“Keep playing until your legs let you,” Ally Dawson told Brian Said when a reunion of the 1991/92 Luxol St Andrew’s squad recently brought the old master and his former protégé together after 20 years.
Widely acclaimed as one of the best defenders of his generation, Said has long been putting Dawson’s advice into practice as, at the ripe age of 37, the former Malta international is still plying his trade at the highest level of local football.
With 92 international appearances under his belt, Said further cemented his place in Maltese football folklore by setting a new record for Premier League appearances.
According to football statistician Lennard Kelder, Said played his 426th top-flight match in Floriana’s 5-1 win over Tarxien on Saturday, two more than Stefan Sultana and David Camilleri. Said’s total includes the relegation decider between Luxol and Żurrieq in 1991-92.
“I’m very pleased to have reached this milestone,” Said, 38 in May, said. “When I started playing football, personal records were the last thing on my mind but when you attain this target, you can’t but feel satisfied and proud because it’s a prestigious achievement.
“From a personal perspective, I see this feat as a reward for the sacrifices I’ve made during my career. And I’m obviously glad that I’m still fit and playing in the top flight.
“You have to genuinely love football to maintain certain standards
“Sometimes, people take things for granted but I’ve never lost the desire to play the game.
“I’m still enjoying my football, especially now that Floriana are in the Championship Pool and still vying for important targets.”
When players reach certain milestones like the one Said hit recently, it’s normally a sign that they are approaching the end of their career but the Floriana captain is not contemplating retirement just yet.
“Football offers you a whole world of opportunities,” Said, whose contract with Floriana runs out at the end of the season, said. “I also have to think about my family when considering my options for the future but my intention is to continue playing next season.”
It’s a measure of Said’s talent and professionalism that he has virtually spent his entire career in the top flight, turning out for clubs like Birkirkara, Sliema Wanderers, Marsaxlokk and Floriana.
In the summer of 2009, Said was faced with a difficult decision as, after only one season with Marsaxlokk, the club were demoted from the Premier League after a former club official was convicted of match-fixing
Said felt that, at his age, it was imperative that he continued his career in the top division and eventually left Marsaxlokk for Floriana.
“It was like making a U-turn because I had already spent six years with Floriana before I rejoined the club in 2009,” Said reflected.
“At the time, my decision to sign for Floriana looked a bit risky because they were not considered among the top teams in the league but the prospect of a second spell with one of the most glorious clubs in Malta lured me back to Floriana.
“I’m delighted to have made that decision. The team is doing well and president Johan Said is working hard to take Floriana forward.”
Like all players, Said has had his ups and downs but his morale was at its lowest ebb when he was struck down by injuries.
“Injuries are the biggest setbacks for players,” Said observed. “I have no problems dealing with mistakes because if you play football, you’re going to make some but it’s hard to cope with injuries.
“Last summer, I ended up with several fractured ribs after suffering an injury in pre-season.
“I remember telling my wife that maybe the time had come to call it a day. There were moments during my recovery when I was in great pain. My lung collapsed initially and I spent two days in hospital.
“I had also sustained a bad knee injury earlier in my career. I scored a goal in Malta’s 3-2 defeat to Ireland in a Euro 2000 qualifier and the weekend after, I hurt my knee while playing for Floriana against Gozo.
“I tore the medial collateral ligament. It took me three months to recover from that injury.”
Said has been involved in many finals and decisive matches and won countless honours, especially during his eight-year spell with Sliema Wanderers.
Identifying his most memorable game out of 426 is a thankless task but Said recalled one particular anecdote .
“The highlight of my international career was the home Euro 2008 qualifier against Turkey (Said scored one of the goals in a 2-2 draw) but we’re talking about my club career here,” Said remarked.
“My best spell was with Sliema as we were champions for three years in a row. It’s impossible to pick one match but there’s one story I will never forget.
“During my time with Sliema, we played a match against Pietà. It was a very important game and I scored in a 2-1 victory that effectively sealed our title success. Murphy Akanji, the Sliema goalkeeper at the time, made a mistake and Pietà profited to take the lead.
“A few days later, Murphy gave me a new pair of football shoes as a gesture of appreciation. I told Murphy that I didn’t expect any gifts because we win and lose as a team but he was so grateful that I scored and helped Sliema win.”
Looking towards the future, Said hopes to help Floriana achieve some success this season.
“My wish is to help Floriana qualify for Europe,” Said said. “We also hope to do well in the Trophy.”
Valletta may still be unbeaten but they have yet to record their first win in the Championship Pool.
After opening their second-phase commitments with a one-all draw against Ħamrun Spartans, the Citizens failed to overcome Marsaxlokk for the second time this season.
When Malcolm Licari put Marsaxlokk ahead eight minutes from time, it looked as though the Citizens were heading for their first defeat in 20 matches but Ryan Fenech came to the leaders’ rescue with a headed goal two minutes from time.
Fenech’s equaliser ensured that Valletta stayed six points clear of Birkirkara at the top after the champions missed the chance to turn up the heat on their rivals as they were held to a one-all draw by Ħamrun Spartans in Sunday’s opening game.
Scottish forward Dene Shields gave the Spartans a 53rd-minute lead but the Stripes hit back to level matters. Brazilian forward Rodolfo Kumbrevicius, who had come on as a substitute for Ibrahim Babatunde, scored with an easy tap-in 11 minutes from time to rescue a point for the champions.
