The SK Beograd and Kinizsi Christmas Tourney of 1955-56

During the 1955-56 season, three foreign teams visited the island.

SK Beograd, of Yugoslavia, and Hungary’s Kinizsi took part in the Christmas Tourney while Leyton Orient, of England, visited the island towards the end of the season.

Kinizsi were not new to the Maltese. Old-timers surely remembered season 1937-38 when the Hungarians toured Malta under their old name of Ferencvaros.

In 1948, the new Communist government forced all Hungarian football clubs to reform their teams on a trade union basis.

Ferencvaros, one of the most famous clubs in Hungary, changed their name to Budapest Kinizsi and became the team of the Food Workers Trade Union. Fortunately, this change did not last long and the club soon reverted to its old and famous name, Ferencvaros.

Beograd opened the tourney in style, beating Ħamrun Spartans 5-2. In their next game, however, they were surprised by a battling Sliema Wanderers XI. The Blues, inspired by an early Salvinu Schembri goal, did not yield an inch to their more-quoted opponents.

If Beograd were surprised by the Wanderers, then, they must have been shocked out of their wits by Valletta.

The Citizens made up for their lack of skill with their boundless energy. Using first-time tackling, they put the team from Yugoslavia off their game.

Micallef put the Whites in front but Beograd soon equalised. Valletta were hardly bothered and goals from Pace and Urpani soon put them back on velvet.

The visitors stepped up their tempo and forced their way back into the game. They narrowed the score but two minutes from time Pace scored again to give Valletta a merited 4-2 victory.

Beograd reserved their best form for the match against Kinizsi.

The Hungarians, however, were a more polished side than the Yugoslavs and Beograd, once again, had to leave the stadium empty-handed. This time they were beaten 3-2 by Kinizsi.

There was, at least, some consolation for Beograd when in their last match in Malta they beat a rather poor MFA XI. The 1-0 scoreline, however, did not do them justice. The Maltese were outplayed and outclassed.

Kinizsi opened their tour of the island with the match against the MFA XI. This time, the national team played up to expectations, forcing a creditable 2-2 draw against the slick Hungarians.

Kinizsi continued their tour with victories over Beograd and Floriana.

Despite losing 1-2, Floriana played a very good game. They fought for every ball and this somewhat upset the smooth passing movements of the visitors.

The good show produced by the national team against Kinizsi prompted the organisers of the tourney to stage an extra match between the two protagonists.

Kinizsi’s last appearance in Malta was, therefore, the return match against MFA XI.

Once again the match ended in a draw as the Maltese rose to the occasion and it was gratifying to see the boys in red throw overboard the defensive tactics which they had used in the first encounter.

The match was fast, tough, and full of fire. Both sides tried their best to register a favourable result but at the end neither side had managed to score.