|
Historic season comes to
an end
May
29
Ghajnsielem's historic championship season came to an end with the loss of
the Super Cup final to Xewkija Tigers. The Blacks' main rivals over the
course of the season claimed the trophy with a 3-1 win over the Blacks.
Ghajnsielem were at the receiving end of several harsh decisions by the
referee. They had Domenique Mbueko sent off midway through the first half
for gestures made to the crowd. Playing with 10 men Ghajnsielem still took
the lead through N'dayi Kalenga. Xewkija were awarded a penalty when
Richard Buhagiar was struck in the arm by shot taken from point blank
range. Thierry Tazameta converted from the spot. In the second-half,
Matthew Portelli was shown a second-yellow card and was sent off. The
nine-men Blacks defended well and even managed to trouble the Xewkija
rearguard occasionally. But eventually Xewkija forged ahead through
Tazameta. Ghajnsielem threw caution to the wind in order to salvage the
game and suffered yet another Tazameta goal towards the end. The referee
inexplicably disallowed Bizu's outrageous goal from the ensuing kick-off,
a shot from the half-way line. Formation: Eric Mercieca, Frank
Buttigieg, Graham Bencini, Domenique Mbueko, Matthew Portelli, Brian
Meilak, Loreto Scicluna, Daniel Bogdanovic (Joseph Attard), (Joseph
Buttigieg), Richard Buhagiar, N'dayi Kalenga, Ed do Nascimento.
Blacks to fight another
day
May
24
Ghajnsielem earned the right to contest the season-ending Super Cup final
with a 4-3 win over Nadur Youngsters. N'dayi Kalenga scored two first-half
goals, both of which were superbly assisted by Daniel Bogdanovic. Nadur
were reduced to ten men with the dismissal of Alex Simoncic. Aldrin Muscat
scored right after the restart. But first Bizu, then Bogdanovic, direct
from a free-kick, bought the Blacks some insurance. Ghajnsielem did not
waste time in claiming on their policy because Nadur soon scored two soft
goals, the first from a Loreto Scicluna own-goal, the second from an
Nkwankwo Chidi Eric penalty. The Blacks, who were missing Domenique Mbueko
and David Carabott, as well as Daniel Dengaky, bravely fought off Nadur's
desperate attempts for a late equalizer and will now face Xewkija Tigers,
who beat Kercem Ajax 2-0 in the other semi-final. Formation: Eric Mercieca
(Joseph Grech), Joseph Scicluna, Graham Bencini, Matthew Portelli (Frank
Buttigieg), Brian Meilak, Loreto Scicluna, Daniel Bogdanovic (Joseph
Attard), Richard Buhagiar, Joseph Buttigieg, N'dayi Kalenga, Ed do
Nascimento.
Blacks' bid for double
foiled
May
22
Ghajnsielem lost an
opportunity to complete the league and cup double when they lost to
Xewkija Tigers 1-2 in the final for the G.F.A. Cup. After a scoreless
first half, the game came into life in the second session, but not before
David Carabott was dispatched to the nearby hospital for a head wound
after a clash of heads with a Tigers player. Thierry Tazameta opened the
score near the fifteen minute mark. Daniel Bogdanovic equalized five
minutes later. The match seemed headed into extra-time when Tazameta shot
in the winner for the Tigers. Formation: Eric Mercieca, Loreto Scicluna
(Joseph Attard), Graham Bencini, David Carabott (Frank Buttigieg),
Dominique Mbueko, Matthew Portelli, Brian Meilak, Ed do Nascimento, N'dayi
Kalenga, Daniel Bogdanovic (c), Richard Buhagiar.
Blacks in G.F.A. Cup
Final
May
19
Ghajnsielem edged a resilient Nadur Youngsters side 2-1 to reach the G.F.A.
Cup final. The Blacks withstood the Youngsters' pressure in the first
half, playing against a strong wind. In the second half they pressed for
the go-ahead goal which came after N'dayi Kalenga headed in the rebound
from a Dominique Mbueko free-kick. The same Mbueko scored after an
excellent move between him and David Carabott. Ghajnsielem will play
Xewkija Tigers in the final. The Tigers beat Kercem Ajax 2-1 in the other
semi-final. Formation: Eric Mercieca, Graham Bencini, Loreto Scicluna
(Joseph Buttigieg), David Carabott (John Pace), Dominique Mbueko, Matthew
Portelli, Brian Meilak (c), Ed do Nascimento (Joseph Attard), N'dayi
Kalenga, Daniel Bogdanovic, Richard Buhagiar.
Band March and NetReplay
May
15
Ghajnsielem's league
championship celebrations peaked with a band march conducted by the St.
Joseph Band Club of Ghajnsielem. The program started at a quarter to nine
in the evening and lasted nearly two hours. A large crowd assembled in the
vicinity of the two club premises to soak in the atmosphere which was also
captured live on national television by NetReplay. In what is a first for
this popular football program, the transmission was produced on location
at Ghajnsielem football club. This was only possible thanks to the generosity of
the sponsors: Tartufo, Ta' Dirjanu, Rexy Restaurant and Ghajnsielem F.C.
