by Swieqi United will be debuting in the UEFA Women’s Champions League today week, as they take on Moldovan champions, Agarista-ȘS Anenii Noi, at the Myjava stadium. Despite Swieqi featuring in a European competition for the first time, it will be a poignant return to the competition for several from its team who got the first point for any Maltese side in the competition ten years ago with Hibernians. Dorianne Theuma, Keith Gouder, Mandy Debono and Emma Xuereb reflected on the differences across the years and the challenge ahead.
A Return Ten Years On
Ten years ago, Hibernians earned the first point in the competition with a 3 – 3 draw against KI Klaskvik. There is plenty from that Hibernians’ setup that today forms part of Swieqi United, a club which will be debuting in the competition following their first league title victory last March. Full-back Emma Xuereb was donning Hibernians’ shirt and got the team a 1-1 draw just before half-time. Swieqi United’s now coach, Dorianne Theuma, was the captain of Hibernians at the time. She slotted home a free-kick in injury time to seal the final score, marking the first point for any Maltese women’s team.
However, Emma Xuereb and Dorianne Theuma are not the only two within Swieqi United with links to that Hibernians’ team. Keith Gouder led the team back then and the ties formed with Theuma are now stronger with Gouder forming part of Theuma’s coaching staff at Swieqi United. Mandy Debono was also a former player and teammate who has since joined Theuma’s backroom staff. The current Swieqi United captain, Shona Zammit, was also one of those within the team earning that first point.
Emma Xuereb reflected on that first goal, “I remember coach Keith and coach Dylan pushed me to attack my opponent. I found an opportunity and drove at her, ultimately shooting and somehow it went into goal. It was a very emotional match because we kept fighting until the end. Incidentally, Dorianne got us the final goal and it was a special free-kick as well. It feels just like it was yesterday.”
Dorianne Theuma offered her own insight of that game and day, “It was a tough tournament because we faced Apollon Limassol, Iceland’s Stjarnan and then the Faroese team, KI Klaskvik. Against Klaskvik it was a match were we conceded silly goals but we showed a good reaction. In truth I believe we had two great opportunities that we could’ve won with. So to be quite honest, there was elation but even some disappointment because perhaps we didn’t believe we could get even more than we did in the match.”
The statistics back Theuma’s claim.
The Mentality When There Is No History Backing You In Points
Having coached the team back then, Keith Gouder was leading a side toward getting the first ever points in the competition. Questioned on how that point changed things in mentality, Keith Gouder reflected, “In 2015, we knew we were facing a tough challenge. There hadn’t been any previous points for a Maltese women’s team in the competition. So, there was a real sense of responsibility to represent, not just Hibernians, but Maltese football as a whole.”
Hibernians were coming into it from back to back league titles, “We knew it was a hard challenge, but we focused on giving our best performance, learning from the experience, and showing that Maltese football could compete at a European level. Besides having the awareness that the previous year we were only a few minutes away from achieving the same feat against group winners, Raheny United, of Ireland.”
Reflecting on the match itself, Gouder continued, “The mentality we adopted in that match was one of defiance and confidence. We knew we were underdogs, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t cause problems for the opposition. The 3–3 draw against KÍ Klaksvík was a historic moment because it showed that with the right mindset, hard work, and tactical discipline, Maltese teams could compete with the best.”
Since then, Birkirkara also built on that initial point by Hibernians to claim also three victories in the competition. Reflecting on these results, Gouder continued, “Since then, the awareness of what’s possible has shifted. There’s now more belief that Maltese sides can take on international teams with a real chance. That mentality has been important for teams in Malta, including Swieqi United, as we now strive to prove ourselves as a club on the international stage as well.”
Indeed, that first point had impacts beyond the match already. In fact, Charlene Zammit got the goal separating the two by Emma Xuereb and Dorianne Theuma. She since moved to Birkirkara with whom she also claimed more than one victory in the competition in recent years. It will now be Swieqi United’s turn to build another chapter for Maltese sides in the competition.
In fact, Emma Xuereb reflected on the difference in mentality as she heads into the competition today, “I believe today it’s a different approach. We are going there to do our best and fight for points. We’ve worked hard with our coaches, and now it’s about putting it on the pitch.”
The Impact Of Those Experiences Within A Young Team
Mandy Debono was part of that team as a player and today forms part of the coaching staff at Swieqi United. She reflected on the unity from that Hibernians side that today forms a crucial backbone to Swieqi United’s contingent. “I think it was a strong team and we had strong bonds which we continued to get to this stage with Swieqi. However, of course it’s also about preparation. To get that draw we worked very hard mentally to overcome that first barrier of getting a point.”
