Goals by Veselji, Muscat, 100 appearances for Bohrer, Cassar

2023/24 BOV Premier League Match Day 15 Statistics

1 – In the match against Marsaxlokk, Gudja United paraded midfielder Josimar Quintero, which is the very first footballer from Ecuador in the Maltese Premier League. By adding Ecuador to the list, the MPL have now hosted players from 110 FIFA affiliated nations since the renaming of Malta’s top league to Premier Division in 1980.

10 – Mattia Veselji’s 25^th minute opener against Birkirkara last Saturday was the tenth Premier League goal of the Floriana striker. The U21 international, who already made his debut in the Malta national team, made his MPL debut with his apprentice club St Andrews in 2018. After a year with St Andrews in the 1^st Division, Veselji played a season with the youth team of OFK Belgrade before returning to Malta, signing for Floriana. On 5 May 2022 he made his first goal for the Greens in the Premiership. Last season the 21-year-old scored five MPL goals and so far this season, Veselji hit the net on four occasions. The match against Birkirkara was his 45^th Premier League appearance.

10 – Also Nikolai Muscat (Marsaxlokk) scored his tenth MPL goal. The Malta international player (8 caps) scored the first goal in the seasiders’ odd goal in three victory over Gudja United last Saturday afternoon. The San Gwann youth nursery product joined Gzira United in 2017, with whom he played six consecutive years up to last season. The 27-year-old defensive midfielder scored eight goals in the Premiership for the Maroons, while this was his second for Marsaxlokk. Muscat played 152 matches in Malta’s top flight.

100 – In the match against Balzan on Sunday afternoon, Gabriel Mentz Bohrer played his 100^th game in the Maltese Premier League. The Brazilian Gzira United defender was brought over to Malta by Santa Lucia in 2019, but joined the Maroons one year later where he is now in his fourth consecutive season. He played 81 of the 100 for Gzira and 19 in the colours of Santa Lucia. The 25-year-old was born in Sao Leopoldo and turned out for giants Internacional and Botafogo at youth level before coming over to Malta.

100 – New Gzira United recruit Kyle Spence is the 100^th English player in the Malta Premier League, counting from its interception in 1980.  Former Exeter City player Peter Hatch was the first one during season 1982/83, brought over by Hamrun Spartans along with John Linacre of Hartlepool United, a move which had some controversy back in the day due to outdated Government and MFA rulings. Mark Miller remains the Englishman with most appearances in the Maltese Premier League, having played 187 games in the top flight while playing for Floriana, Rabat Ajax, Sliema Wanderers and Hibernians between 1984/85 and 1996/97.

100 – Former Floriana player Zachary Cassar made his debut for his new club Gzira United against Balzan last Sunday (1-1), which was the 100^th Premier League game for the 25-year-old defender. The former Malta U21 international made his MPL debut on 14 January 2018 with Birkirkara against Mosta (3-0), the only official senior match Cassar ever played for the Stripes. This was followed by three loan periods with Senglea Athletic (18/19), Gudja United (19/20) and again Senglea (20/21) before joining Floriana on a definite transfer in the summer of 2021. Of these 100, most of these were played in the colours of Senglea (46) and Floriana (41) but also 11 for Gudja.

200 - The clash against Gudja United (2-1) was the 200th Premier League match for coach Winston Muscat. The Marsaxlokk mentor made his debut in the top flight with Vittoriosa Stars in 2010 and also coached in the MPL with Naxxar Lions, Pembroke Athleta, Naxxar Lions, Tarxien Rainbows and Sirens. The 54-year-old became only the 15th coach in the history of Maltese football to reach the 200 top flight matches.