Birkirkara played good football and gave supporters every reason to celebrate on Thursday night, and administrators believe the result was not a fluke.

The team may not have enjoyed the bulk of possession throughout the game against West Ham but Birkirkara were certainly the more dangerous.

UEFA match statistics show that Birkirkara had eight attempts on goal against West Ham’s six. Three of Birkirkara’s attempts were on target and one was blocked.

The result and the performance left thousands of supporters exclaiming it was the best-ever international game played by a Maltese football club. Never has a UEFA club competition game involving a Maltese team ever ended in penalties, more so against opponents of much higher calibre.

For Birkirkara president Adrian Delia the result was not a one-off and the players’ performance should serve as an eye-opener to how games of such calibre should be approached.

“We must shed the attitude that when Maltese teams play against foreign opposition they feel inferior... on the pitch it is not teams that play but 11 men against each other,” Dr Delia says.

Birkirkara players celebrate a goal.

He says football is about performing to “the best of your ability and wearing the shirt with pride”.

He notes that in the two weeks preceding the match, West Ham spent some £30 million on two players. Birkirkara has not spent anywhere near that amount in its entire 65-year history.

But looking ahead, Dr Delia insists clubs have to continue investing in young talent, quality professionals to train them and quality foreigners that help to raise the domestic game.

It is a sentiment shared by Bjorn Vassallo, general secretary of the Malta Football Association.

Posting on his Facebook wall shortly after the game ended, Mr Vassallo said progress could not be measured by one national team or club match but acknowledged that home grown players were “growing in confidence” and some foreigners were worth their pay.

“Investment in grassroots has become a priority, younger players are being given opportunities to join professional clubs abroad... we all need to continue believing in our players’ talent, instil more positive attitude and work harder to achieve,” Mr Vassallo wrote, thanking football administrators and supporters for keeping the game alive.

Kevin Azzopardi, head of the Times of Malta sports desk, believes Birkirkara’s strong performances in Europe went some way towards enhancing the profile of Maltese football.

“It has been a positive summer for domestic clubs in Europe with Hibernians also doing their bit after surprising Israeli heavyweights Maccabi Tel Aviv in the home leg of their Champions League tie, but it’s clear that we still have a long way to go to raise the standards in the long term,” Mr Azzopardi cautions.

He says it is imperative that all the stakeholders in Maltese football build on the momentum generated by Birkirkara’s remarkable efforts in the Europa League.

“Birkirkara are already reaping rewards from their smart decisions this summer, with the club under the helm of new president Adrian Delia.

“He has moved to strengthen their technical set-up, appointing a top-notch coach in Giovanni Tedesco, who has brought in his own assistants, goalkeepers’ coach and physical trainer.”

Birkirkara are striving to become more professional, he adds, and that is the way forward for Malta.

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com