Over 10,000 supporters expected to watch match at National Stadium
Ħamrun Spartans and Birkirkara are set for their biggest match of the season when they face off in the Finalissima of the 360 Sports Malta Premier at the National Stadium on Saturday evening (kick-off: 6pm).
The anticipation for Saturday’s final has reached fever pitch among both clubs’ fans as tickets for tonight’s showdown have been selling like hot cakes, and it is expected that over 10,000 fans are set to throng the National Stadium to watch their heroes attempt to secure the title crown.
Both Ħamrun Spartans and Birkirkara head into Saturday’s Finalissima in great spirit after battling victories over Floriana and Sliema Wanderers in the Top Four semi-finals in midweek and will be keen to finish the job and take home the title crown.
For the Spartans, Saturday’s match is an opportunity to secure their 11th title crown and their third in succession, a scenario that very few people believed could happen for much of this season, given the lack of consistency shown by the team and which cost the job of former coach Alessandro Zinnari.
The arrival of Winston Muscat in February has inevitably helped them to steady the ship as particularly in the Closing Round Top Six, the Spartans have shown an improved consistency in results that kept them in the title race.
“This is a do-or-die match for both sides,” Muscat said.
“There will be one team going home with the trophy, and it will be the team that commits the least number of mistakes that will prevail.
“Given all the problems the team has gone through this season, nobody gave us a chance that we could successfully defend our title. However, one has to keep in mind that in the Closing Round Top Six, it was our team who showed the highest consistency.
“Still, that will count for nothing as we still have one more step to take to finish the job. But the determination and fighting spirit shown by the players in recent weeks fills me with a lot of confidence that we can reach our ultimate objective and win the Premier League title.”
Asked what kind of challenge he is expecting from Birkirkara on Saturday, Muscat said: “Birkirkara should be congratulated for what has been a fantastic season for them. If you look where they were last season to reaching Saturday’s final and are in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, it’s a huge margin of improvement.
“They are a very physical side and are very dangerous in set-pieces, so we need to be ready. Added to that, they have two or three players who are capable of resolving the match single-handedly.
“But we will be ready for this challenge as the players have great motivation to answer their critics.”
Fans’ support
On his part, Steve Borg, the Ħamrun Spartans captain, said that these are the games every player wants to play and said the team is determined
to repay the support of their fans by bringing the trophy home.
“The Ħamrun Spartans fans are always behind us in big numbers and one can say the same thing for the Birkirkara supporters,” Borg said.
“The energy that our fans transmit to the team is something difficult to explain, and that is what make football such a beautiful game.
“Our fans have been behind us in both the good and bad times this season, and we want to give them something they will remember for the rest of their lives.
“It’s not going to be easy, because a final is always a final. But we need to ensure we gave our best possible performance, and I hope the best team on the day wins.”
On the other hand, Birkirkara are dreaming of capping what has been a really positive campaign with the one trophy that has eluded them for a few years, the Premier League title.
Coach Stefano De Angelis said that the team is geared up to finish the campaign in the best possible way and is hopeful they can show the same spirit and determination that has carried them to today’s final.
“This season we started from scratch, and to manage to go all the way and reach the league final against the strongest side in Maltese football further amplifies the importance of the occasion for us,” De Angelis said.
“We are well prepared for this final, and while we know it’s going to be a tough battle, I have full faith in my players to deliver the goods on the day.
“Our biggest asset has been our determination to never give up in tough situations and we need to show the same spirit against Ħamrun Spartans.
“Our strongest strength is our intensity and fighting spirit, but if we don’t bring those qualities on the field, we risk losing the match. It’s important that we are focused right from the start and make the most of our strengths.
“Scoring goals from set-pieces has always been our strength and we need to make sure that we take the chances our ways as a single episode can decide this final.”
Alexander Satariano has been the stand-out performer for Birkirkara this season and he made no secret that he is raring to go and play in what he describes the biggest match of the season.
“For us at Birkirkara, this is the biggest final our team is playing in recent years,” he said.
“We did play in the FA Trophy final, but to be in a position to win the league is far bigger.
“On a personal level, this is also the biggest game of my career and I am ready to give my all. We are going to play in front of a big crowd, and the supporters transmit a lot of energy to me to perform to the utmost of my ability.
“We need to approach the match with positivity and try and enjoy the pressure of the match and take it from there.”
