Super Cup heralds start of new season

Sunday’s APS Super Cup contests at the University Sports Hall will officially launch the new handball season.

The programme opens with the women’s final, between Aloysians and La Salle, at 2 p.m. This will be followed by the Aloysians-Luxol clash from the men’s competition at 4 p.m.

The return of coach John Falzon seems to have filled the La Salle girls with fresh enthusiasm. La Salle spent most of the summer preparing for the new season with the aim of adding more honours after a positive run under Andrew Said.

Judging by their pre-season showings, La Salle are placing added emphasis on their set attack, besides relying on their solid 5/1 defence and fast counter-attacks.

Aloysians may find it hard to match La Salle for speed but, surely, they have the physical strength to compete with their opponents, especially in defence.

Also, Aloysians’ attack can’t be discarded with Brenda Camilleri again supplying the power, ably aided by the rest of the team when there is a need for an all-round effort to pile up the points.

Aloysians are the clear favourites to win the men’s Super Cup. They are bidding for their 10th league title this season and despite losing some key players to Phoenix HC, they still look the team to beat.

Capturing left-back Alex di Pilato from Kavallieri was, perhaps, Aloysians’ best summer signing. Together with Polish left-back Jan Wieczorek and centre Philip Mifsud, they have a good line of back players.

Peter Naudi will be a threat on the right wing.

He will have ample back-up support, especially from the returning Serbian Mihajlo Savic.

Luxol ambitions

Having surprised the rest of the teams last season to win the KO competition, Luxol will be under a lot of pressure to repeat their positive 2009/10 showing.

There’s lot of potential in the Luxol squad but it seems they struggle to impose themselves in crucial matches.

Who knows, maybe this season will mark a turnaround for Luxol, starting from Sunday’s Super Cup.