The Malta Independent on Sunday
‘Proud to be the second most capped player’
The Malta Independent on Sunday meets David Carabott, a former footballer who played for teams like Valletta and Hibs. He speaks about his childhood days, training under Fr Hilary Tagliaferro and his time with some of Malta’s biggest clubs.
David Carabott was born on 18 June 1968 in Melbourne, Australia, but came over to Malta with his family when he was still very young.
During his career he played for Marsaxlokk, Hibernians, Valletta and – in the final stages – with Msida SJ, Sliema W, Ghajnsielem and Balzan.
Talking about his childhood, Carabott – the first great footballer to be interviewed for this column – had this to say:
“It is more than 40 years ago, no grass pitches, fewer cars on the road and a football maniac. I remember finding a garage door and making it into our own goalposts to play football. I attended Marsaxlokk Primary School and later Guze D’Amato School, Paola but my eyes were always set on football.”
But we cannot forget another important chapter in his early days: the Centru Sport Edukattiv
– masterminded by Fr Hilary Tagliaferro. “We trained at Marsa, Tarxien and Hamrun and Fr Hilary was my second father,” he said.
Carabott spent 13 years with Hibernians, playing a total of 221 league matches and scoring 51 goals. During his time with the Paolies he won two League Championships, an FA Trophy and a Super Cup.
But he recalls his first days with Hibernians. “At the time, Hibernians were not going through a good time. It was 1986 and I remember Guzi Xuereb, John Bonello and John Campbell, amongst others: difficult times. In the first couple of years we were facing relegation – in fact in those days there was the relegation decider’s format and we had to play Rabat Ajax and Naxxar Lions to avoid the drop.
“I remember we beat Rabat in the first match – in which I scored two goals – and so when we played against Naxxar Lions we were already safe, so we were in relaxed mode – and lost 3-2!”
David had to spend 13 years with the Paolies but he remembers his perseverance and will to succeed. “From then on I never looked back. I was lucky that in Hibernians I found a club that believed in me from day one. As everyone knows, the more an athlete performs, the more he improves. And that was what made me a player. To be honest, I was also lucky that, at the time, I was part of the MFA Professional Scheme – which helped me a lot.”
Carabott started his career as a striker but was later deployed into a wing-back position. “I found myself more comfortable in that role. I was getting the ball forward and had much more freedom to show my abilities. The striker position depends too much on supply from the midfield area. And when Pietro Ghedin took over the National Team he played me on the left flank so that once I cut the run I could conclude with my right foot which was my lethal weapon.”
The first part of his career with Hibernians was rather uneventful but things changed dramatically when – in 1992 – ex-Arsenal legend Brian Talbot was named as Hibernians’ coach. This was definitely the best part of David’s career. “Brian Talbot changed the mentality of the team. At that time it was something new to have a foreign coach in charge of a Maltese club and, moreover, one of Talbot’s pedigree.”
Talbot trained the team to superb fitness levels, transforming it from also-rans into a Championship-winning side. “He made us think how to adopt a ‘neversay-die’ attitude: to never stop attacking and keep on going until the final whistle. That was Brian Talbot.”
Carabott also won an FA Trophy under Mark Miller’s guidance but his time with Hibernians drew to an end at the turn of the century when, after refusing a transfer with Birkirkara, he joined Valletta. “When I joined Valletta in the year 2000 it was a difficult decision – it was like leaving home. But it turned out to be a memorable year. We did something that is difficult to repeat winning the six cups at stake. The team consisted of practically all the national team and our mission was to emulate what the previous squad had won two years before. They had won five cups and we wanted to win six cups – which included the ‘Centenary Cup’ – and we did, to the delight of the Valletta supporters.”
Turning to the National Team, Carabott made his international debut on the 15th November 1987 in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Re-living the memory, he describes the moment he was given the news of his debut by coach Gentcho Dobrev. “I was from Marsaxlokk playing at Pace Grasso, switching to Hibernians and finding myself in the National Team. It was a cultural shock. I played in the Switzerland match instead of Dennis Mizzi and on being given the news, I trembled.”
Recalling more about the National Team, Carabott feels a sense of patriotism towards his country. “Every game that I played with the National Team is a memorable moment. I’m proud of what I’ve done for Malta.”
