I was just doing my job – Falzon

Players are expected to give their maximum in every match but the motivation to do well is greater when they are gunning against one of their former clubs.

Dyson Falzon had already made his point when, only 10 days after completing his loan switch from Valletta to Ħamrun Spartans, he scored a superb goal to earn his new team a vital point in a second-round clash with the Citizens.

Out of respect for Valletta, Falzon refused to celebrate on that occasion, a gesture that drew the appreciation of most of the City faithful, especially those who were gutted to see the 24-year-old winger leave their club, albeit on a short-term loan.

Falzon replicated his point-saving act last Sunday as his volley on 79 minutes pegged back Valletta who had taken a second-minute lead through Jonathan Caruana in their opening Championship Pool game.

No doubt, Falzon will have been satisfied with his well-taken effort but if he was, he certainly didn’t show it as, again, he kept his emotions in check.

His body language was that of a man torn between two loves.

While Falzon was making all the right moves to underline his professional attitude and commitment to his new employers, he still felt strongly about his former team, although ‘former’ is perhaps not the right word, given that the winger is expected to rejoin Valletta at the end of the season.

“I can’t really describe how I felt,” Falzon told The Times.

“I mean, I was just doing my job. It happened that I scored but it could have been any other player. That’s fate… Valletta could still have won the game but it was not to be.

“I’m a professional player and I set out to give my 100 per cent in every game.”

Faced with a question about his muted reaction after the goal, Falzon said: “I have great respect for Valletta. I had mixed feelings about my goal. I felt okay after I scored in the previous game against Valletta but I didn’t imagine that it would happen again.

“Any player who has worn the City shirt will probably understand what I’m trying to say. Even a one-year spell with them is a memorable experience, let alone four-and-a-half years.”

Despite his affection for Valletta, Falzon doesn’t regret his decision to join the Spartans for the remainder of the season.

“I accepted to go to Ħamrun because I wanted to play regular football,” Falzon said.

“It’s a new experience for me but I’m enjoying my time here. The club’s objective was to secure a Championship Pool place and we’ve achieved it. I’m glad to have been part of this. I have no regrets about joining Ħamrun because I’m fulfilling my aims.”

Widely acknowledged as one of Malta’s brightest prospects in his teens, Falzon quickly earned a reputation at Valletta following his move from Mosta.

Fast and skilful, he has always been regarded as a player who can be relied upon to provide fireworks on the wing but the affluence of offensive midfielders in Valletta’s squad restricted his first-team opportunities.

Nevertheless, Falzon feels he should have been given more playing time with Valletta this season.

“I was doing well in training and I felt I deserved to be given more (first-team) chances but this was not forthcoming,” Falzon said.

Valletta’s failure to see off Ħamrun in their first veritable ‘three-point’ encounter this season inevitably led to some scepticism about the Citizens’ ability to hold their nerve in the title race, especially with champions Birkirkara now only six points behind the leaders.

Falzon still believes that Valletta will win the title but warned that the teams in the Championship Pool will be no pushovers.

“I see no reason why Valletta shouldn’t win the league title,” Falzon observed.

“They have a very strong squad but in the Championship Pool all matches are tough because the teams are usually more aggressive and determined.

“A draw in the opening Championship Pool match could well act as a spur for Valletta ahead of their remaining matches.

“Furthermore, there will be many direct clashes and all the teams behind them will drop points.”

Ħamrun may have achieved their objective but Falzon is backing his team to step up their challenge for a top-three position.

“I believe that our target now is to fight for a top-three position and possibly qualification for Europe,” Falzon said.

“There are still many points at stake and a draw against the leaders gives you confidence.”

On a personal level, Falzon wants to continue proving his worth.

“My aim is to keep playing well, also to improve my chances of getting into the national squad,” Falzon said.

“Every player wants to be part of the national team and I’m no different.”

Asked about his plans beyond the end of the season, Falzon replied: “I’m just focusing on my football. I want to finish the season on a positive note and then I will have plenty of time to consider my options.”

The opening Championship Pool matches threw up a few surprises as Ħamrun Spartans held Valletta to a one-all draw and Marsaxlokk hammered Floriana 4-0, last weekend.

Valletta were expected to kick off their top-six commitments on a winning note but Ħamrun punished the leaders for their sluggish performance with a late equaliser.

Jonathan Caruana headed Valletta in front early on but the Spartans showed commendable fighting spirit as they recovered from that setback to limit Valletta to a handful of scoring chances.

Ħamrun shocked their opponents when Dyson Falzon rammed in a first-time volley past Andrew Hogg to deny the Whites a victory that would have taken them eight points clear at the top.

On Saturday, Marsaxlokk also provided a warning about their intentions to make their mark on the Championship Pool with a crushing 4-0 win over struggling Floriana who have now suffered four defeats on the run.

