Pembroke Athleta had a dream start to life in the Premier League as in their first-ever appearance in the top flight they beat Qormi 2-1 to put three useful points on the board as they bid to avoid an immediate drop back to Division One at the end of the season.

Indeed, Friday’s victory was a historic landmark in Pembroke’s football annals.

Gustavo Villalobos was their hero as he came back to haunt his former club with a fine performance and a brace of goals.

Coach Winston Muscat, in his first season in charge of Pembroke, lauded his players for their fine showing but was quick to remind them that these are still early days in the championship and there’s still more room for improvement.

“The players should be proud of themselves and what they managed to achieve for this club,” Muscat told the Times of Malta.

“In my pre-match talk I urged the team to work hard for each other. Their response was great and none of them let us down.

“We’re happy to have won our first match but the championship is long and this is just the start.”

Muscat can already see that his pre-season training programme was effective.

“During pre-season, the team showed very encouraging signs and our friendlies were very good,” he said.

“True, Qormi are passing through some difficult times but on Friday they still fielded a competitive side and the team did not look like they were experiencing off-field problems.

“Perhaps, our only regret is that we should have been more ruthless in front of goal and put the game beyond our opponents’ reach much earlier. But, hopefully, we will continue to improve.”

Muscat applied several changes to the club’s roster after taking over from Jacques Scerri in summer and parted ways with most of the players in last season’s Division One championship success.

“I found the committee very supportive and they agreed with my plans to bring in new players to sustain our challenge in the Premier League for the entire distance,” the former Naxxar and Vittoriosa coach said.

“We agreed on new players who fitted in our new project. Obviously, with so many newcomers coming in, this group needs time to gel as a team.

“However, our first match showed that we’re heading in the right direction.”

The win over Qormi was a great start but I’ve already told the boys that many other important matches are coming up

The opening-day programme produced two other shock results as Mosta came from behind to beat Floriana 2-1 while modest Tarxien started with a 2-0 win over Sliema.

Muscat said some other results were unexpected, confirming his impression that there was very little to separate most of the teams.

That scenario adds more significance to every match and the points at stake to attain pre-set objectives.

“Hibernians, Birkirkara, Valletta and Balzan are the best equipped in my opinion and the others are more or less of the same calibre,” Muscat remarked.

“This year it will be difficult to instal favourites and give predictions on what could happen. As we’ve seen all teams can spring a surprise on the day so that will make the championship more interesting.

“For us the most important thing is that we embark on a good level of consistency, a run that could see us picking points on a regular basis. If we manage that, our chances of survival will be increased.”

Next up for Muscat’s team is a clash against the other promoted side, St Andrew’s.

Pembroke will be revved up to beat their sporting neighbours but Muscat is keeping his feet rooted to the ground.

“The win over Qormi was a great start but I’ve already told the boys that many other important matches are coming up... these are still early days and we all know it,” he said.

“We have to keep ourselves grounded. The strategy is simple – we have to show the same kind of commitment and determination against St Andrew’s and the matches that follow.

“That way we will make sure that the three points won against Qormi will not be lost in our quest to stay in the Premier League next season.”

Next fixtures

Friday (Hibs Stadium)
Naxxar Lions vs Balzan - 18.30
Hibernians vs Floriana - 20.30

National Stadium
Tarxien Rainbows vs Birkirkara - 18.30
Valletta vs Sliema Wanderers - 20.30

Saturday (Tedesco Stadium)
Pembroke Athleta vs St Andrew’s - 18.30
Mosta vs Qormi - 20.45

Standings