He played 122 games and scored 13 goals wearing the Maltese shirt and describes the best moments of his international career. “I am honoured to be the second most capped player. I rate my goal against Belarus in a 1-1
From then on I never looked back. I was lucky that in Hibernians I found a club that believed in me from day one. As everyone knows, the more an athlete performs, the more he improves. And that was what made me a player
draw as one of the best, but I cannot forget the penalty that I scored against England – although I also missed one. But for me all of them are top notch.”
But it was not all roses for Carabott who, in 2002, nearly brought his career to an abrupt end. The game was against Moldova at the National Stadium and the match was nearing its end when disaster struck. “I had a horrific double fracture of my left leg in the last few minutes of the game played at the National Stadium at Ta’ Qali – bringing Malta’s successful mini-tournament to a rather unpleasant end. In fact, we won the tournament with another win against Jordan and a draw with Lithuania.
“But the reality is that, after five months, I made it. It was down to a lot of hard work and intensive therapy and training, but it was also the moment of truth. Supporters of various teams showed their moral support and the rivalry was temporarily put on the shelf. It was due to them that I recovered so quickly,” Carabott exclaimed.
But all good things come to an end and, after a long career with the national team, in 2005 he called it a day. “It was a difficult decision. Horst Heese was the coach at that time and he had told me about his idea of a transitional period and that he was not going to give me a starring role. And that was it – and I decided to give way for new blood. But it was a courageous decision and one that made me think and reflect on how I was going to live without the National Team, since it had been part of my daily life.”
Back to club football and talking about honours, Carabott described the following wonderful moments. “I won promotion with my hometown Marsaxlokk, Under 16 Section winner with Birzebbugia Windmills, two leagues with Hibernians – with the first league being a memorable one, since it came after a long layoff.”
Carabott went on to win honours with Valletta and Sliema Wanderers, ending his illustrious career with stints in Gozo with Ghajnsielem, Balzan and back to his home town – Marsaxlokk.
After retiring completely, Carabott no longer went to the stadium. “For me, it was a closed chapter. I felt no more passion, the level of football went down, attendances diminished and there were many more negatives that kept me away. I had a small adventure with Zurrieq about five years ago, but my full concentration is on my football school, which is now 20 years old. This project, which I consider to be my baby, gives me great satisfaction. A case in point is Nikolai Micallef – who was one of my students and is now playing in the Premier League.”
One of the questions you have to ask is about the present level of local football. “Yes, we have talent on our island, but how much playing time is this talent going to be given to show us its capabilities? Facilities have increased but how can you explain that – with fewer facilities – we had more class players? Why is it that if you are not enrolled in a football nursery you can’t find a pitch in which to kick a ball around? These are today’s – and tomorrow’s – problems. They are small things but they improve you a lot.”
Now in his early 50s, Carabott is fond of English football and watches a lot of games at the weekends. “My favourite team is the League One outfit Ipswich Town: I’ve been supporting them from the age of 10, but I also follow Chelsea.
But that’s the weekend. From Monday to Friday I work with the Ministry for Education and my evenings are reserved for my football lessons, with Tuesday being Gozo day.”
David’s favourite food is chicken cooked in any number of ways, and London is his favourite destination. His dream holiday is a visit to ‘Down-under’.
Asked about the current league system and the Serie C project, David has his own views. “A league with 14 teams is a farce; the comfort zone got bigger but that’s what the clubs wanted. I was always in favour of an eightteam league with four rounds, four teams fighting for European participation and three relegated. That would be a hell of a league.”
“With regard to the Serie C team, I think that – instead of trying to improve our league – we threw in the towel and we are now opting for an experimental team in the third tier of Italian football. This will now cause big problems for Maltese clubs.”
Carabott concluded the interview by sending a message to those who wish to make football their career. “Always believe: never say ‘never’. You’ve got opportunities and the best thing you can do is to grab your shoes and go abroad. That is the only way that you can further your career and become a true footballer.”
Carabott went on to win honours with Valletta and Sliema Wanderers, ending his illustrious career with stints in Gozo with Ghajnsielem, Balzan and back to his home town – Marsaxlokk.