by Swieqi United and San Gwann will be concluding the Assikura Women’s League double-header at the Charles Abela Stadium this afternoon (KO 16:30). Dorianne Theuma and Julian Camilleri weighed in on a lengthy break to ponder defeats, while discussing transfer decisions. The two are aiming for a strong return to action.
Plenty Of Time To Ponder Heavy Blows
Swieqi United and San Gwann will conclude the first Assikura Women’s League weekend of 2026 this afternoon.
The Owls head into it having had plenty of time to assess and reflect on the defeat to Mgarr United which ended their 2025 commitments. Dorianne Theuma admitted the defeat was a tough pill to swallow but suggested that the team converted that into work on the training pitch, “It was a heavy defeat, especially considering how the last game unfolded. However, the break gave us valuable time to reflect, discuss openly, and focus on addressing our weaknesses. The Christmas period was used positively, with the team working hard to improve both individually and collectively.”
Likewise, San Gwann had a ruinous start against Hibernians, ultimately unable to reclaim a footing in the match. Julian Camilleri lamented, “We started poorly against Hibernians and it was too late by the time we found our footing. We must be concentrated and disciplined from start to end.”
However, he suggested the team looked to balance out the holidays in terms of rest and work, “We used the break from both aspects, took a bit of a break but also focused on some important aspects of our game.”
San Gwann Trade Top Striker For Defensive Consolidation
The Owls’ Dorianne Theuma suggested a cautious but non-eliminating strategy from Swieqi United when discussing transfers, “Our priority is to give more opportunities to our young players and allow them to continue developing. At the same time, we will remain open to possibilities and see what opportunities may arise before the transfer window closes.”
On the other hand, San Gwann confirmed the departure of last year’s top scorer of the league, Hailey Russell. The forward had a revelation of a season last year, delighting with top-drawer finishes, as well as contributing effectively in assists. However, the American had a muted opening this season. Despite this, Russell has been confirmed to depart the Maltese islands for Greek football.
Julian Camilleri weighed in on the club’s decision to let the player go, “She had an opportunity to play football away from Malta and as a club we accepted this was the best decision for her and allowed her to go.”
However, questioned regarding her replacement up top, the San Gwann coach confirmed the team is happy with its offensive unit, and instead has sought to bolster the defence, “We have looked to bring in two players who can help us to solidify defensively.”
The club confirmed the announcement of Rocio Figueredo on Tuesday.
A Late Start But A Search For A Strong Second Half
The two teams will be the last ones to kick-start their senior league commitments in 2026. Swieqi United have had the upper hand and proven particularly tough to contain for San Gwann with their football.
Dorianne Theuma was probed on whether she is inclined to stick to the principles that guided such strong victories against San Gwann in the past in search of instilling rhythm in the team after a long break, or whether she believes the match can be used to test out some tactical experiments in view of the defeat to Mgarr.
She replied, “The late start to the league certainly didn’t help. The match against San Gwann will be a good opportunity to assess where we currently stand and what we can aim for during the rest of the season. We are aware of our potential, but we also know that we must work harder than ever to get back on track and rebuild confidence.”
Meanwhile, San Gwann are yet to fulfill the target of achieving points against top four opposition. Given the third of four rounds has been kicked off, Julian Camilleri was probed about the justification of expecting more from this match, especially against a team that has been so troubling.
He said, “Swieqi are a very technical side and one which is quick. It is a difficult match but we must go to matches with the attitude of giving our one hundred percent and fight for every ball. Tactically we must be cautious and mentally focused to play our game and must not be afraid to implement the concepts that we are building toward.”
The two teams will conclude the Assikura Women’s League weekend double-header at the Charles Abela Stadium. Their match begins at 16:30, following the clash between Hibernians and Birkirkara (14:00).
Lead Image: Francesca Vella
Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X
