Floriana and Sliema Wanderers are set to cross swords on Sunday in what is expected to be an epic IZIBET FA Trophy Final.
Both teams go head to head for the third time this season with Floriana emerging as winners in two league encounters.
In a pre-match Press Conference on Friday, Floriana coach Mauro German Camoranesi acknowledged that despite the end-of-league heartbreak, he was pleased with the way the team has performed over the season, enabling the Greens to qualify back for European football and this possibility of winning this major honour.
Sliema Wanderers coach Paul Zammit underlined the tough run-up his team had to undertake on the road to the final, with matches going beyond the proper ninety minutes, against Balzan, Mosta, and most recently the semi-final win over Birkirkara, with a Joseph Minala extra-time penalty making the whole difference between the two teams on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Wanderers had also knocked-out Amateur League side Marsaskala.
On their side Floriana, the road to this final saw them overcome Naxxar Lions, Żebbuġ Rangers, Marsaxlokk, and Gżira United on penalties in the semi-final.
Also present for the press conference were midfielder Dunstan Vella of Floriana who is likely to lead his team out as a skipper in the absence of captain Matias Garcia and Vice-Captain Oualid El Hasni, and Mark Scerri, deemed as a one-club man and always loyal to Sliema Wanderers colours and who is, however, unlikely to be on the pitch for the final as he is still nurturing an injury he suffered earlier in the season.
Both sides have the extra motivation on Sunday to become the most decorated side in this competition, currently both on equal 21 times winners in this FA Trophy.
Sliema’s last success in this competition was back in 2016 beating Balzan on penalties, more recent success was for Floriana overcoming arch-rivals Valletta, recording a 2-1 win after extra-time only two years ago.
The last FA Trophy final encounter between the sides was back seven years ago, Floriana emerging 2-0 winners in the 2017 edition.
It’s the biggest game of the season, it’s the Greens against the Blues, the Old Firm derby in this 84th edition of the FA Trophy which will bring the curtains down on the domestic football season 2023/24.