Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara have had a topsy-turvy season but this weekend they have the chance to put themselves in a good position of winning a major trophy when they go head to head in the FA Trophy semi-finals.

The Wanderers enjoy a great tradition in the Trophy competition, having lifted the coveted trophy for a record 21 times in their history.

This afternoon they will have their eyes firmly set on a reaching a third successive final and remain in contention to book their place in the Europa League qualifiers next season.

“The FA Trophy enjoys great prestige in Maltese football as it’s the second most important competition on the calendar,” John Buttigieg, the Sliema Wanderers coach, told a news conference at the Trophies Lounge.

“For us at Sliema this is our most favourite competition, given the great success our club has enjoyed ove the years, and surely we’d love to go all the way as there is no better feeling than winning trophies.

“There is little doubt that we are facing a difficult task to reach the final as Birkirkara are a very strong team but I’m sure my players will give everything they have to win the semi-final and reach our second successive final.”

The former Malta coach made his feelings known on the MFA’s decision to hold the semi-final at 4pm, given the hot conditions the players are likely to dwell on this afternoon.

“I can’t understand why the match is being played so early in the afternoon,” Buttigieg said.

“The hot conditions at that time of the day will surely make it tough for the players and I hope it doesn’t effect our level of performance. But we just have to get on with it and try to do our best in the conditions we’ll find ourselves in.”

While Sliema need to win the FA Trophy to reach European football, Birkirkara have an easier route.

In fact, a win against Sliema today will assure them of a spot in the Europa League qualifiers given that the other semi-finalists have already qualified to Europe and the Stripes ended the season fourth,

Michael Valenzia, the Birkirkara team manager, said that the Stripes are determined to end a season that had started with so many difficulties with a return to European football. 

“If you had told me in November, when the team was languishing in the lower part of the standings, that we would find ourselves one win away from European football I would have surely signed for it,” Valenzia said.

“Since the turn of the year the team has went on an impressive run of results and hopefully we can complete the season with qualification to European football and also by lifting the FA Trophy.”

Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, is unable to field his strongest formation as Nikola Vukanac, Carlos Alberto and Terence Agius are ruled out by suspension while Matthew Guillaumier is out after going knee surgery.

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