MATTHEW
PORTELLI
Date of birth: May 12, 1980
Nationality: Maltese
Position: midfielder
Appearances for Club: 97
Goals for Club: 11
Matthew
Portelli is yet another product of our youth program. He was a member of
the Under/16 side that won the knockout in 1993/94 and the championship winning Under/18 team in 1995/96. He made a brief
appearance for the senior side still shy of his sixteenth birthday. He
interrupted his career briefly when he went abroad but returned with a
vengeance in 1999. He forced his way into the side that has for several seasons challenged for and came just short of winning the title.
His
fierce determination stands out, so much that in his break through season
he was chosen the Club's Footballer of the Year. His tenacious playing
style means that his name is a regular fixture in the referee's notebook but
his goals show his importance to the team. He combines tireless work
with good approach play and confidence around the opposing team's penalty
area. He plays in several midfield roles, however, he is most at ease in
central midfield.
Matthew was part of the treble winning side in 2000/1--his
long range effort in the 8-0 thrashing of Nadur Y. (Jum il-Helsien Cup)
comes immediately to mind. He also scored one of the penalties in the
shootout win against Kercem Ajax in the G.F.A. Cup final. Matthew also
figured in the Super Cup success of 2001/02 and the Independence Cup
triumph of 2002/03. He was goal scoring hero in the semi-final (against
Nadur Y. two goals) and the final (against Victoria H.) of
the 2003/04 Super Cup triumph.
Matthew has
been part of the Gozo F.C. squad for the past few seasons. He has been
selected to represent the Maltese amateur team in the 2004 edition of the
U.E.F.A. Regions Cup.
