Away from it all!
Away from the pressures of “top-flight” football, over the weekend I watched the BOV Division Two match between Kalkara and Birzebbugia St. Peter’s at the Centenary Stadium at Ta’ Qali – a very enjoyable, fairly contested affair between two sides played in the true spirit of fair play and good football.
Ahead of this meeting, both teams respectively placed third and fifth in the table. With just one point separating the two Southern sides, the two sides gave way to a really exciting encounter which finally saw “St. Peter’s” win 3-2.
In front of only some locals from both sides at the Centenary Stadium, Birzebbugiasoon undermined their intentions by surging to a fairly deserved lead through their 1,81 metres tall Cameroun striker Didier Sohna just before the first half.
Kalkara had other ideas though and got back into it with a well-deserved equalizer before the change of ends, thanks to Christopher Cuschieri. The Greens even went into the lead on 64 minutes through Justin Felice.
It seemed that Kalkara were on their way to bag the three points until Ronnie Celeste, who earlier on in the first half saw his close range effort heroically saved by Mark Vella in the Kalkara goal, made amends by firing a brace in 60 seconds between the 80th and 81st minute to see his side bag what mattered most and go joint top of the table with Fgura United on 11 points after 5 matches played.
Some familiar names around as well – Kalkara are now managed by Trevor Thomas who donned the jerseys of quite a good number of clubs amongst these those of Senglea Athletic, Hibernians, and Valletta. His younger brother, as well born and raised at Senglea Athletic, captained the Kalkara team.
Birzebbugia captain Rene Duca, formerly with Mqabba and Fgura Athletic, was always in the tick of the action and seems has got what is needed to see his side’s midfield tick with his intelligent play and passing of the ball.
But besides all this, there was a certain air of “away from it all” during this game. True football played with a smile if you can say that – with no pressure. Something so different to the “I have to win at all costs” demands of professional football.
These lads were clearly enjoying their game to the full! And with good talent around too!
As former England international Michael Owen once stated, “Away from the game, I would have hated to have been described as arrogant. I succeeded in separating my qualities as a sportsman from my true character, and that was the key to dealing with whatever has been thrown at me on and off the pitch.”