Bar & Pizza Take-away. The instantly recognizable triumvirate of John Busuttil, Sandro Micallef
and Robert Cutajar conducted a seamless broadcast that, in addition to the
regular features on Maltese football, consisted of
interviews with President Raymond Grech, vice-president Alfio Rapa,
secretary Alex Spiteri, coach Eddie Vella and the eminent Gozo football
journalist, Joe Bajada, highlights from the decisive match against Xewkija
Tigers and regular live-updates from the festivities going on outside the
club. The hard-hitting and delightfully irreverent duo of Busuttil and
Micallef then summoned the entire Blacks' squad for a grilling. In trooped
the players in splendid all-black Nike attire courtesy of Urban Jungle.
The Club's emblem on the Nike polo-shirts was adorned with six bright
stars for the first time. To their credit the players conducted themselves
extremely well and managed to portray for the benefit of the program's
thousands of listeners a genuine composite of what they have gone through
over the past several months. Ghajnsielem Mayor, and ex-championship side
goalkeeper, Francis Cauchi added brief comments to honour the Club's
achievements. St. Joseph Band Club treasurer Spiro Cauchi presented
Raymond Grech with a memento for the occasion. Birthday boy John Busutill
celebrated with cake and champagne. And George Attard, a.k.a. il-patis,
was announced as NetReplay's supporter of the week. Finally Club president
Grech threw down the gauntlet: the Blacks will challenge again next
season, provided that more supporters came forward with their financial
backing. At the conclusion of the official festivities, an impromptu
street party kicked into gear. The celebrations continued into the small
hours of Monday morning. For the second time in a fortnight, post-weekend
truancy rates among Ghajnsielem schoolchildren was reported high.
Sunday Mass
May
15
Ghajnsielem Archpriest, Can.
Joseph Zerafa and Rev. Joseph Cardona, celebrated the 10.00 a.m. Sunday
Mass in honour of Ghajnsielem Football Club in the presence of a
congregation of Club officials, coaches, players, supporters and regular
churchgoers. The clubs' fallen ex-members of the committee and players
were also remembered. Vice-President Alfio Rapa, Joseph Scicluna and team
captain Brian Meilak participated by reading from the scriptures.
President Raymond Grech, treasurer Joe Debono, Joseph Attard, David
Carabott and secretary Alex Spiteri offered various items related to the
occasion: a ball, team shirt, lit candle and bouquet of flowers. At the
end of the mass Raymond Grech led his team towards the Statue of Our Lady
of Loreto and presented the bouquet to the Patron Saint of Ghajnsielem.
Carcade
May
14
As is custom here, the
supporters of the new champions of Gozo organized a carcade which snaked
through several main roads and through some town centres. The carcade
which started shortly after the Blacks' match against Zebbug consisted of
several trucks and small vehicles packed with fans. The committee, coaches
and players were atop the big truck which also carried a huge
carnivalesque figure wearing a crown and draped in Ghajnsielem's striped
black and white shirt with the number six on the back. Another truck
carried the form of a tower, the enduring symbol of Ghajnsielem football
club and an integral part of the Club's logo. The return to the Club
signaled the beginning of a street party in front of the Club which lasted
deep into the night.
Blacks through to G.F.A.
Q/F
May
14
Ghajnsielem cleared another hurdle in the G.F.A. Cup competition when they
beat Zebbug Rovers 5-2. Daniel Bogdanovic and Bizu gave the Blacks a two
goal-lead, both following good work from David Carabott. Dragomir Dragonov
brought Zebbug back in the game with a goal before half-time. Ghajnsielem
scored three times after the break, through two N'dayi Kalenga goals and
another Bogdanovic strike to make sure of their passage into the next
round. Dragonov made the score a little more respectable by scoring with
the last shot of the match. The Blacks occasionally erred by
over-indulging. What will linger in memory, however, is the breathtaking
football which they played in that second half stretch that yielded three
goals and several other chances. Formation: Eric Mercieca, Graham
Bencini (Loreto Scicluna), Joseph Scicluna (Joseph Buttigieg), David
Carabott, Dominique Mbueko, Matthew Portelli, Brian Meilak (c) (John
Pace), Ed do Nascimento, N'dayi Kalenga, Daniel Bogdanovic, Richard
Buhagiar.
Blacks through to G.F.A.
Q/F
May
11
Ghajnsielem brushed aside second
division side St. Lawrence Spurs to advance to the quarter-finals of the
G.F.A.Cup. Daniel Bogdanovic paved the way with a goal midway through the
first half. Debutant Stefan Azzopardi headed in the second before the
break. Joseph Attard scored twice late in the match for a 4-0 win. Formation:
Eric Mercieca, Graham Bencini, Frank Buttigieg (John Pace), Loreto
Scicluna (Joseph Buttigieg), Dominique Mbueko, Matthew Portelli, Brian
Meilak (c), Joseph Attard, Daniel Bogdanovic, Stefan Azzopardi (Lawrence
Haber), Franklee Galea.
End of season for U/14
May
8
Ghajnsielem's Under/14 side wrapped up their season with a 2-3 loss to
Nadur Youngsters. Charlon Tabone and Shannon Vassallo scored for the
Blacks.
We are the champions
May
1
Ghajnsielem Football Club ended a 31-year drought when they beat Xewkija
Tigers 2-0 to become league champions of Gozo. Edoardo do Nascimento and
N'dayi Kalenga scored the all-important goals. Hundreds of fans not only
witnessed the conquest of the Club's sixth top-tier title but participated
in it and in its aftermath.
|