Debono believes that there’s an added edge since, considering that Birkirkara have also gotten a win which instigates Swieqi to try to go a step further. “I think it pushes teams in general, everyone would like to go and get a result. However, we also have our feet on the ground because we know it is a tough competition and we have a lot of young players who will be debuting. Additionally, I would say that it is also a first experience for many of us as technical staff, including myself, so there’s a lot to learn and juggle as well as a challenge.”
In fact, questioned about that dynamic within the setup, Keith Gouder replied, “Swieqi United’s setup brings a great mix of experience and youth, and that’s something I’m very familiar with from my time at Hibernians. At Hibernians, I worked with a core group of experienced players while also integrating young talents into the first team. The energy and drive that young players bring is incredible – they’re hungry to prove themselves, they push the team forward, and they’re often willing to absorb and apply new tactical ideas quickly. That dynamic gives us a competitive edge, as it creates a team that can adapt and evolve.”
He continued, “While this is Swieqi’s debut in major European competition, the strong foundations laid by the experienced players, combined with the dynamism of the younger talents, gives us a balanced team that’s both resilient and adaptable. I believe we have the right mix to go into this venture with confidence, and we’ll leverage both experience and youth to create a squad that’s well-prepared for this new challenge. As a coach, helping in guiding this dynamic is something I’ve done before, and it’s something that excites me.”
Emma Xuereb echoed the difference in her role as one of the more experienced players in the team but backed the youngsters alongside her, “You feel that the role is different, for me and Shona (Zammit) to guide the youngsters. However, I believe that the young players in this team also push us in different ways. I think we’ve shown that as a unit we can get results to get to win the league, so now it’s about doing the same thing in this competition.”
Dorianne Theuma has given up the captain’s armband since 2015 and now orchestrates the whole setup as the head coach. Questioned how those experiences have shaped her plans for preparing the team for this tournament, she replied, “I compare these games to national team games. You know you will face intense games, with varying levels of opposition. However, we have our principles which guides us as a team and the way I have prepared the team is the way I prepare them for the league. Our pre-season is getting us ready for the UEFA Women’s Champions League just as much as it is getting us ready for the Assikura Women’s League.”
Despite acknowledging differences between the opposition, conditions and the nature of the competitions, Dorianne Theuma is looking forward for the challenge ahead and backing her team, “It’s a new experience for the team. We have a different challenge to aim for and I believe the team has some hurdles to overcome but I think the team is well drilled to adapt to any situation we may encounter.”
The Evolution Of The Game Ten Years On
The challenge brought by teams in the group will be varied. Questioned about how he believes the game has changed in terms of technique, physicality and tactics, since that match in 2015, Keith Gouder replied, “The physicality has increased, with players now fitter, stronger, and faster than before. Technique and tactics have also developed – teams are more tactically organized, and there’s been a shift toward high-pressing, quicker transitions, and more sophisticated tactical setups. The investment in women’s football at the club and national team levels has been growing, and the level of professionalism across Europe is higher than it was a decade ago.”
However, Gouder is backing the Swieqi United setup, “That said, I feel that Swieqi United has a setup and style that can compete. We focus on high football IQ and our technical abilities are solid. Now, with the new signings, I believe that we will be even stronger especially in the final third. Swieqi has developed a style of play that’s based on intelligent movement, fluidity, and creativity. The physical aspect is something we’ve been addressing in our preparations, and we are focusing on improving our strength and endurance to match the pace and intensity of European competition.”
He finished, “While we might not be as physically dominant as some of the top European teams, our tactical approach, technical quality, and team cohesion can make us dangerous. We’ll go into the competition with a clear plan, and I’m confident that our ability to adapt and play intelligently will allow us to compete with the rest.”
Swieqi United will be debuting on Wednesday against Agarista Anenii Noi at 11:00 at the Spartak Myjava stadium. Until then, those wanting to reminisce can take a look at the highlights from Hibernians’ draw against KI Klaskvik here, or read about Birkirkara’s journey to the maiden victory here. A snapshot of Swieqi’s journey to the maiden league title is also available here.
Lead Images: Lara Schembri / Malta FA.
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[…] There will be plenty of debutants in the competition, with Swieqi having a young squad that like Tammy Falzon are looking to make their mark in the matches ahead. However, there is also a balance of experience around them in the team, as well as in a coaching staff that has experienced the European stage in the past, as former players and coaches. […]