Player Milestones MFA season 2022/23 Part Two: November-January

PLAYER MILESTONES, FACTS, FIGURES & CURIOSITIES MFA MEN'S SENIOR SEASON 2022/23
PART TWO: NOVEMBER 2022-JANUARY 2023

November 2
*By coming on as a substitute in the draw against Qrendi (1-1), Melita playmaker Julian Galea reaches the 300 official senior career appearances. The 33-year-old midfielder played most of the games in the colours of Melita (247), but also played for Tarxien Rainbows (28) and Hamrun Spartans (15). These 290 domestic appearances can be added up to the seven official matches Galea played for the Malta U21 team, while in 2008, the Melita club icon represented Malta in the UEFA Regions Cup (3 matches). He is also a former U17 and U19 Malta youth international, who made his senior debut for Melita in the 2nd Division during season 2005/06.

November 3
*Zurrieq striker Dasser Sammut was the match-winner against Vittoriosa Stars, scoring the decisive goal (2-1) ten minutes before the end in his 100th second tier league game. The new recruit from Qrendi, who turned 32 years of age two days ago, is a Valletta FC nursery product but started his senior career with Attard during their 2010/11 3rd Division campaign. Gharghur was his second team at senior level (2012/13), with Sammut then joining Qrendi in 2014, winning two promotions in three years into the 1st Division. He has played over 200 games in the various MFA league and knock out competitions.

November 5
*The match against Sirens (0-2) is Glenn Zammit’s 200th Premier Division appearance. The Gudja United goalkeeper also started his senior career with Gudja, way back in season 2004/05 in the 3rd Division. In the Premier Division, Zammit played 119 of the 200 with Sliema, 63 with Gudja, 13 with Floriana, four with Mosta and one with Marsaxlokk.
*In the Challenge League, Naxxar Lions defender Ryan-Gilmour Cassar makes his 200th club appearance against Fgura United, a spectacular match which the Lions’ managed to win by the odd goal in five. Apart from one on-loan season with the minors of Hamrun Spartans, the nearly 27-year-old is a real one club man, having made his debut for Naxxar during season 2012/13. He became only the fourth Naxxar player to reach the 200 official club appearances after Victor Bellia, Paul Sixsmith and Daren Falzon.
*Msida St Joseph beat Mdina Knights 7-0 in the National Amateur League Group B. With the score already 3-0 at half-time and Mark Camilleri adding a fourth immediately after the break, Giovanni Galea scores a hattrick to sign the match off. His second goal is a special one, as it is the lanky 31-year-old striker’s 100th league goal in the 3rd football tier, which means in the 2nd Division and Amateur League combined. Galea only became the fourth player to score a century of goals at this level.

November 6
*Three weeks after making his 100th appearance for Sliema Wanderers, Gabriel Aquilina makes his 200th official senior appearance, entering as a substitute in the Blues’ match against Zurrieq (3-0). The nearly 27-year-old played most of these matches for Sliema (102), but also 50 for Gzira, 36 for Tarxien and 12 for Mosta.

November 11
*Hard working Jonathan Bajada of Naxxar Lions makes his 300th official senior appearance in their 1-0 victory over San Gwann. The midfielder is in his first year with Naxxar after two seasons with Pembroke. The 31-year-old is a Sirens youth nursery product but it was Mosta who introduced him into senior football during season 2008/09. Bajada then has a short loan spell with Xewkija Tigers (2010/11) before returning with Mosta, who loan him a season to Rabat Ajax (2013/14). In 2014, Bajada returns to Gozo, spending six consecutive seasons with Victoria Hotspurs with the club going through a strong period, winning various titles. He played 110 of the 300 matches in the Gozitan 1st Division.
*Vittoriosa Stars defender Evair Grech plays his 100th game in the second tier of Maltese football in their match against Marsaskala (1-2). The much travelled 31-year-old, with Vittoriosa being his eight club at senior level, made his senior debut at this level with Balzan way back during season 2009/10, aged 18. In the 1st Division/National Challenge League, Grech played most of these 100 games for Marsa (27) and St Patrick (22), but also 19 for Dingli, six for St Andrews, one for Balzan and today’s game was his 25th for the Stars.

November 12
*Jan Tanti (Santa Lucia) plays his 200th official senior match against Valletta (0-2). The 24-year-old winger joined his current team Santa Lucia from Senglea Athletic in 2021. He is a San Gwann youth nursery product and also played briefly for Mosta, where he made his Premier Division debut (2017/18). Apart from six official Under-21 games for the Malta national team, Tanti made 113 appearances for San Gwann, 39 for Senglea Athletic and 11 for Mosta, while this match was his 31st for Santa Lucia.

November 13
* In their match against Sirens, Marsaxlokk midfielder Peter Xuereb plays his 100th match in the Premier Division. The 30-year-old is a San Gwann youth nursery product but was introduced in the MPL by Sliema Wanderers during season 2014/15. Xuereb played 91 of the 100 for the Blues, two for Mosta and the match against Sirens was his seventh appearance for the seasiders this season.
*Veteran Edmond Agius (35) makes his 100th appearance for Sliema Wanderers in their clash with Tarxien Rainbows (1-1). Sliema is the fourth club for the ex-Malta international, who started his career with Hibernians, followed by Valletta and Birkirkara. The midfielder is slowly approaching the 500 senior career appearances.
*In the same match, Brandon Muscat (Tarxien Rainbows) reaches the 100 appearances at the second tier of Maltese football. The former Malta youth international, who recently turned 28 years of age, can be categorized as an experienced defender, with also 94 MPL appearances and in total more than 200 games internationally and domestically. Muscat started his senior career with his apprentice club Hibernians during season 2010/11. He was involved in several loan deals with St George’s, Pembroke Athleta, and Mqabba before joining Birkirkara in 2017. This was followed by three more loan deals with, again, Mqabba, Senglea Athletic and Zebbug Rangers. In 2019 he joined his current club Tarxien Rainbows.

November 19
*Exactly one week after making his 100th appearance in the second tier of Maltese football, Vittoriosa Stars defender Evair Grech plays his 200th official senior career match in the Star’s FA Trophy game with Nadur Youngsters, emphatically won by the Gozitans by the score 7-1. As described earlier, Grech played for eight clubs so far; Balzan, (Zabbar) St Patrick, Dingli Swallows, Mqabba, St Andrews, Marsaxlokk, Marsa and Vittoriosa Stars. He played most of these 200, 92 to be precise, for St Patrick.

November 20
*Msida St Joseph defender Edward Bugeja, plays his 200th third tier league match in Malta against Dingli Swallows (3-0). The experienced 33-year-old centre back, who joined Msida in January 2022 after 14 and a half seasons with Siggiewi, is only the 16th player in Malta to reach the 200 matches at this level.

December 3
*The substitute appearance of Dale Camilleri with St Andrew’s against Fgura United (3-2) was his 100th match for his club. The ex-Malta international (1 cap), who turned 30 last October, returned to St Andrews last season. The midfielder is a Pieta’ Hotspurs youth nursery product, who made his debut for the Blues during season 2010/11 in the 1st Division. Before joining St Andrew’s for his first spell (2014-2017), he played with Gharghur and after 2017 he joined Hamrun Spartans (one season), Balzan for two seasons and Gudja United, before returning to Luxol in the summer of 2021.
*Lija Athletic goalkeeper Luke Bonnici celebrates his 300th club appearance against Mqabba with a 2-1 victory. The agile custodian, who turned 36 years of age in September, is only the third player in history who plays 300 games for the club, after current teammate Daniel Scerri and club icon John Cuschieri (1970-1993). Bonnici made his senior debut way back in 2003 with Kirkop United and in 2006 with Lija Athletic.
*Justin Zammit (Mtarfa) plays his 300th senior career match in the encounter with Vittoriosa Stars (0-3). The 38-year-old midfielder and Valletta youth nursery product made his senior debut in an FA Trophy match while on loan with Sliema Wanderers during season 2003/04 and from that moment donned the jerseys of Naxxar Lions, St George’s, Mqabba, Mellieha, Sirens, Qrendi, Santa Lucia, Fgura United, San Gwann and Msida St Joseph before joining Mtarfa in 2021.
*Ayrton Buhagiar of Kirkop United makes his seasonal debut in the match against Dingli Swallows (3-0), which is also his 100th league appearance in Malta’s third football tier. The 37-year-old striker is approaching the end of his impressive career, having scored more than 100 goals (112) in the lower two divisions.

December 4
*Daren Falzon’s goal for his team Tarxien Rainbows against Marsa (3-3) was the 100th official senior career goal for the ex-Naxxar striker. Falzon, aged 30, scored goals in all competitions he took part, including one for the Malta Under-21 team. Falzon scored his goals in the 1st Division/NCL (37), 3rd Divison (22), Premier (19), 2nd Division (14), three each in the FA Trophy and NL Anniversary Cup and even one in the old 2nd & 3rd Division KO Cup.
*Jordan Debattista of Mellieha makes his 100th appearance in the National Amateur League and 2nd Division combined. The Blues beat Pembroke Athleta 1-0. The wing back made his senior debut for Mellieha in 2014. Last season, the wing back played for Mdina Knights.

December 11
*Gudja United midfielder Ayrton Azzopardi (29) makes his 100th Premier Division appearance in their match against Hamrun Spartans (0-1). Ayrton played most of these 100 games in the colours of Tarxien Rainbows (71), but also played in the Premier Division for Hibernians (19), Floriana and Sliema Wanderers (3 appearances each) while the match on Sunday was his fourth for Gudja, who he joined last summer. During season 2012/13, at the start of his career while being with Hibernians, Ayrton played one match for the Malta national team.
*Randall Vella plays his 100th match for Zebbug Rangers in their clash with Gzira United (0-2). The 30-year-old defender joined the Rangers in 2017 after three seasons with Senglea Athletic. He started his senior career with St Patrick in the 2nd Division in 2010 and also played for Kalkara and St George’s.
*Kalkara wing back David Azzopardi plays his 300th official senior career match in their encounter with Mellieha (3-1). The 31-year-old spent most of his football with Rabat Ajax, playing 217 games for the Magpies, as Azzopardi is the number eight in their all-time club appearances ranking. After Rabat, Azzopardi dons the jerseys of Mqabba, Qrendi and Marsaxlokk before joining Kalkara in the summer of 2022.

December 12
*Gudja United goalkeeper Glenn Zammit plays his 300th senior career match against Hamrun Spartans (0-1). The 35-year-old custodian is back with his boyhood club Gudja United, who he re-joined in 2019 after a season with Zejtun Corinthians. Zammit had perhaps his best period with Sliema Wanderers, a club he served for six consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2018. He also played two seasons for Marsaxlokk and had short one-season spells with Floriana and Mosta. Early November, Zammit already made his 200th Malta Premier Division appearance, a memorable personal season for the veteran goalkeeper.
*Gozitan defender Ferdinando Apap (Hibernians) plays his 100th match in the Premier Division. The Maltese international defender made his debut in the MPL with Mosta during season 2012/13, making 23 appearances in the top league that season, before returning to the Gozitan 1st Division. In 2019, Hibernians signed his services and added another 77 matches to his Premier Division tally, scoring another eight goals. The 30-year-old has made over 350 domestic and international appearances in his career, including a season English non-league football with Sheffield FC (2011/12) and is a Ghajnsielem FC youth academy product.

December 15
*Adrian Carabott (Marsaskala) plays his 300th senior career match in the encounter with Qrendi (3-1), sealing the occasion by scoring one of the goals. The nearly 32-year-old striker is in his second season with Marsaskala, who he joined in the summer of 2021 from Zejtun Corinthians, the club where he played most of his career (182 matches). The Valletta youth nursery product made his senior debut for the Citizens during season 2008/09 and also played in the colours of Tarxien Rainbows, Gudja United and Vittoriosa Stars. The goal against Qrendi was his eight this season, as he is slowly approaching the 100 career goals.

December 16
*Albeit unintended, the substitute appearance of Alfred Effiong with Marsaxlokk against Hamrun Spartans (0-1) turned out to be the last appearance of the former Malta international. The 38-year-old Nigerian born striker arrived in Malta in 2004 as a 19-year-old after starting his career in his home country with modest clubs like Blue Cross, Union Bank and Enyimba, mostly at youth level. Kercem Ajax in Gozo was his first club and the lanky centre-forward was an instant hit, with St George’s snapping up his signature in 2006 after 36 goals in 36 games counting all Gozitan competitions. It was with the Pioneers where he made his Premier Division debut, the first of 18 seasons in the MPL, in where he scored 152 goals in 390 appearances. After changing citizenship in 2014, Effiong was called up for the Malta national team, teaming up with Michael Mifsud in what proved to be a fruitful partnership. He eventually collected 37 caps, scoring 4 goals and also scored 4 in the various European Cups in 14 appearances with Balzan and Valletta. With 71 goals, Effiong is Qormi’s all-time top scorer. Apart from the clubs mentioned, the striker also had spells with Hamrun Spartans, Sirens and with Gzira United in the 1st Division. After his arrival in Malta, Effiong scored 220 goals in 540 official appearances, a record which speak for itself. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest goalscorers ever seen on the islands.

December 17
*Kemar Reid (Floriana) makes his 100th Premier Division appearance against Pieta’ Hotspurs, sealing the occasion by scoring his team’s second goal in the 3-1 victory. He is the first Jamaican to reach this milestone in Malta. The 28-year-old striker was introduced by Mosta (9 MPL appearances) during season 2016/17 and also played for St Andrews (34 MPL apps), Zejtun Corinthians (19) and Sirens (15) before moving to Floriana in January this year. It was Reid’s 23rd MPL appearance for Floriana last Saturday.
*Apart from Reid, also Kurt Shaw plays his 100th match in the Premier Division. The Malta defender joined Hibernians from Sliema Wanderers last summer and played 92 of these for the Blues. The match against Valletta was his eight for Hibernians this season. The 23-year-old made his Premiership debut during season 2016/17
*In the same match, Bjorn Kristensen makes his 300th appearance in the Malta Premier Division. The 29-year-old Malta midfielder played all these for his one and only club Hibernians, for whom he made his senior debut during season 2010/11. He became the 58th player in Malta to play at least 300 matches in the top flight.
*Former Malta U21 and youth international Yessous Camilleri reaches the 100 appearances at 3rd tier level in Birzebbuga St Peter’s 1-0 victory over Kalkara United. The Blues’ captain made most of these hundred for his current team (29), but also 26 each for Kalkara and Marsa and 19 for Rabat Ajax. The ex-Valletta player is slowly approaching the 300 official domestic and international career appearances.

December 18
*Gharghur defender Matthew Borda (33) plays his 100th third tier league match in the encounter against his former team Msida St Joseph (3-3). He made his senior debut also at this level with San Gwann way back in season 2007/08 and also donned the Zurrieq, Birzebbuga, Zebbug, St George’s, Mtarfa and Ta’ Xbiex colours.

December 19
*Brooke Farrugia (Tarxien Rainbows) plays his 100th game in the second tier of Maltese football in the match against Mqabba, which was surprisingly won by the latter by the odd goal in three. The energetic midfielder, aged 29, is a Floriana product, the club where he made his senior debut during season 2011/12. Tarxien is his sixth club as he also had spells with Gzira United, Pembroke Athleta, Zejtun Corinthians and Lija Athletic. Farrugia also made 98 appearances in the Premier Division. The former U19 and U21 Malta international is slowly closing in on 250 career appearances.

2023
January 7
*Keith Muscat plays his 300th senior career match in Birzebbuga’s outing against Xghajra Tornados (2-1). Apart from St Peter’s, the 31-year-old attacking midfielder also had spells with St Patrick, Mqabba, Marsaxlokk and Zurrieq. He is one of only six Birzebbuga players who made more than 200 official senior appearances for the club and the highest ranked still active player on the list of most league appearance at third tier level in Malta.
*In Ghaxaq’s hard earned 1-0 victory over Siggiewi, Rio Micallef makes his 300th official career appearance. It was his 77th and last appearance for Ghaxaq, as the 39-year-old continues the season with high flyers Msida St Joseph. The hard-working midfielder also played for Marsa, San Gwann, Zebbug Rangers, Mellieha, Rabat Ajax, Senglea Athletic, Dingli Swallows, Birzebbuga St Peter’s, Santa Lucia and Marsaxlokk.

January 8
*Terence Agius plays his 100th match for Pieta’ Hotspurs in their match against Valletta (1-1), a week before his 29th birthday. The midfielder returned to his first love in the summer of 2022 after leaving the club in January 2015. He made a journey, joining several clubs in those seven years, donning the jerseys of Balzan, Pembroke Athleta, Hamrun Spartans, Birkirkara Mosta, Sirens and Zabbar St Patrick respectively.
*Zurrieq defender Adrian Caruana (29), makes his 200th official senior appearance in their 5-1 trashing against his ex-team Lija Athletic on the last match day of the 1st round in the Challenge League. The Mosta FC youth academy product made his senior debut relatively late aged 20, during an on-loan spell with Pembroke Athleta in the 2nd Division. After two seasons with Lija Athletic in the 1st Division, Caruana made his Premier debut with his first love Mosta (2016/17). Before signing with Zurrieq in 2019, the sturdy defender had another short spell with Lija, followed by a Marsa and Siggiewi period.

January 13
*Goalkeeper James Abela, who joined Mqabba after starting the season with Vittoriosa Stars, makes his 200th career appearance in Mqabba’s match against Sirens (0-1) in the FA Trophy. The 34-year-old custodian is a Mellieha SC youth product who made most of these 200 appearances for the Blues; 192. Abela had a short loan spell with Sliema Wanderers at the start of 2013.

January 14
*The appearance of Keith Fedele in the Izibet FA Trophy match against Kercem Ajax (2-8) with Attard is the 200th career appearance for the 30-year-old defender. Fedele is coming from the Pieta’ Hotspurs youth ranks and made 13 official appearances in the Malta national Under-19 team during this period. He made his senior debut for the Blues during 2009/10 in the 1st Division but eventually failed to break through and joined Gharghur in 2012, where he played for five consecutive seasons, making 119 official appearances. Three uneventful seasons followed with Gudja United, St George’s and Luqa St Andrew’s, all in the 2nd Division, before landing with his current club Attard in 2020.

