Author: Matthew Farrugia

Today, we are proud to celebrate an incredible achievement for our captain Ferdinando Apap as he plays his 100th senior game with Victoria Hotspurs FC. This marks a special milestone in his third stint with the club, a testament to his unwavering loyalty, dedication, and passion.

Throughout the years, our captain has been a driving force, helping the club reach remarkable results and achieve significant milestones. His leadership and commitment both on and off the field have set a powerful example for all who follow in his footsteps.

Here’s to many more milestones, continued success, and above all, the lasting legacy he’s building as the heart and soul of our team. Congratulations, Captain, on your 100th game in RED. The journey continues, and we can’t wait to see what comes next!

Read More

Victoria Hotspurs 1 -1 Kalkara United

Rondinely Roberto Monteiro 24′

Read More

Victoria Hotspurs 4 – 1 Mdina Knights

Kurt Borg 21′, Rodinely Monteiro 43′, Matthias Said 59′, Kurt Borg 77′

On Friday night at the Centenary Stadium, Champions Victoria Hotspurs rounded off their 1^st phase commitments in style, beating an ever-improving Mdina Knights 4-1. Like in most of their games this season, the victory of the Gozitans, who had Ferdinando Apap suspended, was never in doubt, dominating proceedings from start to finish.

The team of coach Oliver Spiteri created their first real chance on ten minutes when Matthias Said produced one of his fine runs on the left flank, perfectly passing to Kurt Borg who blasted high from an ideal angle. After Jason Pace and Kurt Borg had two off-target attempts on 14 and 18 minutes, it was the latter who broke the deadlock on 22 minutes, beating Mdina goalkeeper Andrew Zammit with an accurate shot from a Pace cross.

The one-way traffic continued with the Hotspurs wasting several chances through especially Borg and Rondinely, with the latter still in the race to be crowned as over-all league Top Scorer at this level. But on 36 minutes, Mdina equalised through a wonderful free-kick by Matthew Borg, who curled the ball perfectly over the wall and behind Hotspurs goalie Richard Sammut, a picture goal. Their joy was short-lived however as Rondinely headed home his 16^th of the season, from close-range from a Daniel Farrugia assist.

Just before the hour mark, the Hotspurs scored the 3-1 through Said, who rounded off a wonderful attack with Roderick Briffa and Daniel Farrugia involved, with a curling shot from just outside the area, out of reach for Zammit. Mdina were more adventurous than before the break, which also left some open spaces in the back, with the Gozitans profiting as Borg slammed home the fourth on 77 minutes. The remaining minutes were just a formality however, with the advantage of Victoria never in danger.

Match Report by MFA Match Centre

Read More

Victoria Hotspurs 2 – 0 St George’s

Scorers: 11′ Kurt Borg, 24′ Rondinely Roberto Monteiro

All games of the penultimate Match Day of the 1st phase of the National Amateur League II were played on Sunday, with leaders Victoria Hotspurs and St George’s having the earliest kick off at the Centenary Stadium. The Hotspurs, home and dry, scored two early goals to add another victory to their impressive campaign, which they dominated from the start.

The Gozitan debutants started strongly as expected and took the lead after 11 minutes when an excellent cross by veteran Roderick Briffa found Kurt Borg who made no mistake heading home. On 24 minutes, Rondinely smashed home his 15th league goal of the season after some fine individual play.

Victoria could have made it three on 55 minutes when Emmanuel Mbong fired a rocket that slammed against the post with Clive Caruana rooted. On the hour mark, Mbong saw another effort blocked by Caruana whilst Kurt Borg hit the woodwork just a minute later as Victoria threatened to rack up a big score yet again.

The Hotspurs had another chance on 80 minutes when from an indirect free kick, Ferdinando Apap squared to Daniel Farrugia whose shot was brilliantly saved by Caruana, with the Pioneers eventually managing to keep the score at acceptable levels. Together with Mqabba and Kalkara United, both teams will meet again in the 2nd and final phase of the competition, which will be a single-round Top 4 contest.

Read More

Victoria Hotspurs 4 – 0 Ghaxaq F.C.

Scorers: 1′ Rondinely Roberto Monteiro, 11′ Emmanuel Mbong, 16′ Emmanuel Mbong, 58′ Wellington Valentim De Sousa

Association debutants Victoria Hotspurs from our sister island Gozo keep marching on with another comfortable victory over Ghaxaq, in a match played on Friday night at the Centenary Stadium. With a 3-0 advantage after just 15 minutes play, the match looked to turn out to be a rout but eventually Ghaxaq managed to get their organisation back in place, becoming more adventurous after the team of Oliver Spiteri were reduced to ten, and nine, late in the match, with also Ghaxaq finishing the match with ten.

