Ben Camille experienced the challenges of playing golf in this week’s edition of GAME ON.
He met with J.J. Micallef, who is one of Malta’s leading golfers, who gave a quick insight into the sport.
Micallef said that when one plays golf, he has to take a lot of elements into consideration, including the kind of grass on that particular course and the strength and direction of the wind among others.
“A golfer normally has 14 different clubs that help him go through all sorts of conditions and challenges during play,” Micallef said.
“I look at this sport as an individual challenge – it’s just me and the ball. Everything depends on how I play the ball and the opponent can do nothing to make me play badly.
“When I was young I started to practise tennis at the Marsa Sports Club but when I went into golf, my coach told my parents that I should just focus on golf and since then it’s become an integral part of my life even though nobody in my family played the game.”
Camille also spoke with Doreen Balzan, who not only forms part of the Malta Golf Club but is also the women’s competition secretary.
Balzan admits that her biggest goal is to try and attract more female players to the sport.
“I would love to see more women and children take up the sport,” Balzan said.
“At the moment, we have over 600 members in our club but only 20 per cent of that are women.
“Golf is a very fun sport and provides an opportunity to keep yourself healthy and move a bit when walking through the course so it should attract more female players to it.”
Hottest games predictions
The challenge between Ben Camille and Times of Malta Sports Editor Valhmor Camilleri is heating up, as they continue trying to predict the results of the hottest games happening this weekend.
How did they do last week?
Valhmor Camilleri managed to extend his lead after week 10 of the hottest games of the week challenge.
In fact, Valhmor Camilleri managed to predict that Inter would beat Juventus 1-0 in Turin last weekend to bag 40 points.
On the other hand, Ben Camille failed to score in any of the three hottest games.
Total Scores after week 10
In the overall standings, Valhmor Camilleri leads the way with 410 points while Ben Camille is trailing with 320 points.
We will keep you updated with a tally of their scores every week. A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
Hibernians vs Floriana (Saturday at 16.00)
Leaders Hibernians face nearest rivals Floriana in a crucial clash that could have a huge bearing on who will win this year’s Premier League title.
The Paolites are currently enjoying a two-point gap over the Greens and will be aware that a win on Saturday would push them closer to the Premier League standings.
Hibernians come into the match on the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Ħamrun Spartans last Monday and coach Stefano Sanderra will hope for a strong reaction from his players as they look to rubbertamp their authority in the Premier League standings.
On the other hand, Floriana will be hellbent to take some revenge over the Paolites who had trounced the Greens 4-1 in the final match from the opening phase.
The Greens, too, had little to smile about as they are coming from back-to-back defeats in the league and this top-of-the-table clash is the perfect opportunity for them to show that they hae what it takes to go on an claim their second league title in the last three years.
Ben Camille’s prediction: Hibernians vs Floriana 1-0.
Valhmor Camilleri’s prediction: Hibernians vs Floriana 2-1.
Manchester City vs Liverpool (Sunday at 17.30)
Liverpool and Manchester City lock horns in a fixture that could decide the destination of the Premier League title.
Sunday’s enticing encounter at the Etihad is the standout match of the season so far as the two dominant forces in English football battle for supremacy.
Just one point separates the pair, with Liverpool – 14 points behind City at one stage – having relentlessly hunted down their rivals.
Manchester City have barely stumbled in their pursuit of a fourth Premier League crown in five years but a few dropped points here and there have let Liverpool back into the title race.
Klopp’s men, chasing an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this season, are breathing down City’s necks after a remorseless 10-game winning run in the league.
The German knows his side can ill afford to lose at the Etihad — where they have not won in the league since 2015 – but does not feel victory in Manchester would be decisive.
“If you win against City, which is already difficult enough, I think nobody would think, ‘OK, that’s it decided’ because of the quality of the opponent,” he said.
“We play now against the best team in the world, that’s how it is, but we will give it a try anyway.”
Ben Camille’s prediction: Man. City vs Liverpool 2-0.
Valhmor Camilleri’s prediction: Man. City vs Liverpool 1-1.
Inter vs Verona (Saturday at 18.00)
Inter will be looking to put some pressure on leaders AC Milan and their nearest pursuers Napoli when they host Verona on Saturday.
Inter’s backs-against-the-wall win at Juve last weekend closed the gap between them and Milan to four points but the bizarre way they snatched the three points from their biggest rivals hardly speaks to a side heading into the run-in with form on their side.
Their only goal was the result of a retaken penalty which looked soft to begin with and Simone Inzaghi’s side did not muster another a shot on target all game.
Their opponents at the San Siro on Saturday are Verona, who with Giovanni Simeone, Gianluca Caprari and Antonin Barak have the firepower to cause a shock against an Inter team whose title defence has stalled after looking champions-elect at the start of February.
Ben Camille’s prediction: Inter vs Verona 3-0.
Valhmor Camilleri’s prediction: Inter vs Verona 2-0.
Do you reckon you can beat Ben and Valhmor? Let us know your predictions for this weekend’s hottest matches in the comments below.
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