Collective effort wins it for Stripes

Paul Zammit (Birkirkara coach): “This is incredible... I just can’t believe that we won this league championship. We have worked hard throughout the campaign and this success is the fruit of a collective effort.

“Today we didn’t start the match very well. Our first-half performance was below par. The players were affected by fear of failure and we were not taking the initiative.

“The half-time break came at the right moment. We changed the system and the team started to function to their potential.

“In the end our efforts were rewarded.”

Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara captain): “It’s hard to find words to describe my feelings at the moment. We showed great team spirit today and although the match started on a bad footing for us we kept battling and never gave up hope.

“We were never in it during the first half but at half-time the coach encouraged us to believe more in ourselves and in the second half we were a completely different team.

“We were determined not to let this chance slip through our grasp and in the end we stuck together and our grit saw us through.”

Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Birkirkara): “We are delighted to have suc-ceeded in winning this championship.

“It was a difficult campaign for us, full of ups and downs but we did remarkably well to stay consistent at the most important stage of the season.

“Even today things got difficult for us but the coach’s talk at half-time inspired us to complete a great comeback.

“This was one huge all-round effort.”

Michael Woods (Hibs coach): “We’re obviously all disappointed with the outcome. After a very encouraging opening 45 minutes, we took the field in the second half with the intention of protecting our lead and try and hit Birkirkara with quick counter-attacks.

“However, they were a transformed side after the break. They were totally in com-mand in the opening 15 minutes and turned the match in their favour, scoring the goals which in the end proved decisive.

“All in all, this was a positive cham-pionship for us. This team came a long way from the start of the season.

“Nobody had put Hibernians among the title challengers but we grew a lot as a team.

“Now, we must put this setback quickly behind us and focus on the FA Trophy. I’m sure the players will be looking to win the Trophy for a second successive year to give the Hibs fans something to cheer about.”

Malta champions

League titles: Sliema Wanderers – 26; Floriana – 25; Valletta – 21; Hibernians – 10; Ħamrun Spartans – 7; Birkirkara – 4; Rabat Ajax – 2; St George’s – 1; Marsaxlokk – 1; KOMR – 1;

1909-10 Floriana
1910-11 not held
1911-12 Floriana
1912-13 Floriana
1913-14 Ħamrun
1914-15 Valletta
1915-16 not held
1916-17 St George’s
1917-18 Ħamrun
1918-19 KOMR
1919-20 Sliema
1920-21 Floriana
1921-22 Floriana
1922-23 Sliema
1923-24 Sliema
1924-25 Floriana
1925-26 Sliema
1926-27 Floriana
1927-28 Floriana
1928-29 Floriana
1929-30 Sliema
1930-31 Floriana
1931-32 Valletta
1932-33 Sliema
1933-34 Sliema
1934-35 Floriana
1935-36 Sliema
1936-37 Floriana
1937-38 Sliema
1938-39 Sliema
1939-40 Sliema
1940-44 not held
1944-45 Valletta
1945-46 Valletta
1946-47 Ħamrun
1947-48 Valletta
1948-49 Sliema
1949-50 Floriana
1950-51 Floriana
1951-52 Floriana
1952-53 Floriana
1953-54 Sliema
1954-55 Floriana
1955-56 Sliema
1956-57 Sliema
1957-58 Floriana
1958-59 Valletta
1959-60 Valletta
1960-61 Hibernians
1961-62 Floriana
1962-63 Valletta
1963-64 Sliema
1964-65 Sliema
1965-66 Sliema
1966-67 Hibernians
1967-68 Floriana
1968-69 Hibernians
1969-70 Floriana
1970-71 Sliema
1971-72 Sliema
1972-73 Floriana
1973-74 Valletta
1974-75 Floriana
1975-76 Sliema
1976-77 Floriana
1977-78 Valletta
1978-79 Hibernians
1979-80 Valletta
1980-81 Hibernians
1981-82 Hibernians
1982-83 Ħamrun
1983-84 Valletta
1984-85 Rabat
1985-86 Rabat
1986-87 Ħamrun
1987-88 Ħamrun
1988-89 Sliema
1989-90 Valletta
1990-91 Ħamrun
1991-92 Valletta
1992-93 Floriana
1993-94 Hibernians
1994-95 Hibernians
1995-96 Sliema
1996-97 Valletta
1997-98 Valletta
1998-99 Valletta
1999-00 Birkirkara
2000-01 Valletta
2001-02 Hibernians
2002-03 Sliema
2003-04 Sliema
2004-05 Sliema
2005-06 Birkirkara
2006-07 Marsaxlokk
2007-08 Valletta
2008-09 Hibernians
2009-10 Birkirkara
2010-11 Valletta
2011-12 Valletta
2012-13 Birkirkara