Spartans' ninth, Jefferson and Nwoko in the limelight

BOV Premier Division Statistics 2022-23 – Match Day 26

1 – On the last match day of the 2022/23 Premier Division, no less than six Maltese talents made their Premier Division debut. Goalkeeper Jake Farrugia made his Premier Division debut with Pieta’ Hotspurs, entering as a late substitute in their goalless draw against Sirens last Thursday. The 19-year-old custodian already made his senior debut for Pieta in the FA Trophy against Xewkija Tigers in January (2-0). In the same match, Sirens had no less than three players making their MPL debut, which were Kevin Muscat (18), Krist Borg and Andiry Vella, both 17 years of age. Muscat already made his senior debut earlier on this season in Sirens’ FA Trophy match against Mqabba. All three players entered as substitutes, like Valletta’s Kayden Farrugia, who just turned 17 earlier this month and played a few minutes in City’s match against Marsaxlokk. In Gzira's match against Zebbug, also Deyan Pace (17) made his senior debut in the Premier Division. 

1 – Referee Slawomir Olucha made his Premier Division debut, controlling the Valletta versus Marsaxlokk match last Thursday. The 38-year-old, who hails originally from Poland, is the 18^th referee to lead an MPL game this season and the 125^th MFRA member since 1953/54 active in the first tier of Maltese football.

3 – It is only the third time a Gzira United player has been crowned as Premier Division Top Scorer after Amadou Samb (2017/18, 21 goals) and last season with Maxuell Maia with 17 goals.

4 – By beating Zebbug Rangers 4-0, Gzira equalled their largest win over the Canaries in history as on 4 February 1984 in the 1^st Division, the Maroons beat Zebbug by exactly the same score. The scorers back then were Albert Cristiano, Marco Pace and a brace by John Ciantar.

5 – It was a little more then 5 years ago that Balzan beat Birkirkara last in a Premier Division match. On 10 March 2018, Milos Lepovic, Alfred Effiong and Kadu de Fiori Mendes gave Balzan, back then coached by Marko Micovic, a 3-1 victory over Birkirkara, who replied with a goal by Ryan Scicluna. In the eight clashes that followed, Birkirkara won four while four games ended in a draw. Therefore, the 2-1 victory of Balzan last Friday was a memorable one.

5 – The emphatic 5-2 victory of Hibernians in Gozo against Floriana was only the third time in history the Paolites scored at least five goals against the Greens, quite interesting knowing this was already the 226^th time both teams met in an official senior match. Hibernians’ largest win over Floriana is still the 6-0 recorded on the opening day of season 1964/65 (18.10.1964), with three goals by Victor Cassar, two through Alfred Delia and one goal scored by Johnnie Privitera. On 22 November 2014, Hibernians hit five goals past Floriana in a frantic 5-0 victory with the goals coming from Jorginho (2), Tarabai, Clayton Failla and Andrew Cohen, which is therefore the largest Premier Division victory of Hibernians over Floriana. The last time Floriana conceded five goals in the Premier Division was also a 5-2 defeat, this time against Birkirkara in a match played on 22 December 2020.

9 – It was not the first time a Premier Division match was played in Gozo. In fact, during season 1999-2000, Gozo FC played eight of their 24 matches on the sister island, which therefore means the Floriana versus Hibernians encounter was only the ninth Premier Division match played at the Gozo Stadium in Xewkija.

20 – Jefferson Mateus de Assis Estacio crowned his best season ever as Top Scorer of the 2022/23 Premier Division with twenty goals. Last Saturday against Zebbug Rangers (4-0), the Brazilian striker scored his second hat-trick of the season, all second half goals, while he also scored four braces earlier on in this campaign. His tally in the Maltese Premier Division has now reached 55 goals and his grand total ever since he came to Malta in 2017 is now 80, which includes also his period with Nadur Youngsters in Gozo (2018/19). It is the first time since Amadou Samb (2017/18) that the league Top Scorers’ tally has reached the 20, as the Senegalese hit 21 goals in the MPL that season, also for Gzira United. Taylon (18 goals), Keqi (14), Rosero (17) and Maxuell Maia (17) did not manage to reach the 20, perhaps also because two of these seasons were ended prematurely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

22 – Hamrun’s incredible 22 wins from 26 games might not be a Premier Division record, it is certainly impressive. The last time this happened was during season 2016/17 when Hibernians bagged 22 wins but from 33 games. Two seasons before that, during the 2014/15 campaign, Hibernians were crowned champions with 27 wins, again from 33, which is a record in Malta.

108 – This was the 108^th top flight football campaign in Malta ever since the very first one in season 1909/10. Floriana and Sliema Wanderers have collected most Championship titles with 26 wins each. Valletta is third in the ranking, while this was Hamrun Spartans’ ninth title win and are the be found on rank five, still four Championship victories behind Hibernians, who have collected 13 titles through the years. Co-incidentally, this was also Birkirkara’s ninth runners-up spot.

150 – Kyrian Nwoko’s late entry against Mosta last Friday (1-2) was his 150^th appearance in the Malta Premier Division. The 25-year-old striker played half of these for Valletta (75), but also 58 for his academy club St Andrews and nine for Floriana. The Malta international is currently on loan with Santa Lucia, the match last Friday was his eight in the Premier for the Lucians, who need to play one final match this season which is the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off against Zejtun Corinthians, to be played this Friday. Nwoko made his MPL debut during season 2015/16 and also had a spell with St Patrick’s Athletic in the Irish Premier League.