From left: Ħamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica, captain Henry Bonello, Bjorn Kristensen, the Hibs skipper, and coach Branko Nisevic pose with the Super Cup. Photo: Jonathan Borg
Ħamrun Spartans will go in search of their third successive Super Cup title when they take on FA Trophy winners Hibernians in Tuesday’s showdown at the National Stadium (kick-off: 3pm).
This year’s showdown brings together the two teams who won the last three editions of the competition.
Hibernians lifted the trophy in 2022 when they overcame Floriana in a penalty shoot-out at the Gozo Stadium after the match had ended in a 0-0 draw.
The following year, Ħamrun Spartans secured a commanding 4-0 win over Birkirkara before retaining the trophy in 2024 when overcoming Sliema Wanderers 2-0.
The Malta champions will start as favourites to land their eighth success in the annual competition, but will surely not underestimate the threat posed by the Paolites, who looked a rejuvenated side in recent weeks.
Henry Bonello says winning the Super Cup is the first step for Ħamrun Spartans to transform this season into a memorable one. Video: Jonathan Borg
This season, Ħamrun Spartans met just once in the YoHealth Malta Premier League, with the Reds coming out on top 2-0.
However, Ħamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica is not giving too much importance to previous clashes between the two sides and says that a Cup final holds a completely different dynamic.
“The preparation for the match starts with the recovery process of the players who played two days ago,” Modica said. “We played on Saturday, and the players had very little time to recover.
“A final is a completely different match to the others, as everything is decided in those 90 minutes. We need to find the energies, both physically and mentally, to ensure the give the best version of ourselves.
“So far, the team has performed really well since the start of the season, and we need to continue on this road.
Branko Nisevic says Ħamrun Spartans may be the favourites but Hibs will try and find a way to win.
“We know that it’s going to be a very challenging test for us as we are facing a very tough team, so our approach has to be perfect and give them the respect they deserve.
“At the end of the day, who performs best in this final will lift the trophy; it’s as simple as that.”
On his part, Ħamrun Spartans captain Henry Bonello says that nobody in the Ħamrun Spartans squad needs any extra motivation to perform at their best against Hibernians today, as the lure of winning a trophy should be enough to push them to their limits.
“When you are playing a cup final, you don’t need to be motivated as winning trophies is what it’s all about for a football player,” Bonello said.
“Personally, I am really looking forward to this match. We know it’s going to be tough, and we need to be ready for it. In such occasions, the mindset is very clear, you go out to win.
“For us, the Super Cup represents the first of three competitions that we want to win this season, and we want to start this journey in the best possible way.”
Bjorn Kristensen, Hibernians captain, underlined the importance of the occasion, describing the Super Cup as “a very important match both for the club and for the supporters.”
He acknowledged Ħamrun’s strength despite their squad changes, noting that “they changed a lot of players but they still remain a very good side.”
Kristensen added that finals are often unpredictable. “A final is a 50–50 affair. We will give our best and see where it takes us.”
Speaking about Hibernians’ transfer activity, the skipper was positive about the impact of the new arrivals.
“I think we have improved a lot. The new signings give us more squad depth, and this will allow us to be more competitive.”
Coach Branko Nisevic described the Super Cup as an early chance to set the tone for the season. “It is an opportunity for both teams to win the first silverware of the campaign. “Although it is usually a curtain-raiser, fixture congestion and Ħamrun’s European commitments meant it had to be played at this stage.”
Nisevic stressed that his side will approach the match with full commitment, while also highlighting some selection concerns.
“We want to give our best, but we still need to assess player availability due to the recent injuries we have suffered. We also have some newcomers who are still adapting.”
Acknowledging the challenge ahead, he admitted that Ħamrun start as favourites, but drew confidence from past success.
“They are favourites, just as they were in last season’s FA Trophy. We still managed to win that semi-final, and we will work hard to see if we can repeat that achievement.”
