Hibernians’ stand-in coach Richard Mercieca must make do without two key players for the U*Bet FA Trophy semi-final against Ħamrun Spartans on Monday after Clayton Failla and Luis Edison Dos Santos, Tarabai, were given a one-match ban yesterday.
Brazilian forward Tarabai, Hibs’ top scorer in the BOV Premier League with 21 goals, was suspended following his sending-off in the dying stages of the Paolites’ 2-1 victory over Valletta.
Tarabai, who came on for the injured Marcelo Dias in the first half, earned a second yellow card in stoppage-time for time-wasting. Failla was sanctioned after collecting his fourth booking.
Bjorn Kristensen also received his fourth caution last weekend but, as he is still eligible to play in youth competitions, he was due to serve his one-match ban in last night’s Youth KO quarter-final against Valletta at the Centenary Stadium.
As the championship concluded last weekend, any bans resulting from the final round of league matches must be served in the next competition the suspended player/s is eligible to take part in.
Valletta’s Saidou Mady Panandetiguiri was also handed a one-match ban for four yellow cards.
The Burkina Faso defender has been ruled out of Sunday’s semi-final against Qormi.
The heftiest ban yesterday was meted out to Angus Buhagiar.
The Birkirkara player was hit with a three-match suspension after seeing red for head-butting Pedrinho, of Balzan Youths, in his side’s 3-0 win last week.
Also getting a one-match ban yesterday were Balzan Youths midfielder Bjorn Bondin and Jonathan Xerri, the Marsaxlokk defender.
Meanwhile, Hibs yesterday moved to clarify any misunderstandings arising from their statement about the departure of Mark Miller.
On Tuesday, the Paolites announced that they had decided to terminate the coach’s contract by mutual agreement after he had turned down the club’s offer to sign a new deal.
According to Hibs, Miller had accepted an offer to become Valletta coach next season after being approached by the champions several weeks ago.
This statement led some sections of the media to report that Miller had already joined Valletta but Hibs insisted yesterday that they neither said nor gave the impression that Miller had already signed for Valletta.
According to Hibs, their statement “faithfully reflected what Miller had told club president (Tony Bezzina) and general manager (Ranier Bezzina)” during a meeting on Tuesday.
Hibs also denied reports that they had sacked Miller, adding that, as a result of his decision to accept an offer from another club, it was only reasonable that the two parties reached an agreement to end the contract with immediate effect.
The Paolites again made it clear that they were happy with Miller’s work in the last four years and that it was for this reason that he was offered a new five-year contract.
Tarxien, Curmi part ways
Tarxien Rainbows will appoint a new coach for next season after failing to extend the contract of Patrick Curmi who led the side to safety after a struggle against relegation in the Premier League just ended.
Curmi had started the season with Birkir-kara but replaced Noel Coleiro at Tarxien in autumn after he was fired by the Stripes after only five matches.
It seems Tarxien offered Curmi another role but he turned down their request.