The league leaders started in usual fashion with the first goal already arriving after barely a minute with efficient Brazilian centre-forward Rondinely rounding off some good work by Shaun Attard from close-range. Emmanuel Mbong scored two in quick succession on 11 and 16 minutes, developing the match into a no-contest. On 22 minutes, the Gozitans were awarded a penalty but Dejan Bogdanovic, laconically, saw his attempt saved by Luke Attard. However, the referee ordered a re-take but Bogdanovic produced another weak spot-kick with Attard saving once more. Until half-time, the Ghaxaq defence somehow managed to get a grip on the countless Hotspurs attacks, with Attard performing several saves to keep the score respectable.

The Hotspurs, with 43-year-old ex-Malta international Roderick Briffa back in the starting line-up, were seeking a fourth goal and were rewarded just before hour with quick substitute Wellington de Sousa rounding off a fine individual move in the box. On 74 minutes, the Gozitans were reduced to ten when Dylan Mercieca allegedly brought down Jayden Borg just outside the box in a fast Ghaxaq counter-attack, which was interpreted as denying Ghaxaq an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Eight minutes later, substitute Joseph-George Vella followed Mercieca into the dressing room for dissent. On 84 minutes, Ian Calleja of Ghaxaq was also dismissed with a second yellow card for a reckless tackle. In the remaining time left, Jason Pace and Christian Grima could have added a few more for the Hotspurs but found Luke Attard on their way, who was undoubtedly Ghaxaq’s best on the night.

Match Report by MFA Match Centre

Read More

Victoria Hotspurs 6 – 1 Ta’ Xbiex

Scorers: Shaun Attard 4′, Kurt Borg 7′, Rondinely Roberto Monteiro 16′, 52′, Jason Pace 58′, Kurt Borg 83′

There was a full program in the Amateur League II last Sunday, with Victoria Hotspurs continuing their 100% record against second from bottom Ta’ Xbiex. The 6-1 victory speaks for itself as the Hotspurs created numerous attacks on the half of the Blacks, a justified final score therefore.

After four minutes the Hotspurs opened the scoring through Shaun Attard who was presented with a simple tap in. Three minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to a header by Kurt Borg. Brazilian striker Rondinely scored Victoria’s third with another tap in on 16 minutes with Ta’ Xbiex chasing shadows. Somehow, the Blacks got a grip on the continues Hotspurs attacks, keeping the score on 3-0 at the half-time whistle.

The fourth goal arrived until in the 52^nd minute with another excellent Rondinely finish, who grabbed his brace. The fifth goal came on the hour mark when substitute Jason Pace scored from close range. Ta’ Xbiex managed a consolation goal on 61 minutes when Gian Carlo Sammut slotted home with a great effort, before Borg scored his second of the afternoon at the Luxol Stadium with seven minutes to play.

Match Report by MFA Match Centre

Read More

Minn Cristian Muscat

Kif bdiet l-imħabba tiegħek lejn il-futbol?

Minn ċkuniti kont nilgħab il-futbol iżda qatt f’livelli għoljin għalkemm għamilt xi żmien nilgħab mal-Victoria Hotspurs stess fil-bidu tas-snin 80. Peró, il-futbol internazzjonali ili nsegwieh mill-qrib ħafna – specjalment dak Taljan – u minn żmien ilu ħafna kont insiefer biex nara logħbiet internazzjonali. Il-futbol  għandu l-maġija li jgħaqqad in-nies. L-emozzjonijiet li tagħtik il-logħba tal-futbol difficli tesperjenzahom x’imkien ieħor. Il-futbol jagħtik il-ferħ u jagħtik l-imrar, eżatt bħall-esperjenzi tal-ħajja. Kull logħba għandha l-istorja tagħha u l-ebda logħba ma hi qatt bħall-oħra – eżatt bħal kif kull ġurnata tal-ħajja tagħna hija differenti mill-oħra. Il-futbol bħall-ħajja. Fl-opinjoni tiegħi min iħobb il-futbol huwa bniedem xxurtjat.     

Iddeskrivi r-rwol tiegħek bħala president ta’ Victoria Hotspurs FC.

