Zammit Lonardelli stresses lack of meritocracy in championship format
The first edition of the 360 Sports Malta Premier, featuring the newly introduced Opening Round and Closing Round format, has drawn widespread scrutiny. The format sparked controversy and raised questions about its fairness and sustainability, particularly as Ħamrun Spartans claimed the title despite not leading the standings in any of the league phases.
Ħamrun’s campaign was marked by inconsistency, losing 10 matches across the season, yet they still emerged champions. Meanwhile, Floriana, who topped the Opening Round Top Six and finished second in two phases, ended the season without silverware. Sliema Wanderers, who topped the Closing Round Top Six, did not even secure European qualification.
Henry Bonello, Ħamrun’s veteran goalkeeper, shared his perspective on the league’s new structure.
“The format made the league longer and more competitive,” Bonello said.
“But that also brings a downside – it becomes harder to recover between matches, especially as I’m getting older. You also have the international window right after the league ends in May or June, so there’s no real rest.”
At 36 years of age, Bonello continues to perform at a high level, but acknowledges the growing physical toll of the extended calendar.
Reflecting on Ħamrun’s title win, Bonello admitted: “It’s a bit strange because we weren’t consistent. But the format gave us multiple chances to get back into the title race, and we took them. That’s the reality.”
Bonello was quick to acknowledge potential bias: “Of course, I might be biased this year since we won it. If next season we’re the ones who lose out despite being consistent, I might feel differently.”
Bonello also raised concerns about the sustainability of the league structure, particularly for players involved in international duty.
“Clubs aren’t built to handle this number of games, and recovery time becomes a real issue. For us, national team players, it’s even tougher. While others rest during breaks, we keep playing. That’s not sustainable,” he said.
Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, who spent the last season at Floriana, echoed Bonello’s concerns, particularly around the format’s fairness.
“This format does not reflect the meritocracy that a league should have. A league should reward consistency, unlike a cup,” he said, pointing to Sliema’s strong performance as an example of how the system fails to do so.
Still, Zammit Lonardelli acknowledged some benefits. “Competitiveness is good – for players and fans. But we need more resources, better infrastructure, and facilities to make this sustainable. Otherwise, the product will suffer in the long run.”
Malta FA president Bjorn Vassallo also weighed in, noting that the format inevitably adds more matches to an already packed domestic calendar. Next season, it will get even busier with the launch of the 125 Years Jubilee Cup, running until December.
“To accommodate this, the men’s Super Cup will move from December to August,” Vassallo said.
He also revealed changes to the international window, with the August/September slot being scrapped as from 2026. Instead, the September/October period will be extended, with Malta set to play four matches.
“That will mean another long pause in the domestic league, which further complicates the schedule,” Vassallo added.
Retirement talks
Despite the demanding schedule, Bonello is not contemplating retirement just yet.
“Of course it’s harder to recover, but I’m still honoured to be called up by Malta. I’ll keep playing as long as I’m selected,” he affirmed.
However, he admitted that if the national call-ups were to stop, it could signal the end of his career.
“That might be the moment I lose the motivation and retire from both club and country,” the seven-time Premier League winner said.
With one year left on his contract at Ħamrun, Bonello aims to win more silverware with the club albeit should he leave at the end of next season, he would still be open to other opportunities if it still allows him to play international football too.
His current goal is to feature in Malta’s crucial UEFA Nations League play-off against Luxembourg in March 2026 which could seal a historic League C promotion.
Ultimately, Bonello summed up his mindset: “The day I feel the same whether I win or lose, that’s when I’ll hang up the gloves.”
