Ħamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica has urged his players to stay grounded ahead of their biggest night in European football, insisting that while the stakes are huge, qualification must not become an obsession.
The Malta champions are looking to secure an historic qualification of the UEFA Conference League and can attain this goal if they avoid defeat at the LNK Sporta Parks Stadium this evening (kick-off: 7pm).
“Stakes of this match? A lot, but most importantly it does not become an obsession as otherwise it becomes a problem,” Modica told the Times of Malta in a news conference
“Obviously, it is massive for Ħamrun and Maltese football because it would help the movement grow, but we don’t want to put a lot of pressure on ourselves.
“This is a massive competition, a sporting journey for us. Pressure is for something else, like being involved in difficult situations that life provides you every day. Obviously, we came here to do well and represent Malta as best as possible, so for us it would help us gain more attention at international level thanks to the six matches in the UEFA Conference League main phase.
“Most importantly, make fewer errors than last week.”
The Spartans carry a slender advantage into the second leg after their 1-0 victory in last week’s opener at the National Stadium.
That game was shaped by poor pitch conditions, but Ħamrun seized their moment when 21-year-old forward Saliou Thioune struck early in the second half. His goal, born of the team’s aggressive pressing, gives Modica’s side a vital edge.
Thioune, a summer signing, has already played a decisive role in the club’s European run.
“This is one of my first experiences outside Italy,” he said.
“Ħamrun deserve to qualify because of the passion shown and the backing of the club. We hope that against RFS we reap our dividends.”
The Senegal-born striker’s arrival at Ħamrun has been a turning point. Nurtured in Italian football with Cittadella, he later played in Switzerland with Yverdon, FC Paradiso and FC Locarno before making the move to Malta.
Thioune’s Spartans debut came in the Champions League first qualifying round first leg tie against FK Zalgiris, when he was introduced in stoppage time.
A week later, he left a major mark, scoring in the return leg to seal a 2-0 victory over the Lithuanian champions – a result that guaranteed Ħamrun a spot in the UEFA Conference League play-offs.
That goal now stands alongside last week’s winner as evidence of a player thriving on the European stage.
For Ħamrun, the play-offs are not entirely new territory.
Second chance
In 2022, under Branko Nisevic, they reached the same stage before falling to Serbian heavyweights Partizan Belgrade.
That tie was effectively decided in the first leg, when they lost 4-1 in Belgrade. Still, the Spartans restored pride at home with a 3-3 draw, exiting 7-4 on aggregate.
That campaign gave Maltese football a taste of European respectability. But this time the sense is stronger as Ħamrun’s rise has been steadier, their squad deeper, and their belief higher.
Modica highlighted the importance of their victory over Zalgiris earlier this summer, which secured them a place in the Conference League play-offs regardless of subsequent results.
“From a personal point of view, we started to build a lot of foundations. Obviously, we knew that we had to play in Europe, like the UEFA Champions League, since Ħamrun won the domestic title last season, so it motivated us to come here, and I formed new relationships with the people working at the club,” he said.
“The Zalgiris match was crucial to arrive at this stage, and those matches were significant for our competitiveness. The team improved a lot from a technical and tactical point of view, and I also believe we could have also qualified against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
“Maybe international experience hindered us from achieving a huge result against the Israeli side. Maybe against Dynamo Kyiv and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, we respected their history a lot, but we could still give more than we did.
“Against RFS, on Thursday, is the most important match, and we need to give everything. No budget measures count. Now what counts is the passion and determination to measure ourselves with another domestic champion to qualify and secure such a dream.”
Beyond the team itself, this match carries significance for the entire Maltese football community. Qualification would mean six guaranteed fixtures against European opposition, unprecedented visibility, and a financial boost that could filter into the wider game.
While Ħamrun are well aware of the strength of RFS, the only Baltic club to reach the main stage of UEFA competitions twice, including a Europa League campaign that featured victory over Ajax, belief is high within the camp.
This evening in Riga, they will attempt to turn a dream into reality.
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