Tough start looms for Birkirkara

Birkirkara are in for a testing start to their Premier League title defence after the draw for the 2006-2007 league season thrust them in a tricky-looking opening day clash against Marsaxlokk.

The initial matchday of the 2006-2007 Premier League, which runs from August 19 till May 13, spewed out another intriguing encounter.

After bringing the curtains down on the 2005-2006 season with their clash in the FA Trophy final, Hibernians and Floriana will go head-to-head on the first day of the 2006-2007 Premier League trek.

In last May's KO showdown, Hibs secured their seventh FA Trophy success with a narrow 1-0 win over the plucky Greens.

While potential title contenders Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, the latter having appointed English manager Brian Talbot to guide them, and Hibs are bracing themselves for a difficult start, Sliema Wanderers can look forward to a more comfortable lift-off.

Seeking a return to the pre-eminence they enjoyed for three consecutive years before succumbing to Birkirkara's powerful surge in the second part of the 2005-2006 season, the Wanderers will meet St George's, promoted as Division One champions, in matchday one.

Valletta, another team gunning to reassert themselves among the candidates for the elite positions, start off with a match against Pietà Hotspurs while Msida St Joseph, sixth last season, cue off against Marsa, the other promoted side.

Yesterday's draw, conducted by Malta FA president Joe Mifsud and Antonio Depasquale, BoV Chief Executive Officer, determined the sequence of matches in all four divisions.

The MFA leagues this season will be contested by 51 clubs, two more than the previous edition after new teams, Mdina Knights and Qrendi, got the green light to play in Division Three.

The first big derby of the Premier League will see perennial rivals Valletta and Floriana locking horns on the second day of the season.

Also on the second day, Sliema are up against Hibs while the first tiff between the Wanderers and Birkirkara will occur on the fifth day.

The fate of the draw also decreed that Birkirkara and Valletta, two of the best-supported clubs on the island, will meet each other in the final programme of the first and second round of the first phase.

As in previous years, the top six at the end of the first two full rounds will contest the Championship Pool and the bottom four will fight for survival in the Relegation Pool.

As a preamble to the new league trek, Birkirkara, the reigning champions, and Hibernians, the FA Trophy winners, will contest the first major honour of the season, the 2005-2006 Super Cup, on August 11.

In Division One, Hamrun Spartans' bid to regain their Premier League status starts with a potentially delicate encounter against Senglea Athletics.

Mosta, relegated from the Premier League along with the Spartans, clash against St Patrick.

Dr Mifsud yesterday confirmed that all 51 member clubs in the association's fold have been granted a licence to take part in the leagues this season.

He voiced his satisfaction at the level of competition last season.

"The 2005-2006 season was positive and interesting in various as-pects," Dr Mifsud remarked.

"In most cases, the championship battles as well as the issues regarding promotion and relegation were decided in the latter stages.

"There has also been an overall increase in attendances on the previous season. The most significant improvement was registered in the Premier League with an increase of 17,000 spectators.

"Our hope is that this upward trend is maintained."

Harsher penalties

Dr Mifsud also highlighted the negative aspects of last season's competitions, namely the damage caused by fans to seats at the National Stadium, offensive chants in the stands and the increase in the number of positive dope tests.

Dr Mifsud said that the MFA has approved harsher punishments for clubs whose fans are found guilty of offensive remarks, especially if these are racially-oriented or aimed at degrading religious saints.

As for the issue of doping, the MFA will be increasing the number of dope tests across the board this season.

Mr Depasquale expressed his satisfaction at the rise in attendances for the MFA leagues.

"News that more people turned up to watch matches brings satisfaction to all those involved in the game," he said.

"At BoV, we're pleased to be backing a sport that is loved so much by the Maltese people. We are also convinced that attendance figures for local football can improve even further.

"On Mondays, the results of the weekend's matches in Malta are widely discussed by people and yet, the attendances at the stadia generally fail to reflect such a high level of interest."

Kick-Off: The 2006/2007 Division One championship starts on September 3. The last matches of the league will be played on May 13.

First programme - San Gwann vs Mqabba; Qormi vs Vittoriosa Stars; Mosta vs St Patrick; Naxxar Lions vs Tarxien; Hamrun Spartans vs Senglea Athletics.

Division Two (opening programme): St Andrews vs Balzan; Gudja vs Lija; Dingli vs Birzebbuga; Melita vs Zebbug; Mellieha vs Sta Venera; Rabat vs Gozo.

First matches: September 23.

Division Three (opening programme): Gzira vs Siggiewi; Ghaxaq vs Pembroke; Gharghur vs Kalkara; Attard vs Mdina; Zurrieq vs Zejtun; Sirens vs Sta Lucija; Ta' Xbiex vs Luqa; Qrendi vs Fgura; Mgarr vs Kirkop. Bye - Xghajra.

First matches: September 24.