2022–23 in Gozitan football
Gozo
2023 Island Games
First Division
Nadur Youngsters
Second Division
S.K. Victoria Wanderers
G.F.A. Cup
Nadur Youngsters
Super Cup
Ghajnsielem
First Division Knock-Out Cup
Nadur Youngsters
Second Division Knock-Out Cup
Xagħra United
Second Division Challenge Cup
S.K. Victoria Wanderers

The 2022–23 season was the annual competitive association football season in Gozo organised by the Gozo Football Association for 2022–23.

Overview

During the 2022-23 football season, the Gozo national football team participated in the 2023 Island Games.[1]

As for domestic club football, 14 Gozitan clubs participated in the 2022–23 Gozitan football season, with 8 playing in First Division, the top division in Gozo, and the remaining six in the Second Division.

The Gozo Football Association also held a number of cup competitions, namely:

  • the G.F.A. Cup, a knock-out cup which was contested by all Gozitan clubs;
  • the Super Cup, contested by the holders of the First Division and the G.F.A. Cup;
  • the First Division Knock-Out, a knock-out cup contested by clubs playing in the First Division;
  • the Second Division Knock-Out, a knock-out cup contested by clubs playing in the Second Division; and
  • the Second Division Challenge Cup, a cup contested by clubs playing in the Second Division.

The draw for all the competitions organised by the Gozo Football Association for the 2022–23 season was held on 22 July 2022.[2] All matches organised by the Gozo Football Association were held at either the Gozo Stadium or the Kerċem Ajax Stadium. No matches were held at the Sannat Ground, given that it was still being refurbished.

Gozitan clubs also participated in the knock-out cups organised by the Malta Football Association. Indeed, the clubs of the First Division participated in the 2022–23 Maltese FA Trophy[3] whereas the clubs of the Second Division participated in the National Amateur Cup.[4]

2023 Island Games

Squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Island Games by coach Mark Buttigieg.[5]

Caps and goals correct as of 20 June 2023

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Steve Sultana (1990-09-07) 7 September 1990 0 0 Gozo Nadur Youngsters
12 1GK Daniel Spiteri (1996-05-16) 16 May 1996 0 0 Gozo Kerċem Ajax
2 2DF Sam Frank Bajada (1988-01-16) 16 January 1988 0 0 Gozo S.K. Victoria Wanderers
3 2DF Ferdinando Apap (captain) (1992-07-29) 29 July 1992 3 0 Malta Hibernians
4 2DF Lawrence Grima (1995-12-31) 31 December 1995 0 0 Gozo Qala Saints
5 2DF Neil Camilleri (2003-05-02) 2 May 2003 0 0 Gozo S.K. Victoria Wanderers
6 2DF Manuel Tabone (1989-05-10) 10 May 1989 0 0 Gozo Nadur Youngsters
11 2DF Kenneth Mercieca (1987-10-29) 29 October 1987 1 0 Gozo Xagħra United
13 2DF Gennaro Hill (1996-04-20) 20 April 1996 0 0 Gozo Nadur Youngsters
16 2DF Kurt Grima (2000-12-17) 17 December 2000 0 0 Gozo Għajnsielem
18 2DF Ian Xuereb (1993-10-19) 19 October 1993 0 0 Gozo Nadur Youngsters
8 3MF Dejan Bogdanovic (2003-06-29) 29 June 2003 0 0 Gozo Xewkija Tigers
10 3MF Shaun Attard (1994-07-25) 25 July 1994 0 0 Gozo Qala Saints
14 3MF Michael Bezzina (1992-04-09) 9 April 1992 3 1 Gozo Xagħra United
15 3MF Chris Mercieca (1997-06-07) 7 June 1997 0 0 Malta Qrendi
17 3MF Stefan Cassar (1997-10-29) 29 October 1997 0 0 Gozo Nadur Youngsters
7 4FW Jordi Parnis (2000-01-19) 19 January 2000 0 0 Gozo Qala Saints
9 4FW Sam Harland (1995-09-14) 14 September 1995 0 0 Gozo S.K. Victoria Wanderers
19 4FW Matthias Mercieca (2003-08-20) 20 August 2003 0 0 Gozo Xewkija Tigers
20 4FW Joseph Zammit (2001-01-18) 18 January 2001 0 0 Gozo Nadur Youngsters

Group 4

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Jersey Jersey 3300100109
Gozo Gozo 32014136
Menorca Menorca 31025503
Saint Helena Saint Helena 3003013-130

