BOV GFA Cup Finalists meet off the field
● Ghajnsielem to face Xewkija Tigers in 45th GFA Cup Final
The Final of the 2018 edition of the BOV GFA Cup is being contested by Ghajnsielem and Xewkija Tigers as is being played at the Gozo Stadium on Sunday 6th May at 1600hrs.
Xewkija, top the list of winners of the BOV GFA Cup with 10 wins while for holders Ghajnsielem, this will be their 17th presence in the final, and will be vying for their 7th win in this competition.
Xewkija Tigers President Geoffrey Farrugia and player Daniel Bogdanovic and Victor Caruana, and Dylan Mercieca Ghajnsielem coach and player respectively spoke at a pre-final press conference that was addressed by Gozo Football Association President Dr. Samuel Azzopardi and Horace Laudi, Executive Gozo Region for Bank of Valletta, the main sponsors of this competition.
“We are here, with our partners Bank of Valletta in this first ever event of this sort in Gozo to promote the final competition of the Gozitan football season,” said the GFA President.
“This competition is contested by all 14 Gozitan teams in both division of the BOV GFA leagues. We urge the team’s supporters to come to the Gozo stadium this Sunday to see their team play for the final award of the Gozo Football season.
“This football season started with Xewkija against Ghajnsielem in the Super Cup, and will also close with these two teams facing each other in the final award of the season,” said Xewkija President Geoffrey Farrugia.
“We will be missing captain Claudio Antunes through injury but we are convinced that we will produce another great match for our supporters.
“This being the final game of the season, we are looking to close the season the same way we started with a win,” said Daniel Bogdanovic. “The team is in great shape with full confidence in our coach and this will serve us on the pitch to win this prestigious trophy.”
Ghajnsielem coach Victor Caruana said that the team did not have a great start to the season.
“Changes in the squad effected in January have changed our fortunes. Although the players are feeling the fatigue of all the recent matches, and we will be missing Kenneth Mercieca who is suspended, we aim to retain the trophy that we won last year.” Hibernians and Gzira Athleta will contest the best-of-5 BOV Basketball Playoff final commencing on the 6th May 2018. Gzira and Hibernians overcame Cynergi Depiro and BUPA Luxol respectively with a 2-0 win in the best of 3 semifinal to book their slot in the final.
Paul Sultana, President of the Malta Basketball Association and Peter Perotti, Chief Officer at Bank of Valletta addressed the media in the presence of Ray Muscat and Jon Feiler, Gzira Athleta’s Head Coach and foreign player, with Nadia Vella and Chad Patus, Club secretary and foreign player respectively represented Hibernians.
“The top two teams in the regular season will this year be contesting the final,” said Paul Sultana.
“Hibernians have already added the St James Shield, the Louis Borg Cup and the BOV Knockout to their tally this season while Athleta are still looking for the first award of the season, while topping the league standings during the regular season.”
“Hibernians have not won the title since 1990 with the team not competing for a number of years,” said Nadia Vella.
“However this year, we have built a strong team that has won 3 out of the 4 awards this season and we are looking to carry this momentum into the final.”
“The team has grown and bonded during the season and we are looking to add the most prestigious title of the year to our tally,” said Chad Patus.
“Although we have already won 3 titles this season, the team is still hungry for more success and it is our wish to bring back