Alfred Effiong was Marsaxlokk’s hero as he scored all four goals to lift the Blues up to third in the standings, level on 15 points with Tarxien Rainbows.

Champions Birkirkara resurrected their hopes of defending the league title as their 3-1 victory over Tarxien moved them up to second in the table.

Michael Galea, Emiliano Lattes and Paul Fenech were on target to give the Stripes a deserved win at the expense of a low-key Tarxien side who had gained a temporary equaliser when Sergio converted a first-half penalty.

In the Relegation Pool, Hibernians showed character as they had the better of Vittoriosa Stars 2-1 despite finishing the match with 10 men.

A dramatic match saw Hibs open the scoring from a dubious penalty when Steve Wellman was adjudged to have tripped Paul McManus in the box. The Scottish striker made no mistake from the spot.

Vittoriosa received a boost when Brian Fairbairn was sent off for protests. The Stars took instant advantage when Edison put them level but 10-man Hibs snatched a late winner thanks to Adrian Pulis’s close-range header.

The Paolites are now five points clear of Vittoriosa, level with Qormi who conceded a heavy 0-4 defeat to a resurgent Sliema Wanderers on Monday.

The Blues produced a polished display all-round to annihilate the Qormi threat, the scorers for the winners being Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (2), Mark Scerri and Obinna Obiefule.

Premier League statistics

Scorers, red cards

Birkirkara: Lattes 7; Fenech 5, Galea 5 (1 pen); Vella 3; Cilia 2, Tabone 2 (1 pen); Vukanac, Borg, Agius, Kumbrevicius.
Floriana: Woods 6 (2 pen.), Nwoke 6; Caruana 3; Mecerod 2, Draganov 2; Dzhorov, Darmanin, Agius, Said, Micallef, Farrugia.
Red cards: Farrugia (vs Tarxien), Paris (vs Sliema Wanderers).
Ħamrun Spartans: Spiteri 11; Grima 5; Pereira 4, Shields 4 (1 pen); Fenech 2 (1 pen), Anizoba 2, Falzon 2; Mangion, Kokavessis.
Red cards: Hrubsa (vs Floriana, vs Valletta), Bonnici (vs Floriana), Ryan Fenech (vs Floriana).
Hibernians: McManus 6; Cohen 4 (1 pen), Herrera 4; Pisani 2, Pulis 2; Caruana, Clarke, Farrugia, Pearson, Kristensen, Fairbairn.
Own goal: Micallef (vs Vittoriosa).
Red cards: Pulis (vs Ħamrun); Fairbairn (vs Vittoriosa).
Marsaxlokk: Effiong 13; Guerreiro 4 (1 pen.); Templeman 3; Raimy 2, Sciberras 2, Alcorse 2 (1 pen); Koka-vessis, Deanov, Licari.
Red cards: Alcorse (vs Valletta), Mamo (vs Floriana), Galabov (vs Vittoriosa).
Qormi: Josue 4 (3 pens), Frendo 4; Mifsud 3, Mallia 3; Bello Osagie 2, J. Farrugia 2; Bjedov, Chetcuti, Camilleri, Bondin.
Red cards: Bondin (vs Ħamrun Spartans), Hojung (vs Vittoriosa Stars), Bartolo (vs Floriana), M. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk).
Sliema Wanderers: Mifsud Triganza 8; Lima 6 (1 pen), Obiefule 6 (1 pen); Lachkhem 2, Barbara 2, Scerri 2.
Red cards: Mintoff (vs Birkirkara), B. Muscat (vs Vittoriosa Stars), Lima (vs Valletta).
Tarxien Rainbows: Cristiano 7 (1 pen); Bueno 6; Sergio 5; Ricardo 4; Caruana, Everton.
Own goals: Pearson (vs Hibernians); Kang (vs Qormi).
Red card: Bueno (vs Hibernians).
Valletta: Scerri 14 (4 pens); Denni 9 (1 pen); Sammut 5; Falzon 2, Pace 2, G. Agius 2, Fenech 2, Zammit 2; E. Agius, Temile, Borg, Briffa, Caruana.
Red cards: Ramon (vs Floriana), Falzon (vs Ħamrun).
Vittoriosa Stars: Ewurum 6, Edison 6 (2 pen); Jorge 5; Grech 2; Micallef. Own goal: Gauci (vs Hibernians).
Red cards: Campagnoli (vs Valletta), Edison (vs Birkirkara, vs Sliema), Mifsud (vs Valletta), Grech (vs Ħamrun).

Next fixtures

Saturday (Hibs Stadium)
Vittoriosa vs Qormi - 2 p.m.
Floriana vs Tarxien - 4 p.m.

Sunday (National Stadium)
Ħamrun vs Birkirkara - 2 p.m.
Valletta vs Marsaxlokk - 4 p.m.

Monday (Hibs Stadium)
Sliema vs Hibernians - 7.30 p.m.