Cassar rekindles Greens love affair

Amid Floriana’s bold march towards the top positions in the table, much of the focus has been on the key contribution of their high-profile signings, the likes of Ivan Woods, Daniel Nwoke and Tyrone Farrugia.

There is not a shred of doubt that the new recruits helped to transform Floriana from also-rans to contenders for a place in European football but the old guard have also been doing their bit.

One player who has certainly been at the heart of the Greens’ charge in the last two months is Christian Cassar. Il-Jajja, as Cassar is commonly known, is no newcomer to local football as in his teens and early 20s he was regarded as one of the most creative midfielders around.

A fine shooter of the ball, Cassar was seen as possessing the skills and vision to establish himself among the leading players in the league but his progress in the last three years was derailed by a succession of injuries.

Having taken some time to get back to his best after undergoing surgery to repair cruciate ligaments in his left knee some eight years ago, Cassar suffered another severe setback when he sustained the same injury in his right knee during Floriana’s second league game, against rivals Valletta, last season.

The long, painstaking recovery from this serious injury cast doubts over Cassar’s ability to return to his old self as he was sidelined for several months but that didn’t stop Floriana extending his loan from Marsaxlokk for another year last summer.

Floriana’s faith in Cassar has since been rewarded as he has shown signs of rediscovering his best form since the turn of the year.

“I’m very satisfied with how I’ve been playing,” the 27-year-old said.

“I’ve been very unlucky with injuries. Last season, I suffered a cruciate injury in the first 15 minutes of Floriana’s second league game.

“I was out the entire season. I recovered from that opera-tion but in the first few months of this current season, I picked up another knee injury which kept me out for another six weeks.”

One injury setback followed another for Cassar but his self-belief and determination to save his career helped him overcome all obstacles.

“I always believed in myself,” Cassar said.

“I never gave up hope. Injuries really put you down but I tried to stay positive. I spent several hours in the gym to complete my rehabilitation.

“I was prepared to make sacrifices. If I didn’t have this attitude, I don’t think I would have managed to get back. It’s very difficult because injuries shatter your confidence but it’s important that you always look forward.”

Cassar initially struggled to force his way into the team under Todor Raykov but he has been a fixture for Floriana since Michael Woods took over from the Bulgarian in February.

“I don’t think Raykov believed in me,” Cassar said.

“Even when I was fit, he left me on the bench. Things have been a lot better with Michael Woods. He has faith in my abilities and when a coach shows you that, your confidence grows. I’m playing without pressure whereas before I was rather tense for fear of losing my place in the team.”

With his ability to strike the ball hard and accurately, especially from set-pieces, Cassar is a source of constant danger for opponents, even when he’s not at his best.

But, in recent games, his work-rate from midfield backed up suggestions that the injury woes are behind him.

“There is always room for improvement but I feel like I’m back to my best now,” Cassar said.

“Physically, I feel okay and there’s no ill-effects from the injuries of the past.”

In summer of 2008, Cassar’s love affair with Floriana looked to be as good as over after he joined Marsaxlokk on a five-year deal.

His spell down south lasted one season, however, as Cassar rejoined Floriana on loan and extended his stay by another 12 months last year.

Cassar’s current contract with Marsaxlokk has another two years left to run but his attachment to Floriana is so strong that it’s hard to imagine him donning the shirt of another team now that he’s back on song.

“I came through the club’s nursery, I still live in Floriana and most of my friends are from the town,” he said.

“When I left Floriana for Marsa-xlokk, I did it for my future. I was sad to move away but the circumstances at the time left me with no other choice.

“This season, the club has taken a new dimension and I’m willing to stay. This is my second season on loan here.

“Floriana want me to stay and president Johan Said has already informed me that the committee has written to Marsaxlokk to declare their interest in retaining my services beyond the end of the season.”

Staying with Floriana is Cassar’s wish but his immediate priority is to help the team reach their objective of finishing second to secure qualification to the Europa League.

“From a personal perspective, I want to keep up my level of per-formance,” Cassar said.