The only top-six team to collect maximum points last weekend was Floriana who ended their winning drought with a 5-1 rout of Tarxien Rainbows.
The heavy rain proved to be a good omen for Floriana and Michael Woods, who was making his debut as first-team coach after replacing Bulgarian Todor Raykov, as the Greens struck three goals in the space of seven first-half minutes.
After scoring a quickfire brace with a towering header and a close-range flick, both from deadball situations, Tyrone Farrugia, in most people’s eyes, completed an amazing hat-trick midway into the first half when he touched Christian Cassar’s corner past David Cassar.
The Floriana midfielder gestured that the goal was his but Farrugia later claimed that he had got a touch to the ball.
Not that the identity of the scorer mattered much for Floriana who were delighted to be three goals up so early in the game after going three matches without scoring.
Dragomir Draganov increased Floriana’s lead on 32 minutes, Sergio pulled one back for the hapless Tarxien when converting a penalty early in the second half but Pablo Doffo restored Floriana’s four-goal margin on 55 minutes.
Floriana’s first win over Tarxien this season took their tally to 17 points, two above the Rainbows who have not won in four matches.
In the Relegation Pool, Qormi edged closer to survival after beating bottom side Vittoriosa Stars 4-1.
Michael Mifsud hit two goals either side of Abubakar Bello-Osagie’s 32nd minute strike.
Carlos Campagnoli temporarily revived Vittoriosa’s hopes when scoring seven minutes into the second half but Brazilian forward Josue sealed Qormi’s win with a late penalty.
Top 10
Brian Said - 426 matches
Stefan Sultana - 424 matches
David Camilleri - 424 matches
Gilbert Agius - 418 matches
Mario Muscat - 404 matches
Jeffrey Chetcuti - 396 matches
Ivan Woods - 361 matches
David Carabott - 350 matches
Kris Laferla - 348 matches
Noel Turner - 346 matches
Stats compiled by Lennard Kelder
Premier League statistics
Scorers, red cards
Birkirkara: Lattes 7; Fenech 5, Galea 5 (1 pen); Vella 3; Kumbrevicius 2, Cilia 2, Tabone 2 (1 pen); Vukanac, Borg, Agius.
Floriana: Woods 6 (2 pen.), Nwoke 6; Farrugia 4; Draganov 3, Caruana 3; Mecerod 2; Dzhorov, Darmanin, Agius, Said, Micallef, Doffo.
Red cards: Farrugia (vs Tarxien), Paris (vs Sliema Wanderers).
Ħamrun Spartans: Spiteri 11; Shields 5 (1 pen), Grima 5; Pereira 4, Fenech 2 (1 pen), Anizoba 2, Falzon 2; Mangion, Kokavessis.
Red cards: Hrubsa (vs Floriana, vs Valletta), Bonnici (vs Floriana), Ryan Fenech (vs Floriana).
Hibernians: McManus 6; Cohen 4 (1 pen), Herrera 4; Pisani 2, Pulis 2; Caruana, Clarke, Farrugia, Pearson, Kristensen, Fairbairn.
Own goal: Micallef (vs Vittoriosa).
Red cards: Pulis (vs Ħamrun); Fairbairn (vs Vittoriosa).
Marsaxlokk: Effiong 13; Guerreiro 4 (1 pen.); Templeman 3; Licari 2, Raimy 2, Sciberras 2, Alcorse 2 (1 pen); Kokavessis, Deanov.
Red cards: Alcorse (vs Valletta), Mamo (vs Floriana), Galabov (vs Vittoriosa), Raimy (vs Valletta).
Qormi: Mifsud 5, Josue 5 (4 pens), Frendo 4; Mallia 3, Bello Osagie 3; J. Farrugia 2; Bjedov, Chetcuti, Camilleri, Bondin.
Red cards: Bondin (vs Ħamrun), Hojung (vs Vittoriosa Stars), Bartolo (vs Floriana), M. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk).
Sliema Wanderers: Mifsud Triganza 8; Lima 6 (1 pen), Obiefule 6 (1 pen); Lachkhem 2, Barbara 2, Scerri 2.
Red cards: Mintoff (vs Birkirkara), B. Muscat (vs Vittoriosa), Lima (vs Valletta).
Tarxien Rainbows: Cristiano 7 (1 pen); Bueno 6, Sergio 6 (1 pen); Ricardo 4; Caruana, Everton. Own goals: Pearson (vs Hibernians); Kang (vs Qormi).
Red card: Bueno (vs Hibernians).
Valletta: Scerri 14 (4 pens); Denni 9 (1 pen); Sammut 5; Fenech 3; Falzon 2, Pace 2, G. Agius 2, Zammit 2; E. Agius, Temile, Borg, Briffa, Caruana.
Red cards: Ramon (vs Floriana), Falzon (vs Ħamrun).
Vittoriosa Stars: Ewurum 6, Edison 6 (2 pen); Jorge 5; Grech 2; Micallef, Campagnoli.
Own goal: Gauci (vs Hibernians).
Red cards: Campagnoli (vs Valletta), Edison (vs Birkirkara, vs Sliema), Mifsud (vs Valletta), Grech (vs Ħamrun).