The mood during yesterday’s news conference at the Grand Hotel Excelsior was relaxed and friendly but, with memories of the stormy clash between Birkirkara and Hibs less than a month ago still fresh in the mind, the two camps couldn’t resist the temptation to indulge in some verbal sparring ahead of their title decider tomorrow.
Mario Muscat, the Hibs captain, rekindled the debate when declaring that the Paolites deserved to win their last game against Birkirkara, who had taken the lead in stoppage time only to be pegged back by a contentious penalty, but Gareth Sciberras, the Stripes skipper, quickly retorted: “Don’t forget that we played with 10 men for most of the game”.
The fall-out from that controversial finale in the last meeting between Hibs and Birkirkara adds extra spice to tomorrow’s title decider between the two challengers who are hoping to be crowned Malta champions.
Sciberras, Birkirkara’s talis-manic midfielder, said that the players are 100 per cent focused on the championship decider.
“The past is nice and you learn from it but we’re living the present,” Sciberras, 30, said.
“I can only speak about Birkirkara as a team because I’m part of it. All the players are focused 100 per cent and possibly more on this game.
“Everything depends on our performance on Saturday. The game will be interesting, tactically, physically and also psychologically.
“Hibs boast that they have individual talents but we also have talented players plus collective strength.
“We excel in team spirit. We excel in helping each other especially in difficult situ-ations.”
The season has been an up-and-down affair for all clubs, including Birkirkara and Hibs, but Muscat is pleased with the Paolites’ consis-tency. “Besides the element of continuity, we also showed consistency,” Muscat said.
“Let’s not forget that last season we finished runners-up to Valletta and won the FA Trophy. It was a positive year.
“As the coach rightly pointed out, the team has remained consistent this season. It’s impossible to win all games but we’ve had two high-level seasons as we’ve challenged for all the honours in Maltese football.”
Muscat, 36, said Hibs and Birkirkara have shown they are worthy contenders for the title.
“Both teams deserve to be in this position,” he remarked. “We have been the most consistent teams and played the best football.
“Unfortunately, only one can win the title but we’re going to give our 100 per cent to bring the Premier League trophy back to Paola.”
Birkirkara and Hibs meet in tomorrow’s title decider. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi