Rivals Valletta and Floriana were kept apart in the National League 100 Anniversary Cup semi-final draw which was held on Thursday at the Centenary Hall, Ta’ Qali. Valletta will be facing Tarxien Rainbows while Floriana meet First Division side Mosta.

The semi-finals will be played on Wednesday 24th March at the National Stadium, Ta’ Qali.

The trophy which will be presented after the April 14 final was unveiled also on Thursday. The trophy designed by Joe Micallef, who had also designed the Footballer of the Year trophy, is made up of a bronze sculpture which was manufactured by Fonderia Artistica Chetcuti on a hard-stone base manufactured by Halmann Limited.

The sculpture is made up of a ball and the letter C for centus which means hundred in latin. The competition in fact marks the hundred years of the National League.

Valletta reached this stage after defeating Second Division side Gozo FC 7-0 and First Division side Vittoriosa Stars 3-0, before beating Hibernians 2-0 in the quarter-finals. The Rainbows, on the other hand, beat Msida St. Joseph 5-0 in the third round, First Division side Balzan Youths 5-1 in the fourth round and Second Division side Lija Athletic 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

Mosta beat Third Division side Siggiewi 3-1 and Second Division side Gharghur 4-1 before staging the biggest surprise of the competition, eliminating Sliema Wanderers 2-1 on Wednesday. Floriana, on the other hand, beat Mqabba 2-0, Melita 1-0 and Hamrun Spartans 6-5 on penalties following a 2-2 draw.

Photos: Copyright © domenic aquilina