Sun 11

• First Division Mosta vs Mellieha 3-0, Qormi vs Dingli S. 4-2
• Second Division Zurrieq vs Sirens 4-1, Naxxar L. vs Rabat A. 0-2
• Third Division Section A Fgura U. vs Attard 0-3
• Third Division Section B Santa Lucia vs Gozo 1-2

Sat 10

• Premier League Valletta vs Sliema W. 0-1
• First Division St. Patrick vs Marsa 3-1, Vittoriosa S. vs Tarxien R. 0-3
• Second Division San Gwann vs St. Andrews 4-1, Birzebbuga SP vs Balzan Y. 0-4

Fri 9

• Premier League Hibernians vs Pietà H. 2-1, Hamrun S. vs Marsaxlokk 3-4
• Third Division Section A Mtarfa vs Qrendi 0-6
• Third Division Section B Kirkop U. vs Gudja U. 0-1

Thu 8

• Premier League Mqabba vs Msida SJ 2-2, Birkirkara vs Floriana 1-1
• Gozo - Super Cup Nadur Y. vs Qala SJ 0-3
• Marsaxlokk forward Kevin Sammut has been nominated as the BOV Player of the Month for April 2008. Having already nailed this award in February, Sammut’s consistently good performance for his team helped him tip other contenders in the journalists’ selection for April.
  With five BOV Premier League goals to his credit so far this season, this forward has shown he is a useful rather than a prolific goal-getter. His graft on either flank of the field and his sudden surges towards the centre are among the many assets of his repertoire of skills.
  His colleagues have often cashed in on his pin-pointed chips from the wings or accurate service from inside positions, and many goals resulted from this player’s assist. It is little wonder that Kevin is an established member of the Malta National Team.
  Charles Azzopardi, Marketing Communications Manager at Bank of Valletta presented the trophy to Kevin Sammut during an award ceremony. Mr. Azzopardi congratulated the player and noted how BOV is making a regular contribution towards local sports through this initiative. In addition to the award, a contribution to a charity of the player’s choice, Sammut’s being the Children’s Cancer Support Group is also made, thus also making a worthy contribution to the community.
• Birkirkara F.C. Youth Nursery have just reached a twinning agreement with Italian side Atalanta BC. An agreement thanks to which young players attending the Birkirkara nursery will benefit a lot.
  The Atalanta youth sector is one of the best, if not the best, in Italy. A nursery which produced some of the top Italian players.
  The Birkirkara F.C. Youth Nursery, who is celebrating its 25th anniversary, had been holding discussions with the Atalanta's settore giovanile which eventually led to the twinning agreement between the two parties.
  The climax was reached on Sunday April 20th with a visit by the Birkirkara Under-14 side in Bergamo. The team led by coach Franco Agius met the Atalanta esordienti, led by coach Mauro Fumagalli. Although the Maltese side was made of players who are a year older than the players in the Italian side, it was a very difficult game for Birkirkara. Atalanta won 2-1, turning defeat into victory in the final seven minutes. The Birkirkara players were then the guests of Atalanta for the Serie A match between Atalanta and Juventus at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo.
  The following day, Birkirkara played another friendly match against Pontirolo. The Birkirkara players were given the opportunity to play with the official kit of Atalanta and the game ended in a goalless draw.
  The Maltese contingent, led by chairman Henry Bray, then visited the Centro Bortolotti di Zingonia - the Italian club' official headquarters where they were taken for a short tour by the director of the Atalanta BC Settore Giovanile Mino Favini who explained the club's set-up.
  They also visited another club from Bergamo - Serie B side Albinoleffe. The Birkirkara contingent met coach Elio Gustinetti, director general Sandro Turotti, captain Ivan Del Prato and defender Gabriele Perico.
  A crew from Replay - Net Television followed the Birkirkara Youth Nursery visit in Bergamo and features will be presented in the coming weeks. This was made possible thanks to Allsports International, Eurosport, Paul Target and Photocity.
• In view of Saturday’s BOV Premier League match between Valletta and Sliema Wanderers, the Stadium Management, in agreement with the police, has allocated the stands for both teams’ supporters as follows:
  Valletta Supporters – Enclosure West Stand A; Enclosure West Stand C; Millennium Stand Side A; South Stand
  Sliema Supporters – Millennium Stand C
  The cooperation of all supporters attending for the match is solicited.