Xogħoli huwa li nara li l-klabb tal-Victoria Hotspurs FC qiegħed jiffunzjona tajjeb minn kull aspett l-ewwel mill-aspett amministrattiv fejn inkun irrid illi l-kumitat huwa kompost minn membri serji u validi, it-tieni mill-aspett finanzjarju fejn inkun irrid nara li nonoraw fil-ħin il-kuntratti ta’ kull plejer u tal-istaff tekniku tagħna u t-tielet mill-aspett tekniku, jiġifieri fejn inkun irrid nara li t-tim huwa b’saħħtu biżżejjed biex jikkompeti fid-diviżjoni li nkunu fiha – fil-passat fl-ewwel u t-tieni divizjoni tal-kampjonat t’Għawdex u din is-sena fin-National Amateur League 2. Xogħoli huwa li nara li l-ambjent in ġenerali tal-klabb huwa wieħed pożittiv. Nemmen illi meta jiġi krejat dan l-ambjent armonjuż allura l-partitarji u l-plejers jaghtu l-100% tagħhom. Xogħoli huwa li nżomm l-ambjent ta’ familja magħquda fejn kulħadd jaf x’inhu r-rwol tiegħu u kulħadd iħossu ħolqa minn katina waħda.      

X’inhuma t-tragwardi tagħkom għal dan l-istaġun?

Issa li għandna vantaġġ sostanzjali fil-klassifika ninsabu dejjem eqreb li nikkwalifikaw mal-ewwel erba’ timijiet li se jisfidaw lil xulxin sabiex tnejn minna jiġu promossi fin-National Amateur League 1. Naturalment nispera li l-Victoria Hotspurs FC ikunu wieħed  miż-żewġ timijiet li jiġu promossi.

X’tikkummenta fuq il-kowċ Oliver Spiteri?

Il-kowċ Oliver Spiteri huwa kowċ organizzat, preparat u metikoluż ferm. Bil-kariżma u l-personalitá tieghu jirnexxielu jikkomunika perfettamenti mal-plejers u għaldaqstant jirnexxielu jittrażmetti l-ideat ta’ futbol li għandu lill-plejers, li min-naħa tagħhom jagħmlu minn kollox biex japplikaw ir-rieda tieghu fil-grawnd. Oliver Spiteri huwa komunikatur eċċellenti.     

Kif tqis il-livell tan-National Amateur League 2 u dan kemm hu differenti minn dak tal-Gozo League?

Fl-opinjoni tiegħi, il-livell tal-ewwel divizjoni tal-Gozo League huwa superjuri għal dak tan-NAL 2 – biss, biss tim tal-First f’Għawdex jista’ jilgħab erba’ plejers ta’ nazzjonalitá barranija, waqt illi fin-NAL 2 tista’ tilgħab barrani wieħed biss. Apparti l-aspett tal-barranin, inħoss illi, in ġenerali, il-plejers fil-First f’Għawdex għandhom dik ix-xi ħaġa aktar minn plejer tan-NAL 1 u n-NAL 2 fis-saħħa fiżika, iżda forsi xi ħaġa anqas mill-aspett tekniku u tattiku. Dan mhuxiex tort tal-plejers per se iżda minħabba l-fatt illi ma ngħatawx l-opportunitá li jkunu ttrenjati minn ċkunithom minn kowċis ta’ kalibru professjonali. Evidenza ta’ dan li qieghed ngħid huwa proprju s-sitwazzjoni tat-tim tagħna fejn ħafna plejers Ghawdxin irnexxielhom jgħollu drastikament il-livell tekniku u tattiku tagħhom din is-sena taħt id-diriġenza ta’ kowċ tal-livell ta’ Oliver Spiteri.       

U dak tar-riżorsi (grawnds) fejn titħarrġu u tilagħbu l-logħob tagħkom?

Aħna nitħarrġu fil-grawnd tal-Għarb, f’Għawdex, li huwa grawnd ta’ livell tajjeb. Il-grawnds fejn nilagħbu l-logħob kompetittiv f’Malta huma tajbin ukoll iżda aħna nambixxu li għada, pitgħada, nilagħbu fi grawnds aktar attraenti.

Kif qed tħares lejn il-futur tiegħek fl-amministrazzjoni tal-futbol?

Sakemm il-membri tal-kumitat tal-klabb jibqgħu iriduni president tagħhom allura jiena nirrikambja dik il-fiduċja f’xogħol akbar għall-ġid tal-klabb. Huwa privileġġ kbir tiegħi li nokkupa l-pożizzjoni ta’ president tal-Victoria Hotspurs FC. 

Għaddi messaġġ finali lill-partitarji numerużi ta’ Victoria Hotspurs FC.

