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HISTORY
Great Games
vs Nadur Y. 4-0
Premier Division Second Round 1997/98
January 18, 1998

Were it not for the impressive emergence of the Nadur Youngsters as a dominant team in the nineties, our Club would have had even greater achievements in the past decade. This is evident when one looks at the Blacks' overall record in this period and the record in head to head confrontations with the Youngsters. While the overall record is respectable, the record against Nadur is not with only eleven wins against twenty three losses. This record is even more lopsided if one looks at the five seasons in which Nadur claimed three titles. This match not only stopped an 11 game winless streak against this team, but the score line went a long way to break the mystique that had been built around these opponents. It is true that Nadur went on to beat the Blacks two more times that season, but the record since then has been evenly balanced with a slight advantage to the Blacks.

This was a terrific, all-round performance with Digger Okonkwo standing out not only because he scored a hat-trick but also for the ease with which he went through the opposition. Sadly, the Nigerian striker was sent off in the following match and in desperation the Club released him. Digger went on to play for the Maltese national side.

The first half did not produce much worthy of note. The two teams were comfortably controlling each other and play took place mostly in midfield. In the seventh minute of the second half, Mark Meilak opened the score with a nice lob over Sammy Attard from a Jeremy Camilleri cross. Jonathan Xuereb then saved well from Pavel. In the 14th minute Ghajnsielem doubled the score. Again Camilleri was involved, this time Attard blocked his shot. Buttigieg passed the rebound to Digger Okonkwo who made no mistake from close range. A minute later Camilleri sent Digger Okonkwo alone. The Nigerian striker shot over Attard's head and into the roof of the net. Nadur were stunned. They could not put together any sort of reaction. Ghajnsielem, who had been at the wrong end of the score for the past few seasons, were in total control and started stroking the ball around beautifully. Sammy Attard denied Jude Madu but could do nothing in the 25th minute. Digger Okonkwo went down the left past his direct marker than breezed past Ray Gafa and from a very tight angle shot the ball beyond the onrushing Attard's reach into the net for his hat-trick. Ghajnsielem could have added to this. Two Madu drives sailed centimeters high. But Ghajnsielem were not about to be greedy and were happy to celebrate the four goals with which they punished Nadur.

The 4-0 score line makes this the biggest league victory over Nadur Youngsters. This was also one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable season that was completely botched by some horrendous moves in the transfer market by our Club. The team was able to rise to heights such as this and then perform miserably in others, particularly against arguably the weakest team in the five team division Xewkija.

 

 
Lineup
1. Jonathan Xuereb
2. Brian Meilak
3.off Simon Camilleri
4. Herman Mifsud
5. Joseph Scicluna
6. Loreto Scicluna (c)
7. Mark Meilak
8. Jude Madu
9. Jeremy Camilleri
10.off E. D. Okonkwo
11. Frank Buttigieg
Subs. George Camilleri
  Joseph Attard II
Coach  Frankie Muscat
Scorers E. D. Okonkwo (3)
  Mark Meilak

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

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