The Blacks' season opened with the Independence Cup. The luck of the draw pitted the Blacks against four first division opponents. Qala, Nadur, Zebbug and Xewkija. The latter three are tipped as the main challengers to the Blacks for this season's honours. This on the basis of two factors: along with the Blacks, these three teams have filled the top four in the first division for the past two seasons and these were the teams that have signalled their intent to challenge through their off-season acquisitions. Nadur have confirmed Saviour Farrugia  and Mark Buttigieg, and added Chris Camilleri and John Vella; Xewkija have secured the services of Jason Portelli, Gotthard Conti, Eric Saliba and Jonathan Buhagiar; Zebbug have added Jonathan Xuereb and Mahjoub Touali to their already strong line-up. On their part the Blacks have added Dione Lautier, Martin Cremona, Tarik Belhaj and Vince Dimitrov and have confirmed Sammy Attard. The other teams, Xaghra United, Victoria Hotspurs and Qala St. J. have made very few acquisitions of note and are expected to struggle.

So the September Independence Cup dates were already full of tension and excitement. Ghajnsielem, still under the effect of festa partying, struggled past Qala St. Joseph 2-1. Up next were Nadur. The Youngsters looked completely out of sorts and were overcome with ease 2-0. The match against Zebbug lived up to its billing and the Blacks emerged victorious 1-0 in a rough and tumble affair on the Gozo Stadium sand. The final against Xewkija was badly affected by the heat and was decided by a late Joseph Attard II goal in sudden-death. It was no secret that the Blacks craved this coveted trophy. So one of the Club's pre-season objectives has been reached in the most dramatic of fashions. The scalps claimed along the way augur well for the long tortuous road ahead.

The team has taken a distinct shape as well. Peter Caruana preferred the following line-up in a 3-5-3 system: Sammy Attard in goal; Joseph Attard I and Brian Meilak stoppers, backed up by Loreto Scicluna at libero; Frank Buttigieg at right wing-back, Martin Cremona, Matthew Portelli and Tarik Belhaj or Vince Dimitrov in midfield, Errol Grima on the left; up front, Aloy Ihebulu and Dione Lautier. Joseph Buttigieg, Joseph Attard II, Joseph Scicluna and Jeremy Camilleri are ready to come in when needed.

Too bad that the Independence Cup matches were not league matches! The Blacks would already be streaking away in the league table had the four wins been in furtherance of the league campaign. Those itching to see how the Club matched up with its rivals in the league did not have to wait long. Nadur was the first opponent up in the league. As is their wont, the Youngsters did not take losing to the Blacks in the cup lightly and upgraded their team on the foreigner front by acquiring Okoro in place of Silvester. The opening match was a tactical affair deprived of the passion of a winner takes all contest. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. This did not sit well with the Nadur committee who replaced their young successful coach, John Cassar with the much-travelled former coach, Teddy Bajada.     

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