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Blacks dig deep to win
Cup
March
31
Ghajnsielem won the Jum il-Helsien Cup by beating Xewkija Tigers 4-1 on
penalties. The match had finished 2-2. There was no further scoring in
extra-time. Ghajnsielem took the lead late in the first half when Errol
Grima headed in Joseph Buttigieg's cross from the right. Just over ten
minutes into the second half Joseph Attard took a headed pass on the right
from Joseph Buttigieg and went past two Xewkija defenders before blasting
the ball in off the underside of the crossbar. Ghajnsielem looked set for
a comfortable win. Fifteen minutes from time, however, Fotso reduced
Xewkija's deficit with a low shot that went in off Darmanin's far post.
Two minutes from time Tchawou poked the equalizer in from close range. To
compound matters for the demoralized Blacks Renato Conceicao was sent off
for retaliation shortly after. The ten-men Blacks saw off the dying
moments of the match and two periods of extra-time. Larry Buttigieg nearly
won the match for them in the last minute of extra-time but Shaun Debono
managed to palm the ball from behind him to a corner. Joseph Buttigieg,
Loreto Scicluna, Larry Buttigieg and Joseph Attard all scored their
penalty shots. Benneth Nyoku was the only Tiger successful from the spot (Darmanin
nearly saved his shot). Joseph Cordina hit the crossbar and Michael Pace's
penalty was saved by Darmanin. Winners medals were presented to the
Blacks' players and officials. Then Mr. Vincent Grech, chairman of the
organizing committee, presented the Jum il-Helsien Cup to Blacks captain
Brian Meilak. A minute silence was observed before kick-off to honour the
memory of Frank Xuereb. President Raymond Grech paid tribute to Frank in
the Blacks' dressing room where he reminded all the players of Frank's
enduring love for the Club and immense contribution to it throughout his
life. He encouraged the players to put in an extra effort in order to mark
his passing with something which he would have desperately wanted had he
been with us: a win for the Blacks.
Club mourns the loss of
Frank Xuereb
March
28
This afternoon, Ghajnsielem was stunned with the sad news that one of its
favourite sons, Frank Xuereb, has passed away. Frank was in New York at
the time, and was reportedly due to return to his hometown this Sunday. He
was just 49 years old. He is mourned by his wife Vivienne, daughter
Josepha, his son Mark, his parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and
nephews, including Frank Buttigieg, Matthew Portelli, Charlon Tabone,
Andre Xuereb, Manuel Xuereb, Melvin Xuereb, Luke Xuereb (all Blacks players), Alvin Tabone (member of
the committee), cousins, friends, the committee and members of every
major organization in Ghajnsielem, including the Club, the St. Joseph Band
Club (of which he was still a prominent musician), the Local Council and
others. He is mourned by the entire community of which he was one of the
leaders for most of his life. He is mourned by many Gozitans and Maltese
who were fortunate to have met him at some point in his life. Frank's love
for Ghajnsielem is reflected in a thread of uninterrupted involvement and
contribution, starting from his playing days in the minors, the reserves
and first team of the Club. His playing days were cut short by emigration.
But until he was felled by a leg injury he continued to play whenever he
was back in Malta. Upon his full return to Malta Frank became involved in
the football club and was instrumental in ushering the Club into
respectability in the 90's. Frank served as Club secretary, G.F.A. council
member and delegate. He was also briefly involved as a coach of the
Under/18 (one championship) and Under/21 team (two championships). Since
his younger years he has also been an accomplished musician within the St.
Joseph Band Club and was part of the ensemble led by his close friend,
maestro Frank Debono, that performed on special occasions, some somber,
some joyful (as in last year's title clincher). Frank also served as
councillor on the Ghajnsielem Local Council. At least for the not so
young, the enduring image of Frank is that of this 17-year old blond
haired boy, affectionately referred to as il-ginger, who took the
field with the Blacks wearing number 3 in the spring of 1974. The period
from March to June of that year saw the Blacks catapult
themselves into immortality with a series of performances that started
with the 5-0 N.S.B. Cup final victory over Nadur Youngsters on the St.
