Sliema should claim title this weekend

Sliema Burger King are on their way to chalk up their fourth national league success in the last five years this weekend when they play their last match of the 2002 national championship against Sirens, requiring only a draw to lift the 7-Up cup.

The Blues' start to the season in domestic competitions this year was not as prosperous as the club would have hoped for after losing a decider in the Winter League against arch-rivals Neptunes.

The preliminary phase of the summer league did not provide any upsets but Sliema hit a dark patch early in the second phase of the championship pool and their chances of retaining the title at one point looked rather dim if not gone altogether.

However, it was here that the coaching expertise of Sergio Afric, wily as ever, came to the offing. It was make or break time. Nobody ever doubted Sliema's talented players but they seemed to have lost confidence and it was the coach's pep-up talks and psychological boosts that perhaps did the trick for the team in those crucial moments.

With the Blues trailing in third place behind Neptunes and Sirens, Sliema hit back remarkably well, winning five successive matches, including last week's cruncher against Neptunes, to shoot up the standings.

As the other contenders started faltering, Sliema had reached an impressive level of consistency, collecting points in style and now the club is on the verge of their 27th league title.

True, Afric's influence was a determining factor in Sliema's resurgence to cancel a four-point deficit with Neptunes but another key element for the team was the tremendous form of top goal-notcher John Soler.

Goals, 59 so far, from this lanky centre were suddenly coming from all directions and with an all-round effort from the squad, including that of Nicky Falzon and veteran John Paris, Sliema were on a velvet.

Soler is now freely mentioned as a strong candidate for the Player of the Year award, a feat achieved by his father Michael, a former Sliema and Malta goalkeeper, way back in 1973.

Tomorrow Sliema should complete the job against Sirens, the latter now under the charge of Joe Attard who took over this week after Bruno Cofino returned to Italy.

Sirens are no easy side to beat but it seems that Attard will be focusing on the KO competition more now that the team is out of contention.

Sliema could even make sure of topping the standings this afternoon if Marsascala deny Neptunes, two points adrift in second place, from their 11th league win this summer.

Champions Last 10 Years

1992 San Giljan
1993 Neptunes
1994 San Giljan
1995 San Giljan
1996 Sliema
1997 Marsascala
1998 Sliema
1999 Sliema
2000 Sirens
2001 Sliema

San Giljan, Exiles in Division II KO final

Division Two champions Exiles will be trying to make it a double this year when they play San Giljan in the KO final tomorrow at 4 p.m.

In yesterday's semi-finals, Otters were no match for Dirk Dowling's men who won the tie 13-6.

San Giljan had to work harder for their victory. Warren Debono's team, who finished second in the league standings, beat Ta' Xbiex 7-5 to claim a berth in the final.