The tourney of Brno side Sport Klub Zabovresky in 1947 stirred a lot of interest among the Maltese.
The Czechs were technically an amateur club because they did not take part in their National League but they were still a very good team and they delighted the crowd with their skills and technique.
Zabovresky played seven matches in Malta and each time the old Empire Stadium was filled to capacity with thousands of football-starved enthusiasts after the dark days of the World War II.
On January 5, 1947 Zabovresky lost 4-3 to a strong Sliema/Naxxar XI. The next day, however, they beat a Hibs/St George’s selection 5-1.
On January 11, Zabovresky downed the Melita/Ħamrun XI 4-1 but 24 hours later they lost 3-1 to the Valletta/Floriana combination.
On January 15, Zabovresky drew 1-1 with the MFA B XI and three days later they defeated the Combined Services XI 4-1.
The highlight of the tourney was, as usual, the traditional game against the MFA XI. The national team had prepared for the occasion with a game against champions Valletta on November 3, 1946.
This game was played annually in aid of the Poppy Day Fund between the league champions and a Representative XI.
Usually this was a Service XI but that season the MFA decided to pair Valletta with the national team in preparation for that season’s Christmas Tourney and the Victory Cup in May.
The match attracted another bumper crowd as the national team won handsomely 5-0.
The great game played by the Czechs against the strong Services XI somewhat dampened the expectations of the Maltese but on the day of the match the national team players rose to the occasion.
Playing with a rare spirit the hosts reduced the clever Czechs to a mediocre side and the few scoring chances created by the visitors could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
The Maltese won 5-1 with a Maurice DeCesare hat-trick and goals from Pawlu Friggieri and Willie Bennetti. This was surely one of the best performances of a local team against foreign opposition.
The fifth goal was a master-piece.
A quick-flowing movement bet-ween Willie Bennetti, Ġużi Bennetti and Friggieri ended with the latter flicking the ball over to DeCesare who rounded off his hat-trick.
The game, however, was marred by a serious knee injury to Salvinu Schembri. He was rushed to hospital after only 15 minutes from kick-off. His place was taken by Ġużi Bennetti.
Schembri’s injury forced him out of the game for most of the season and his absence was, perhaps, the chief reason why Valletta eventually surrendered the championship to rivals Ħamrun Spartans.
The MFA XI as they lined up against Zabovresky in 1947. (Left to right) Emmanuel Dowling, Wenzu Gabaretta, Alfie Pearson, Sunny Borg Cardona, Willie Bennetti, Ninu Calleja, George Bencini, Pawlu Friggieri, Maurice DeCesare, Leli Cauchi, Salvinu Schembri.