Joseph public holiday, the last four league matches (two wins and two
draws), the historic 2-4 loss to Hereford United and, the crowning
achievement, the 1-0 decider win over Victoria Hotspurs which gave
Ghajnsielem their record-breaking 5th consecutive league championship.
Frank played in all of these matches in the position of left-back. This
was his baptism of fire, and he came through brilliantly. He could thus
add a senior championship to the minor league and reserves championships
he had won in the previous two seasons. The rest would come easy to him.
He was consistently one of the best players in Gozo in the years that
followed: he kept an increasingly depleted Blacks side near the top for
the next few years, he was regularly selected for the Gozo XI, he played
for Marsa F.C., he was the Club's player of the year and Il-Hajja's G.F.A.
footballer of the year
in 1976/77. Yet there was more to Frank then tangible honours and
achievements. He was an inspiring figure. He approached whatever
responsibility he took on with great passion and commitment, and it was
impossible not to be swept away by his enthusiasm, even, or perhaps
especially, when the times were tough. Frank's inspiration is ensconced in
the hearts of all those he touched.
Weekend round-up
March
26
Ghajnsielem's Under/14 side beat their counterparts from Kercem Ajax 1-0
despite playing with a man short for the whole match--the Club's youth
teams continued to be decimated by illness. Manuel Xuereb scored the vital
goal that kept the Blacks in first place. The Under/16 side beat Sannat
Lions 2-1. Ryan Grima and Ryan Spiteri scored the goals. The Under/12 side
lost to Xewkija Tigers 2-3 (Joseph Azzopardi 2). In the
preliminary round of the G.F.A. Cup, Nadur Youngsters beat Xaghra United
4-3 after extra-time.
Blacks lose narrowly
to Kercem Ajax
March
19
Ghajnsielem succumbed to Kercem Ajax by a goal to nil. Alfred Effiong
scored for Kercem early in the second half. Nadur Youngsters kept their
three point cushion at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Xewkija
Tigers. A severely depleted (illness) Under/12 side lost heavily to Nadur Youngsters
0-7. The Blacks, who had to turn to two promising but very young Owen
Xuereb and Damian Hili to field a team, have conceded too much ground to
their rivals in their bid to successfully defend their championship.
Weekend round-up
March
12
S.K. Victoria Wanderers and Sannat Lions drew 2-2 in the weekend's lone
first division match. The point earned lifted the Wanderers to within
three points of Ghajnsielem. All of the Blacks' youth teams were in action
over the weekend. Three of them suffered defeats: the Under/19 lost to
Victoria Hotspurs 1-5 (Jonathan Grech); the Under/16 lost to Nadur Youngsters 2-6 (Jonathan
Sultana, Stefan Azzopardi); and the Under/12 lost to S.K. Victoria
Wanderers 1-2 (Lornie Mizzi). In contrast, the Under/14 team beat S.K. Victoria Wanderers
7-1 in their first championship phase match. Kenny Hili (3), Gabriel
Cordina (2), Robert Grima and Brandon Xuereb scored the goals for the
Blacks. They thus took advantage of an unexpected loss by the leaders
Xewkija Tigers to edge ahead of them in the league table.
Advantage Nadur
March
5
Nadur Youngsters have forged into first place once again with a 2-0
victory over Kercem Ajax. With one round of matches to go, the Youngsters
now have a three point lead over the same Ajax. Xaghra United and Xewkija,
the two teams equal on points in fourth place, drew 1-1 in the opening
match of the third round. Ghajnsielem's Under/14 side stayed in contention
with an 8-1 win over Oratory Youths. Kenny Hili, who has been on fire of
late, scored five of the goals. Justin Buttigieg and Paul Camilleri scored
the other goals. Xewkija Tigers, Xaghra United and Ghajnsielem are
separated by three points going into the championship phase. The Under/12
side's scheduled championship phase match against Xewkija Tigers was
postponed.
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