Season 2025-26 may not have provided any silverware for Mbong’s club, Ħamrun Spartans, but on a personal level, the speedy winger established himself as one of the country’s best talents.
Mbong was one of the key figures who helped Ħamrun Spartans secure an historic qualification in the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League, during which they secured a famous 3-1 win over Gibraltar side Lincoln Red Imps.
In the domestic scene, Mbong played all the matches for the Spartans in the YoHealth Malta Premier League and ended the campaign as the league’s top scorer with 14 goals.
Mbong’s performances have been recognised not only by his fellow peers when being named as the MFPA Player of the Year but also by the sporting media and the local governing body of football after lifting the MFA Player of the Year Award.
“I am really lost for words,” Mbong told Times of Malta after receiving the award.
“I believe that I had a great 2025-26 season, and that is mirrored by my statistics. Thankfully, I managed to stay fit and played consistently well.
“It has been really a great season for me, and it’s a pity that at Ħamrun Spartans we failed to win a major honour.
“Most of all, I’m grateful to my wife and my family for all their support as well as my club and team-mates, as without them, I am not standing here today with this trophy in hand.”
One major feature that stood out in Mbong’s game this season was his versatility.
The 28-year-old has been trusted by his coach Giacomo Modica to operate in the striker position, and he repaid his faith with a very prolific campaign that saw him score 14 goals and finish as the league’s top scorer.
Mbong said that he was not surprised with his success rate in front of goal as he had already played as a forward in his youth days.
“Playing as a forward and scoring goals is something that I always had in my game,” Mbong said.
“When I was young, I was deployed as a forward with Hibernians,” he said.
“The only reason I switched to a winger was that at that time Hibernians had brought in Brazilian striker Tarabai, and Jurgen Degabriele also emerged into the first team and I played many different positions.
“My coaches always appreciated my speed and power in my game and always looked to maximise my qualities for the good of the team, and I never had a problem with that.
“My main objective in every match I play is to create chances and try to score goals so that I preserve my place in the first team.
“This has been a very satisfactory season for me as a forward, and I firmly believe that there is more to come from me.”
Hard work
Mbong revealed that one of his secrets behind his development into one of Malta’s best forwards was that he always worked very hard and, more importantly, always tried to learn from better players.
“As a footballer, I never stop working to become an even better player,” Mbong said.
“Football is the most important thing in my life after my family.
“When you win a major honour, there is the danger that you take it for granted that you have reached the top and don’t need to work hard. But I am not like that, I’m obsessed with trying to become a better player.
“I don’t know how to relax, and I’m always pushing to improve. I try to learn a lot from better players. When former Roma forward Doumbia came to Ħamrun a few years ago I used to speak a lot to him and watch him train to try and learn from his movement.
“This time, I am doing the same with Damir Ceter, who has Serie A experience. I believe that you always need to push for more, and my goal is to reach higher levels. I believe that I have entered the peak of my career, and my goal is to reach higher levels of performance next season.”
Mbong’s biggest disappointment is failing to win a major honour with Ħamrun Spartans and is keen to make amends next season.
“The goal is always to try all the major honours and to finish the season empty-handed was very disappointing for us at Ħamrun Spartans,” Mbong said.
“In the past six seasons, we always ended the campaign with at least one honour so it’s not normal for us to miss out on everything.
“I do not doubt that the club is working hard to build a stronger side for next season and try to fix what was not working in the team. The goal has to be to learn from our mistakes and challenge for every honour next season.”
Mbong made it clear that the first goal for Ħamrun Spartans is to emulate last summer’s historic achievement, where they reached the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League.
“When you taste something special like to playing in a League Phase of UEFA club competition, you will always want to experience it again,” Mbong said.
“Playing against players of high standards in front of huge crowds around Europe is something really nice, and to be the first Maltese club to achieve it makes it even more special.
“It was a great learning experience not just for us, the players, but also the club, which can see how we can grow further. I am really looking forward to helping the team show its value in Europe.”
