Gozitan team set to figure in third round

The draw of the first two rounds from the revamped U*Bet FA Trophy was held at the Centenary Hall, yesterday. The new, open-to-all competition will be played on the same lines as the English FA Cup as from this season.

Till last year, the MFA used to organise three different knockout competitions – the U*Bet FA Trophy featuring clubs in the Premier League, First Division and the winners of the Gozo league title, the Maltco First Division cup and the Quick Keno knockout for second and third division sides.

Now, all three competitions will come together in one event which will be contested by the 52 teams in the Malta FA fold.

They will be joined by another 11 teams affiliated with the Gozo Football Association.

The first round of the 2011-12 FA Trophy pits together the third division sides with the Gozitan teams. These matches are scheduled for September 8, 10 and 11.

Then, first and second division teams will join the fray along with the winners of the first round matches.

In the second round (November 12-13 and 19-20), Victoria Hotspurs play the winners of the all-Gozitan clash between Kerċem Ajax and Nadur Youngsters.

This means that, at least, one team from the Gozo FA will make it to the third round when the 12 Premier League sides will join the competition.

In an all-first division encounter, Rabat Ajax were drawn against Birżebbuġa in the second round.

Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA chief executive officer, told reporters yesterday that the Malta FA council had decided to revamp the knockout competition in a bid to attract more spectators to the stadia.

He added that although the Premier League teams will not go into the pot in the first two rounds, a team reaching the final next year will have to play at least five matches as against the three of the old format.

Maltco Lotteries have been sponsoring the KO competitions for the past six years now.

Vassallo said that through a more attractive sponsorship, the Malta FA has increased the prize money for the winners.

Another tonic for the clubs is that all gate proceeds, after the deduction of expenses, will go to participating teams.

First round

Qrendi vs Għajnsielem; Mtarfa vs Xgħajra; Swieqi vs Xewkija; Għaxaq vs Pembroke; Xagħra United vs Kalkara; Mdina vs Għarb; Victoria Wanderers vs St Lawrence; Kerċem vs Nadur; Marsa vs Fgura; Sannat vs Sirens; Mġarr vs Oratory.

Second round

Lija vs St Andrew’s; Attard vs Vittoriosa; Kerċem/Nadur vs Victoria Hotspurs; St Patrick vs Marsascala; Senglea vs Żebbuġ Rangers; Dingli vs Qrendi/ Għajnsielem; Marsa/Fgura vs Msida; San Ġwann vs Sta Venera; Mtarfa/Xgħajra vs St George’s; Kirkop vs Naxxar;

Gżira vs Victoria Wanderers/St Lawrence; Pieta vs Sta Luċija; Xagħra/Kalkara vs Siġġiewi; Swieqi/ Xewkija vs Mdina/Għarb; Sannat/ Sirens vs Għargħur; Żejtun Corinthians vs Mġarr/Oratory; Mellieħa vs Melita; Rabat Ajax vs Birżebbuġa St Peter’s; Luqa vs Żurrieq; Gudja United vs Għaxaq/ Pembroke.