Wed 7

• Malta retained the 135th place in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking list which was published on Wednesday.
  Among the other European countries, Malta is 47th. Just ahead of Malta is Austria (101), Estonia (115), Kazakhstan (122) and Liechtenstein (130) while lying behind Malta is Azerbaijan (137), Montenegro (150), Luxembourg (157), Andorra (181), Faroe Islands (194) and San Marino (200).
  Malta's next commitment is a friendly match against Austria away from home on May 30th. Malta then takes on Estonia in another friendly match away from home in August.
• Six Premier League players are ruled out of this week's matches after being handed a one-match ban by the MFA Disciplinary Commissioner.
  The six players are Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara), Charlo Magro (Marsaxlokk), Carl Pulo and Rumen Angelov Galabov (Pietà), Alex Muscat (Sliema) and Frank Temile (Valletta).
  Muscat and Temile are ruled out of next Saturday's clash between champions Valletta and Sliema Wanderers. Pulo and Galabov will be missing Pietà's game against Hibernians on Friday while Joseph Zerafa is out of the game against Floriana on Thursday. Magro will be missing Marsaxlokk's game against his former club Hamrun.
  In Division 1, Aloysius Ihebulu (Qormi) was suspended for two matches while Gianluca Calabretta (Mellieha) and Antonio Saliba (Mosta) were banned for one match. Mellieha official Joseph Vella was suspended for two matches.
  Rabat Ajax duo Joseph Caruana and Emanuel Muscat were handed a one-match ban in Division 2 while Edmond Lapira (Gharghur) and Lizio Grech (Xghajra) were suspended for one match. Gozo FC's John Camilleri was suspended for three matches.
  In the Youth League, Mauro Busuttil (Hamrun) was suspended fro three matches, Wayne Hamer (Birzebbuga) for two, Leydon Farrugia (Birzebbuga) and Owen Cauchi (Mellieha) for one.
• Local youngster, James Paris, aged 16, has this week signed his Scholarship Contract with Manchester City Football Club Youth Academy. This gives James the opportunity to continue to develop his football skills with this Club.
  This is a great achievement in itself for James and very encouraging for Maltese football in general as Manchester City are renowned for their excellent Academy. Only recently their Under 18’s youth team won the Youth F.A. Cup beating Chelsea in the final 4-2 on aggregate. The first leg was played at Stanford Bridge and the score ended 1-1 however in the second leg played in front of 20,000 spectators, City won 3-1.
  But just as a spokesman for the academy said, "that’s now when the hard work really begins." James has also been given a rigorous fitness routine that he has to adhere to and has been told of his obligations now as a Manchester City scholar. He is now an ambassador for the club and as such has to behave in the correct way. Plus, James has an extra obligation as he is also an ambassador for Malta just as Michael Mifsud is at Coventry City.
  Jon Mottershead of Football Frenzy, who was instrumental in getting James the trial over a year ago, stressed that this achievement is proof that with dedication, sacrifice and hard work everything is possible. He continued that James needs to keep his feet firmly on the ground and to also concentrate on his studies. “This is a great opportunity and a fantastic achievement for James and Maltese Football”.
• Malta international striker Andre Schembri scored his ninth goal with Eintracht Braunschweig as they shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw with DFB Lubeck.
  Schembri had put Braunschweig 2-1 ahead on the hour.
  They are now eleventh on 46 points, just nine behind leaders Rot Weiss Ahlen.
  In after-match comments, the coach expressed his disappointment for the fact that his team failed to claim the three points but praised his players for their performance and especially Schembri who not only scored but was instrumental in the other two goals scored by Braunschweig.

Tue 6

• Gozo - GFA Cup Ghajnsielem vs Qala SJ 2-2 aet (4-5 pen)

Tue 6

• Senglea Mayor, Mr. Joseph Casha and Senglea Athletic FC Youth Nursery President, Mr. Stephen Spiteri signed an agreement regarding the “Tal-Ponta Ground” last week.
  For the past two years, youngsters from the Senglea Nursery have been carrying out their training sessions on the roof of the Catholic Institute in Senglea. This was due to the disastrous and dangerous state in which “Tal-Ponta Ground” was. This ground is being renovated, but until then, the only open space where these children can train is that roof. The ground is currently being renovated with new fencing and lighting, and covered with artificial turf. The ground, which is the Local Council’s property, passed on its administration to Senglea Nursery.
  Sunday, 4th May 2008 was an important day for Senglea Athletics FC Youth Nursery, with the signing of the administration agreement of “Tal-Ponta Ground”, a 5-a-side Synthetic Football Pitch in Senglea.
  Mayor Joseph Casha and Executive Secretary Arthur Perici signed on behalf of the Local Council, while Senglea Nursery President Stephen Spiteri signed on behalf of Senglea Athletic FC Youth Nursery. Thanks to this agreement, Senglea Athletic Nursery, now manages the “Tal-Ponta Ground” administration.
  Present for this occasion were many Senglea Nursery youths and their parents.
  The Senglea said he believed in this project and had promised Senglea’s younger generation that this ground would not remain just a dream. Due to bureaucratic procedures and mishaps, this dream was delayed but promised that they will try their best to finish the project by the end of May.
  Stephen Spiteri, President of Senglea Nursery, asserted that this project was vital for the nursery’s future. While the majority of nurseries in Malta have artificial turf grounds where their youngsters can train and play, Senglea Nursery youngsters train on a roof. This caused many Senglea youngsters to go and train with teams, much more equipped than theirs and this at a detriment to Senglea Athletics, since it will be far too difficult to get these players back to play for Senglea Athletics.
  Mr. Stephen Spiteri thanked the Senglea Local Council, Mayor Joseph Casha, all the committee members of Senglea Nursery and all those who worked and persevered to make this project take flight and now be administered by Senglea Athletic FC Youth Nursery.

