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Independence Cup
The
Independence Cup is a competition with a history that dates back to the
year in which Malta obtained its independence from the United Kingdom.
That year the committee in charge of organizing events to commemorate the
occasion set up a challenge cup, for which Victoria Hotspurs and
Ghajnsielem F.C. were chosen. Victoria won by the score of 4-2 on that
occasion.
From the following season, the G.F.A. decided to organize the
competition on a regular basis. The format has changed over the years.
Ghajnsielem won the second edition by beating
S.K. Calypsians in the final
2-1 (Carmel Xerri and Loreto Galea). The following season the competition
was not held. In 1967/68 Nadur Y. beat the Blacks in the final. After yet
another season when the cup competition was not organized, Ghajnsielem
made it back to the final in 1969/70
and defeated Xewkija Tigers 4-1. This success
was repeated one year
later, this time Xaghra United were the finalists
and were duly beaten 2-1 (Toni Cauchi and Nikol Cutajar). Xaghra United
were beaten again in 1971/72 by a wider score this time 3-0 (Vincent
Cutajar, Carmel Caruana, Nikol Cutajar). The competition was discontinued
at this point in time. It resumed in the 1987/88 season, and once again,
Ghajnsielem made it to the final and beat Sannat Lions on penalties after
the match had ended 2-2 after extra time (Marco Fenech and Richard Attard).
This remarkable series of Independence Cup final appearances
ended there. The Blacks were hard luck losers on two occasions since. In
1994/95 to Nadur 1-2 in sudden death and in 1997/98 to Victoria Hotspurs
on penalties. The disappointment of these heartbreak defeats was wiped out
in the 2002/03 season with a dramatic win over Xewkija Tigers. The cup final
was two minutes away from going to the dreaded lottery of the penalty
shootout, when Joseph Attard II scored the golden goal winner. Ghajnsielem
have now won this competition six times and
have appeared in the final ten times. |