January 21
*In the goalless draw with Melita, after already reaching the 100 appearances in Malta’s second football tier last November, Brandon Muscat added another accolade to his wonderful season by playing his 100th game for his current club Tarxien Rainbows. Muscat (28), is in his second spell with the Rainbows, who he joined in 2019 for a second time after a loan spell in the Premier Division during season 2015/16.
*St Andrews forward Luka Mijic reaches the 100 appearances in the second tier of Maltese football in their match against Marsa, scoring the first goal in their 2-0 victory. Incidentally, Mijic was brought to Malta by Marsa in 2017, his first club on the island, followed by one-season spells with Sirens, Pembroke Athleta, Zebbug Rangers and Mqabba. It was the 48th goal at this level for the 26-year-old Serb.

January 22
*Zurrieq defender Melvin Busuttil plays his 100th league match in the second tier of Maltese football, a match without a memorable end as league leaders Sliema beat Zurrieq 5-0. The now 27-year-old is a Hamrun Spartans youth nursery product, who he joined from Birkirkara aged 12 in 2008. He made his debut for the Spartans at the end of the 2012/13 Premier Division campaign and remained a Hamrun player until 2016 when joining Zejtun in the 2nd Division. After that, Busuttil donned the jersey of Marsa, followed by a short Qrendi period, before signing with Zurrieq in January 2021.

January 28
*Cain Attard plays his 200th match for Birkirkara in their clash with Santa Lucia (2-0). He joined the Stripes from Pieta’ Hotspurs halfway 2015. It was his 170th Premier Division match for Birkirkara, while the Malta international also made 18 Birkirkara appearances in the FA Trophy and 12 in the various European Cup competitions.
*Canadian born defender Gaetano Gesualdi plays his 200th official senior match in Malta in Zebbug’s shock win over Gudja United (2-0). The 30-year-old holds a Maltese passport and is in his fourth consecutive season with Zebbug Rangers. He also played for Sirens, Qormi, Mqabba, St George’s, Tarxien Rainbows, Msida St Joseph and Rabat Ajax. Gesualdi started his career in Canada with North Missisaugua and also had a short spell in the German Landesliga with Weissenfels and Inter Leipzig during the 2014/15 season.
*An amazing milestone for Daniel Scerri, who plays his 400th match for Lija Athletic in their match against Marsa (0-1). The defensive midfielder, aged 39, made his debut for the club in 2003 and became only the 13th player in history of the local game to play 400 official senior appearances for one club. Scerri is in his 18th season with Lija, as he played two seasons away from home with Gzira United during the seasons 2014/15 and 15/16. An incredible achievement.
*In the derby against Mqabba (0-1), Qrendi goalkeeper Sean Mintoff plays his 100th match at second league level in Malta. The 37-year-old joined Qrendi from Zejtun earlier in the month of January, his ninth club in his career as he also played for St Patrick, Balzan, Lija Athletic, Rabat Ajax, Floriana, Tarxien Rainbows and Sirens. The St Patrick youth nursery product, who started his apprenticeship with Floriana, played over 200 games in Maltese football, including 88 in the Premier Division.
*In pouring rain conditions, Senglea’s Timmy Thomas smashes three behind the Ta’ Xbiex goalkeeper (6-0) to break the 300th career goal mark, a wonderful achievement for the veteran striker. A rare occasion as well, as only three players had done it before Thomas, which are Michael Mifsud, John Camilleri and Dione Lautier, the latter two knocking most goals in the Gozitan league and knock out competitions.

January 29
*In Hamrun Spartans’ match against Sirens (3-0), Henry Bonello became the 59th player in Maltese football history to reach the 300 top level matches. The Malta international goalkeeper made his Premier Division debut during season 2006/07 while playing for Sliema Wanderers, were he spent most of his apprenticeship. After exactly 100 MPL games for Sliema, the 34-year-old joined Hibernians (30 Premier Div games) for one season. Bonello played most of these 300 for Valletta (116) but also 17 for Birkirkara. He joined his current club Hamrun in 2022 (37 games).
*Lydon Cuschieri’s substitute appearance for Attard in the 1-1 draw against San Gwann is already the 100th club appearance for the young attacking midfielder. The 22-year-old made his senior debut aged 15 at the end of season 2015/16 in the 3rd Division. He is an Attard FC youth nursery product, his one and only club.