Żabbar St Patrick and Melita have their eyes firmly set on the three points as they look to boost their aspirations of a Top Six Berth when they face off at the Tony Bezzina Stadium this afternoon.
With just three MatchDays to go till the end of the Closing Round first phase, the race for a Top Six spot is getting tighter and tighter with just four points separating sixth-placed Gżira United and bottom side Balzan.
At present Żabbar St Patrick are just one point behind Gżira United while Melita are a further two points adrift, meaning that both clubs need to take maximum spoils from this weekend’s match to keep alive their hopes of forcing their way into the Top Six.
Żabbar have just one win to show from their last four league matches and come into the match on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw against a ten-man Naxxar Lions side which saw them have a player more on the pitch for 70 minutes following the dismissal of Yamaguchi Ito on 21 minutes.
Speaking to the media, coach Aniello Parisi said that his team deserve a better standing in the league table given the quality of football they are producing at the moment.
“We play good football, and I believe we deserve a much better position in the table,” Parisi said.
“At the start of the season, the team struggled, but the club remained supportive, and we managed to overcome those early challenges.
“My focus was on improving the players’ mental attitude, ensuring they stayed physically fit while growing stronger mentally.
“I want to thank the club administration for believing in our work, and I truly believe we can improve even further to ensure we reach our objectives.
Jake Micallef has been one of the revelations for Żabbar and the young player attributed his rise in the confidence shown in him by Parisi.
“This season I am playing in a new role as a holding midfielder and I want to thank the coach for his trust and clear instructions,” Micallef said.
“The mental aspect of the game has been crucial for us as the coach instilled a mindset that every match is like a final, and our supporters always back us.
“All these elements are key in achieving the club’s objectives.”
Melita too are not passing through a very good spell as the newly-promoted side after stunning champions Ħamrun Spartans 2-0 they failed to build on their result, suffering a damaging 5-2 defeat against Naxxar Lions and then were held to a 1-1 draw against Balzan.
Coach Clive Mizzi admitted that Melita have been committing too many mistakes in recent weeks and now have the opportunity to put their hopes back on track with a win on this afternoon.
““We prepare ourselves for every match to the maximum, both mentally and physically,” Mizzi said.
“Against Naxxar, we didn’t perform well, but we bounced back.
“There has been inconsistency across all teams, so we need to focus on our own work.
“We are addressing both individual and collective mistakes, knowing that overcoming certain situations in matches will lead to better performances.
“On Saturday, we face Żabbar, a strong side that imposes its game well. We are prepared to rise again to the occasion, we are determined to do so and the 90 minutes on Saturday can offer us that opportunity.”
Kurt Bondin has been moved into a holding midfielder role by coach Mizzi this season and said that he is enjoying himself.
“This isn’t the same role I used to play, but I’m grateful to Coach Clive for trusting me and helping me mature,” Bondin said.
“His guidance and trust have allowed me to gain experience and contribute to the team’s success.
“With only three matches left to the end of this league phase, every game is crucial in determining where we finish and we have no margin for error.”
“These final three matches of the league phase are especially important as we push to secure a Top Six spot, starting on Saturday against Żabbar St Patrick”