“I’m also eager to do everything I can to help Floriana claim second place in the league and gain success in the FA Trophy.”

Premier League statistics

Scorers, red cards

Birkirkara: Lattes 8, Galea 8 (1 pen); Fenech 5; Cilia 4; Vella 3, Babatunde 3, Kumbrevicius 3; Tabone 2 (1 pen); Vukanac, Borg, Agius, Scicluna.
Red card: Agius (vs Floriana), Fenech (vs Ħamrun Spartans).
Floriana: Nwoke 13; Woods 9 (4 pens); Draganov 4; Farrugia 3, Caruana 3; Mecerod 2, Cassar 2; Dzhorov, Darmanin, Agius, Said, Micallef, Doffo.
Red cards: Farrugia (vs Tarxien), Paris (vs Sliema), Bugeja (vs Valletta), Doffo (vs Tarxien).
Ħamrun Spartans: Spiteri 11; Shields 6 (1 pen); Grima 5, Pereira 5; Falzon 3; Fenech 2 (1 pen), Anizoba 2; Mangion, Kokavessis, Agius, Chipev.
Red cards: Hrubsa (vs Floriana, vs Valletta), Bonnici (vs Floriana), Ryan Fenech (vs Floriana), Chipev (vs Floriana).
Hibernians: McManus 7 (1 pen.); Cohen 6 (1 pen), Herrera 6; Pisani 2, Pulis 2, Kristensen 2, Caruana 2; Clarke, Farrugia, Pearson, Fairbairn, Hart, Taki (pen).
Own goal: Micallef (vs Vittoriosa).
Red cards: Pulis (vs Ħamrun); Fairbairn (vs Vittoriosa).
Marsaxlokk: Effiong 14; Alcorse 5 (1 pen); Guerreiro 4 (1 pen.), Darmanin 4; Templeman 3; Licari 2, Raimy 2, Sciberras 2; Kokavessis, Deanov.
Own goal: Decesare (vs Birkirkara).
Red cards: Alcorse (vs Valletta), Mamo (vs Floriana), Galabov (vs Vittoriosa), Raimy (vs Valletta).
Qormi: Mifsud 7; Josue 6 (4 pens), Frendo 6; Mallia 3, Bello Osagie 3, J. Farrugia 3 (1 pen); Borg Olivier 2; Bjedov, Chetcuti, Camilleri, Bondin, Karamonolis, Vandelan-noite.
Own goal: Gauci (vs Hibernians).
Red cards: Bondin (vs Ħamrun), Hojung (vs Vittoriosa Stars), Bartolo (vs Floriana), M. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk).
Sliema Wanderers: Mifsud Triganza 13; Lima 8 (2 pens), Obiefule 8 (1 pen); Lachkhem 3; Barbara 2, Scerri 2; Ciantar.
Red cards: Mintoff (vs Birkirkara), B. Muscat (vs Vittoriosa), Lima (vs Valletta), Bajada (vs Vittoriosa).
Tarxien Rainbows: Bueno 9, Sergio 9 (2 pen); Cristiano 8 (1 pen); Ricardo 6; Caruana, Everton.
Own goals: Pearson (vs Hibernians); Kang (vs Qormi).
Red cards: Bueno (vs Hibernians), Grioli (vs Marsaxlokk).
Valletta: Scerri 15 (4 pens); Denni 11 (1 pen); Sammut 5; E. Agius 4, Briffa 4; Fenech 3, Zammit 3; Falzon 2, Pace 2, G. Agius 2, Andrade 2; Temile, Borg, Caruana.
Red cards: Ramon (vs Floriana), Falzon (vs Ħamrun), Pace (vs Birkirkara), Denni (vs Floriana), Borg (vs Birkirkara).
Vittoriosa Stars: Ewurum 7, Jorge 7; Edison 6 (2 pen); Grech 2; Micallef, Campagnoli.
Own goals: Gauci (vs Hibs), Mifsud (vs Sliema).
Red cards: Campagnoli (vs Valletta), Edi-son (vs Birkirkara, vs Sliema), Mifsud (vs Valletta), Grech (vs Ħamrun).