Happy endings in Malta

By Domenic Aquilina

The last day of the Maltese Premier League season was a happy one for all concerned. With the rest of the division having played on Friday and Saturday, Sunday was left for champions Sliema Wanderers FC to take their bow with a game against Birkirkara FC.

Party spoiled
A win last weekend saw Sliema take the title, but both sides had reason to celebrate on Sunday. Birkirkara spoiled Sliema's party by inflicting a 2-1 defeat on the league champions, yet it was Sliema captain Noel Turner who received the all-important trophy at the end of the match.

Two goals
Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza put Birkirkara ahead after 22 minutes with a low drive from Mark Anthony Bonnici's cross, and as Sliema struggled to fight back, the same player scored again, beating goalkeeper Murphy Akanji four minutes from half-time.

Doncic penalty
The champions rallied in the second half with Danilo Doncic notching his 20th goal of the campaign for Sliema nine minutes after the restart. The striker's 110th Maltese Premier League goal came from the penalty spot, but it was to be the last of his, and Sliema's, season.

Good news
Sliema's success was particularly good news for Maltese international Michael Mifsud, who returned to the club from 1. FC Kaiserslautern earlier in the season. Having helped Sliema win a second consecutive title, he believes even better times are ahead.

'Three in a row'
"I am a very happy man today," he told uefa.com. "Coming back to Sliema from Kaiserslautern last January and helping my boyhood team win the championship again means a lot to me. I want to help Sliema make it three in a row next term - that is a promise!"

Trophy prospects
Mifsud has the chance to add to Sliema's trophy haul on Wednesday when his side renew hostilities with Birkirkara, this time in the Maltese Trophy semi-finals. Marsaxlokk FC meet Valletta FC in the other semi-final.

Hibernians first
Elsewhere, Hibernians FC may have finished third in the table, but their position in Maltese football remains assured after they became the first club on the island to play 1,000 league games on 3 May. They lost the match 3-1 against Sliema, but there was cause for celebration nonetheless.

Auspicious debut
Hibernians have been in the élite division for 72 consecutive seasons. Their top-flight debut came against Sliema Rangers FC on 28 January 1933 when a goal from Charles Busuttil and two for Turu Theobald earned a 3-1 victory.

Major achievements
Since that auspicious start, Hibernians have become one of the most prestigious and respected teams on the island. The Paola-based club have won nine league titles and five Maltese Trophies, and were also the first Maltese side to play in Europe and the first to own their stadium.

No match
This season might not have been their best, but as Sliema celebrate their title, the Paolites' uninterrupted sequence of top-flight games is still a record that perhaps no other Maltese team can hope to match.