Valletta open title defence against Tarxien
Hibs could stop champions from breaking record
Champions Valletta will start their title defence against Tarxien Rainbows as the draws of the revamped BOV Premier League were held in Sta Venera yesterday.
This year, the Malta FA will be organising its national leagues under a new format which was approved by the MFA Council last season whereby an increase in the number of teams in the top two divisions was effected.
In fact, the Premier League and First Division will feature 12 teams while Division Two and Three will each be made up of 14 teams.
Last season, the Citizens won their 20th league title without conceding defeat. Yesterday, they were handed a favourable start in their bid to equal the all-time record of unbeaten matches in the top flight set by Hibernians between 1981 and 1983.
Valletta are on a streak of 33 matches without defeat, just four matches short of the all-time record set almost 30 years ago during the Paolites’ golden era.
Jesmond Zerafa’s team will fancy their chances of at least equalling that feat when they play their opening matches against Tarxien, Ħamrun Spartans, Qormi and newly-promoted Mosta.
Provided they avoid an upset in those four matches, the Citizens will have the chance of setting a new record when they face the same Hibernians in their fifth fixture of the new season.
Meanwhile, the most eye-catching match of the opening day is the clash between Sliema Wanderers and Hibs, two teams who will be bidding to make up for their disappointing showing in the Premier League last season.
Last year’s runners-up, Floriana, will start against Mqabba, another newly-promoted team, while Birkirkara kick off their campaign against Qormi.
The other two matches from the first-day programme see Ħamrun Spartans take on Division One champions Balzan Youths while Marsaxlokk face Mosta.
All 12 teams in the top flight will face each other twice in the opening phase with the top six qualifying for the Championship Pool and the six others in the Relegation Pool.
A total of 192 matches will be played with two-match pro-grammes scheduled for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The first two matches will be played on August 19, three days after the Super Cup showdown between Valletta and Floriana.
The First Division will be contested over two rounds with the top two winning promotion and the bottom two relegated.
The second-tier championship kicks off on September 9 with two-match programmes to be played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Tedesco Stadium and the Luxol Ground.
BOV Premier League 2011/12
| Match sequence | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Floriana | B | D | E | H | I | L | K | J | G | F | C |
| B. Mqabba | A | E | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J | F |
| C. Valletta | D | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | G | A |
| D. Tarxien | C | A | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | G |
| E. Sliema Wanderers | F | B | A | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J |
| F. Hibernians | E | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J | A | B |
| G. Balzan Youths | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | A | C | D |
| H. Ħamrun Spartans | G | C | D | A | L | J | F | B | E | I | K |
| I. Marsaxlokk | J | F | B | E | A | K | G | C | D | H | L |
| J. Mosta | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | A | F | B | E |
| K. Birkirkara | L | J | F | B | E | I | A | G | C | D | H |
| L. Qormi | K | G | C | D | H | A | J | F | B | E | I |
Note: Premier League starts on August 19 and ends on May 13, 2012.
BOV Division One 2011/12
| Match sequence | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Birżebbuga SP | B | D | E | H | I | L | K | J | G | F | C |
| B. Melita | A | E | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J | F |
| C. Dingli Swallows | D | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | G | A |
| D. St Andrew’s | C | A | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | G |
| E. St George’s | F | B | A | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J |
| F. Rabat Ajax | E | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J | A | B |
| G. Vittoriosa Stars | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | A | C | D |
| H. Lija Athletic | G | C | D | A | L | J | F | B | E | I | K |
| I. Pietà Hotspurs | J | F | B | E | A | K | G | C | D | H | L |
| J. Naxxar Lions | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | A | F | B | E |
| K. St Patrick | L | J | F | B | E | I | A | G | C | D | H |
| L. Żejtun Cor. | K | G | C | D | H | A | J | F | B | E | I |
Note: Division One starts on September 9 and ends on May 13, 2012.
BOV Division Two (starting September 16)
First programme: Luqa vs Kirkop; Msida St Joseph vs San Ġwann; Għargħur vs Sta Venera; Senglea vs Gżira United; Żurrieq vs Siġġiewi; Attard vs Mellieħa; Żebbuġ Rangers vs Gudja United.
BOV Division Three (starting September 18)
First programme: Xgħajra vs Marsascala; Għaxaq vs Sta Luċija; Mtarfa vs Pembroke Athleta; Fgura vs Swieqi; Mdina Knights vs Kalkara; Sirens vs Mġarr; Qrendi vs Marsa.