market window.”
Meanwhile, San Gwann secured a 1 – 0 victory against Valletta to put themselves mathematically unreachable at the top of the Bottom Four pool. It was dramatic to reach this feat against the club that dominated the pool last season, especially in a match where the Citizens arguably had the better chances but were not as clinical.
Julian Camilleri discussed the victory, “As I’ve always said, matches against Valletta could always go either way. In matches like those it is the team that makes the least mistakes that wins it and in this one we made less mistakes. I will say we were shaky in midfield in the opening half due to a tactical mistake. However, we corrected this in the break and came out stronger in the second half to secure the win.”
Probed about a midfield which appeared to be cajoled to action by Martina Schembri in the absence of Chaimaa Tourki, Julian Camilleri replied, “I think it was a tactical mistake. However, Martina shows her strengths when we need to press our opposition. Each player has their strengths and weaknesses and the important thing to me is that we work together as a team and stay as compact as possible.”
Continuing on Chaimaa Tourki’s absence, the San Gwann coach continued to heap on the importance of the squad pulling the same rope, “It’s true we miss Chaimaa in midfield, however thanks to the squad’s commitment during our training we have a strong squad that allows us to rotate and keep pushing forward.”
First Points Against A First Positive Goal Difference
Mtarfa will take to the pitch with eyes set on securing their first points, an objective which they maintain. Reflecting on this evening’s match, Mtarfa’s Mario Formosa is not expecting their opponents to take them lightly. He said, “San Gwann will want to win the game. They are doing very well during this season and we have to respect them. But on the other hand, we will try our best to get something from this game.”
While the target of first place has been reached for San Gwann, Julian Camilleri underlined that not all objectives have been yet reached for his team. Eyeing tonight’s fixture, Camilleri said, “Our aim is to continue playing well, maintain a clean sheet and continue pushing to achieve a positive goal difference.”
Both teams will certainly be missing players as the Malta Football Association has slapped suspensions to several clubs on failing to produce documentation pertaining to medical examination of individual players. Mtarfa will be without defensive duo Rebecca Zammit and Angele Fenech, while San Gwann will have to do without defender Mariama Kasim.
Nevertheless, the show must go on. The two teams have their instructions and they will seek to put them into practice this evening at the Centenary Stadium at 20:15.
Lead Images: Elise Bajada / Lara Schembri
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