Mark Miller and Danilo Doncic, two coaches who last season were strongly linked with the Valletta job which eventually went to the former, will go head to head on the first day of the 2012/13 BOV Premier League as the Citizens will launch their bid to win a third straight title with a match against Tarxien Rainbows.
An opening clash with the Doncic-led Rainbows will probably be seen as a good omen by Valletta as last season, they also started their championship-winning campaign against Tarxien.
The draws for the 2012/13 national leagues, sponsored by BOV, were made at the Grand Hotel Excelsior yesterday.
Hibs, runners-up last season, will begin their quest to dethrone Valletta with a game against Mosta while Birkirkara, also regarded as potential contenders for the title, start against Premier League newcomers Melita.
The stand-out fixture of the opening weekend of the 2012/13 BOV Premier League, which runs from August 17 to May 4, 2013, is the Old Firm derby between Sliema Wanderers and Floriana.
Ħamrun Spartans face Balzan in a repeat of last season’s first league match for the two clubs, while newly-promoted Rabat Ajax open against Qormi.
The first league meeting between Valletta and Hibs, who will lift the curtains on the new season when they meet in the BOV Super Cup on August 3, is scheduled for the sixth day.
Valletta and Hibs will end their first-round commitments against derby rivals Floriana and Tarxien Rainbows respectively.
Melita and Rabat Ajax, the two newly-promoted sides, will meet on the second day of the season while the first derby between Qormi and Ħamrun Spartans will take place on the fifth weekend.
Addressing the media and club representatives before yesterday’s draws, Bjorn Vassallo, the Malta FA CEO, reaffirmed the association’s gratitude to BOV for their continued support.
“The Malta FA and all its members are not only grateful but also fortunate to have Bank Of Valletta as one of our partners,” Vassallo said. “BOV always come up with fresh ideas, they are always looking to evolve and I’m glad to say that whenever we knock on their door, we are always received with open arms.”
Vassallo said that the national league reforms, implemented before the start of last season, are reaping the desired rewards.
“The 2011/12 domestic competitions were a success,” Vassallo remarked. “The aims of the changes have been realised and this is reflected not only in the attendance figures but moreso by the improvement in the technical levels of our youngsters.
“Take the U-21 national team as an example. Two years ago, very few U-21 players were playing in the Premier League but with 12 teams in the top flight, first-team opportunities for youths have increased.
“Our U-21s have gained five points in the UEFA qualifiers and we could have had more. I’ve seen most of the games and our U-21 players have always looked confident and motivated.
“I believe that we are on the right path. Our youths are finding more space in the top league. My message to the clubs is to show faith in the young players.”
Vassallo also praised the clubs for their contribution.
“There is more competitivity in our leagues and this has increased the income for our clubs,” the MFA CEO said.
“We have just closed the association’s accounts for last season and I can say that every division has made an important step.
“Our greatest satisfaction is that, thanks to the increase in gate revenue and sponsorships, no club lost money last season.”
Michael Galea, BOV’s Chief Officer Operations, reiterated the bank’s commitment to supporting local sport.
“As a bank, we believe in the intrinsic value football and sport in general have in helping our society to move forward,” Galea said.
“This is why BOV is extensively involved in many sectors of the Maltese community.”
To commemorate the eighth year of BOV’s support for the national leagues, the bank is launching a limited edition BOV Premier League MasterCard prepaid card with a denomination of €150.
The new card “captures the most important moment in the league season”, Galea said, as it features the hoisting of the BOV Premier League trophy.
Same format
The format of the Premier League is unchanged from previous years with the 12 clubs playing each other twice on a round-robin system before the league splits into two groups.
The top six will contest the Championship Pool and the other six go into the Relegation Pool.
Some clubs had been in favour of increasing the number of on-field foreign players in the top flight from four to five but the majority of top-flight teams have reportedly voted against the proposal at a meeting of the Premier League Clubs Standing Committee.
2012/13 BOV Premier League (Aug. 17-May 4)
Match sequence
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| A. | Birkirkara | 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. | Ħamrun Spartans | D | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | G | A |
| D. | Balzan | C | A | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | G |
| E. | Rabat Ajax | F | B | A | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J |
| F. | Qormi | E | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J | A | B |
| G. | Sliema Wanderers | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | A | C | D |
| H. | Floriana | G | C | D | A | L | J | F | B | E | I | K |
| I. | Hibernians | 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. | Valletta | L | J | F | B | E | I | A | G | C | D | H |
| L. | Tarxien Rainbows | K | G | C | D | H | A | J | F | B | E | I |
2012/13 BOV Division One (Sep. 14-Apr. 28)
Match sequence
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| A. | B'buġa St Peters | B | D | E | H | I | L | K | J | G | F | C |
| B. | Żejtun Corinthians | A | E | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J | F |
| C. | Mqabba | D | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | G | A |
| D. | St Andrews | C | A | H | L | J | F | B | E | I | K | G |
| E. | Marsaxlokk | F | B | A | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J |
| F. | Gżira Utd | E | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | J | A | B |
| G. | Gudja Utd | 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. | Dingli Swallows | I | K | G | C | D | H | L | A | F | B | E |
| K. | Naxxar Lions | L | J | F | B | E | I | A | G | C | D | H |
| L. | Vittoriosa Stars | K | G | C | D | H | A | J | F | B | E | I |
Division Two
(September 14-April 28, 2013)
Opening programme: Għargħur vs San Ġwann; St George’s vs Fgura; Żurrieq vs Msida St Joseph; St Patrick vs Pembroke; Kirkop vs Siġġiewi; Żebbuġ Rangers vs Sta Venera Lightnings; Mellieħa SC vs Mġarr United.
Division Three
(September 14-May 5, 2013)
Opening programme: Swieqi United vs Sta Luċija; Marsa vs Sirens; Senglea Athletic vs Marsaskala; Ta’ Xbiex SC vs Għaxaq; Qrendi vs Xgħajra Tornadoes; Luqa St Andrews vs Attard; Kalkara vs Mtarfa; Mdina Knights bye.