Naħseb illi l-partitarji tal-Victoria Hotspurs F.C. qegħdin jgħixu ħolma bħalissa. Naħseb illi s-saħħa tat-tim illi għandna bħalissa qiegħed jagħti pjaċir kbir lill-partitarji tagħna. Nirringrazzja lit-Team Manager tagħna Marvin Buttigieg li fassal dan it-tim daqstant qawwi matul is-sajf li għadda. Lill-partitarji tagħna nappellalhom biex jibqgħu isegwuna bil-ħeġġa kollha – fil-bnazzi u fil-maltemp – u ma jiddispjaċihomx żgur!  Il-ħolma tagħna bħala Victoria Hotspurs FC tkompli!

Read More

Victoria Hotspurs 3 – 0 Dingli Swallows

Scorers: Daniel Farrugia 60′, Kurt Borg 79′, Emmanuel Mbong 80′

The Sunday night kick off at the Centenary Stadium was target for Victoria Hotspurs, who recorded their 14^th league victory of the season, this time over Dingli Swallows who fought bravely and need to be complimented for their work-rate. It took the Hotspurs up to the hour-mark to break the deadlock, which means the tactical plan of Dingli coach Nicolai Caruana initially worked out well, frustrating their opponents extensively.

Nevertheless, it was one way traffic throughout the game. On 19 minutes, Swallows goalkeeper Adam Benjelloun did well to parade a free Kurt Borg header from a precise Daniel Farrugia cross from the right. Six minutes after, Dejan Bogdanovic sent Wellington on a probing run from the left flank, but there was nobody in the right place to finish his excellent cross into the box. Just after the half hour mark, Farrugia served Shaun Attard whose attempt curled wide. On 41 minutes, Kurt Borg came again close with a header which however, once more, failed to hit target. In stoppage time, Owen Yoro Gbekia nearly sent Dingli into half-time with the lead but the French striker failed to shake off his direct marker and concluded weak into the hands of Richard Sammut.

Two minutes after the re-start, substitute Emmanuel Mbong missed a sitter with Benjelloun beaten but his attempt was cleared from the goal-line. On the hour, the Gozitans finally managed to score through an opportunistic goal by club icon Daniel Farrugia, who somehow managed to head the ball behind Benjelloun from a goalmouth melee’. On 64 minutes, Matthias Said rushed through the left flank to cross the ball splendidly towards Kurt Borg who headed wide. Benjelloun was called back into action on 69 minutes, turning a Wellington attempt into a corner after another excellent attack from the left flank. Ten minutes later, Borg doubled with a splendid goal from just outside the box and barely a minute later, Mbong tapped in the third goal in the rebound from a combined Borg and Wellington effort.

Match Report by MFA MatchCentre

Read More

Victoria Hotspurs 1 – 4 Floriana F.C.

Scorer: Ferdinando Apap 2′

Floriana FC had to recover from an early shock against lower-league side Victoria Hotspurs FC on Thursday, ensuring they make it through to the Quarter-Finals of the Meridianbet FA Trophy.

The Hotspurs were the ones to go ahead in the early stages, after they were awarded a corner in the second minute of the game. The ball was whipped into the penalty area, with Ferdinando Apap meeting it well to head it past Floriana’s Yann-Alexandre Fillion and give the Gozitan side a surprise lead.

However, the Greens regrouped and started to get more of the ball. They eventually got their equaliser in the 13th minute, after Jose Fernando Gomes Junior capitalised from some indecisiveness from the Hotspurs backline, and was left with an easy finish to make it 1-1.

Floriana were in complete control from that point on, and they had a number of chances to go in front in the first-half, yet they were being denied by some heroic goalkeeping from Victoria’s Adrian Parnis.

Victoria did have a golden opportunity to retake the lead midway through the first-half, when Kurt Borg’s shot was cleared from off the line by Floriana’s Guy Serge Cedric Yameogo.

At the break, the score was still 1-1.

Following the restart, Floriana looked like a completely different side, and the Greens were much more threatening whenever they made strides forward.

Elvis Mashike Sukisa gave them the lead in the 53rd minute after getting in behind the Victoria defence, slotting the ball past Parnis at the near post.

Floriana got another goal in the 69th minute, this time through Gabriel Agustin Sotomayor Cardozo, who was on the end of an excellent move from the Floriana attack.

The Greens’ win was sealed in the 82nd minute, when youngster Antiago De Flavia was left unmarked in the penalty area, and when the ball was fed to him from the left, he met it with an easy finish to make it 4-1.

Match Report by MFA Match Centre

Read More

Read More