Sun 4

• Premier League Sliema W. vs Hamrun S. 5-3, Floriana vs Valletta 0-2
• First Division Mellieha vs Senglea A. 1-3, Dingli S. vs St. George's 2-2
• Second Division Lija A. vs Melita 3-2, Sta. Venera L. vs Mgarr U. 3-4
• Third Division Section A Zejtun C. vs Zebbug R. 2-4
• Third Division Section B Pembroke A. vs Kalkara 0-1
• Gozo - Second Division Challenge Cup SK Victoria W. vs Zebbug R. 2-1

Sat 3

• Premier League Pietà H. vs Mqabba 1-0, Marsaxlokk vs Birkirkara 0-2
• First Division Marsa vs Vittoriosa S. 1-4, Mosta vs Qormi 2-2
• Third Division Section A Ghaxaq vs Siggiewi 0-7
• Third Division Section B Gzira U. vs Gharghur 0-0
• The MFA Technical Centre will be organising another Instructional Meeting for holders of Foundation, YDD and UEFA ‘C’ Licence coaches.
  This activity is a practical session and is scheduled for Monday 12th May 2008 at 17. 30 hrs at the Technical Centre.
  All coaches are requested to be punctual.
• Paul Shipwright and Martin Davis from Arsenal FC Community Department are returning to Malta to assist the Maltese adjudicating panel at the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge 2008.
  Organised by Arsenal Supporters Club and sponsored by Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, the Challenge will take place on Friday, 16th May 2008 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun.
  Paul Shipwright from Arsenal Soccer Schools joined Arsenal’s Community Department in 2003. He is responsible for all partnered soccer schools in the U.K. and overseas. Currently, Paul manages 14 franchise partners in the UK and 12 overseas, who provide more than 20,000 young people with Arsenal coaching and a link with the Club. Paul also organises the annual 'Arsenal International Soccer Festival’, an event which brings together 200 football teams from all over the world in competition. He is a UEFA qualified coach and a member of the Football Association Coaches Association.
  Sports Development Officer Martin Davis began his association with Arsenal in the Community in 1994 as a 17 year old Youth Training Scheme Trainee. In 1996, he started working for the department and now spends a lot of his time coaching in England and overseas, including visits to Ukraine, Singapore, Portugal, Cyprus and Egypt amongst others. He is currently managing the YTS Scheme and is responsible for the development of the young community coaches. He also has responsibility for the successful residential soccer school projects. Martin is the face of Arsenal’s 'tricks 'n 'flicks column in the Arsenal magazine, showing young readers how they can learn new skills and tricks.
  The visit of Mr Shipwright and Mr Davis has been made possible through the initiative of the Arsenal Malta Supporters Club and they are guests of the Radisson SAS Bay Point Hotel in St. George’s Bay.
  In 2004, Emirates signed the biggest sponsorship deal worth £100 million in football history with Arsenal FC. The agreement also included Emirates’ naming rights to Arsenal’s new £357 million, Emirates Stadium, for the following 15 years.

Fri 2

• Third Division Section A Luqa SA vs Gozo 1-2
• Third Division Section B Xghajra T. vs Mdina K. 2-1

Thu 1

• Second Division Rabat A. vs Birzebbuga SP 5-1, Sirens vs Naxxar L. 0-5
• Gozo - GFA Cup Nadur Y. vs Ghajnsielem 1-2, Qala SJ vs SK Victoria W. 3-2
• Following the kick-off of the Gudja Youth Nursery project which will include a brand new full size synthetic pitch, Gudja Youth Nursery is currently searching for interested coaching staff to join the current staff for season 2008/2009.
  Over the past few years, Gudja Youth Nursery has established itself as one of the most organized and promising nursery on the island. Currently the nursery caters for more than 100 players with ages varying from 6 to 16 years.
  Interested coaches shall send a detailed CV to Kenneth Bonnici, 60 Triq il-Lewz, Gudja GDJ 1712, email on info@gudjayn.com or apply by phone on 79710864