Fixtures

9 July 2023 Group 4Jersey1–0 Gozo Saint Sampson, Guernsey
15:30 CET Sol Solomon 36' Report Stadium: The Corbet Field
10 July 2023 Group 4 Gozo 3–0Saint HelenaSaint Sampson, Guernsey
15:30 CET Keith Yon 27' (o.g.)
Samuel Harland 36'
Jordi Parnis 80'		 Report Stadium: The Track
11 July 2023 Group 4Menorca0–1 Gozo Saint Martin, Guernsey
11:30 CET Report Jordi Parnis 53' Stadium: Blanche Pierre Lane
13 July 2023 Match for 5th placeGuernsey1–0 Gozo Saint Martin, Guernsey
15:30 CET Keene Domaille 52' Report Stadium: Blanche Pierre Lane

First Division

First Division
Dates9 September 2022 – 22 April 2023
RelegatedVictoria Hotspurs
Sannat Lions
Matches played80
Goals scored265 (3.31 per match)
Top goalscorerBrazil Marcelo Barbosa (Nadur Youngsters)
16 goals
Biggest home winGħajnsielem 6–0 Sannat Lions
Kerċem Ajax 6–0 Sannat Lions
Biggest away winSannat Lions 0–8 Għajnsielem
Highest scoringKerċem Ajax 6–3 Għajnsielem
← 2021–22
2023–24 →
All statistics correct as of 26 March 2023.

The 2022–23 season was the 73rd edition of the Gozitan First Division. It was played between 9 September 2022 and 16 April 2023 and was contested by eight teams.

Club Location Position in 2021–22
GħajnsielemGħajnsielem2nd
Kerċem AjaxKerċem3rd
Nadur YoungstersNadur1st
Oratory YouthsVictoria6th
Qala SaintsQala1st in Second Division
Sannat LionsSannat7th
Victoria HotspursVictoria4th
Xewkija TigersXewkija5th

In terms of format, the First Division was split into two phases. In the first part of the season, the eight teams of the First Division faced each other played in a double round-robin format. Thereafter, the First Division was split into two divisions, with the top four at the end of the first part of the season qualifying for the Top Four and the bottom four qualifying for the Playout.[2]

Each club in both divisions played each other twice, with the winner of the Top Four being crowned winners of the 2022-23 First Division, the club ending bottom of the Playout being relegated to the 2023-24 Second Division, and the club ending second from bottom getting the chance to defend the top flight status by qualifying for the Promotion/Relegation Play-off.[2]

Ultimately, Nadur Youngsters won the league for a record 14th time,[6] Sannat Lions got relegated, and Victoria Hotspurs ended up penultimate and vied for their top division status in the Promotion/Relegation Play-off, which they lost against Xagħra United.

First Phase

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Nadur Youngsters 14 10 3 1 34 11 +23 33 Qualification for the Top Four
2 Qala Saints 14 8 4 2 31 16 +15 28
3 Kerċem Ajax 14 8 3 3 28 14 +14 27
4 Xewkija Tigers 14 6 3 5 19 11 +8 21
5 Għajnsielem 14 4 3 7 26 25 +1 15 Qualification for the Play-Out
6 Oratory Youths 14 3 5 6 15 22 −7 14
7 Victoria Hotspurs 14 2 3 9 21 35 −14 9
8 Sannat Lions 14 2 2 10 11 51 −40 8
Updated to match(es) played on 29 March 2023. Source: Gozo FA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (only if deciding champion); 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.

Results

Home \ Away GĦJ KRĊ ORY NDR QLS SNT VCH XWK
Għajnsielem — 0–0 1–2 2–4 1–1 6–0 2–1 1–1
Kerċem Ajax 6–3 — 2–0 0–2 0–2 6–0 3–0 1–0
Oratory Youths 2–0 0–1 — 0–2 0–3 2–0 2–2 0–1
Nadur Youngsters 3–1 0–0 2–2 — 2–0 2–1 3–0 3–1
Qala Saints 4–0 3–3 4–1 0–0 — 3–1 3–1 1–3
Sannat Lions 0–8 1–3 2–2 0–6 1–3 — 1–1 0–7
Victoria Hotspurs 1–0 3–2 2–2 3–5 3–4 2–3 — 1–3
Xewkija Tigers 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 29 March 2023. Source: Gozo FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second Phase

Top Four

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts NDR QLS KRĊ XWK
1 Nadur Youngsters (C) 20 13 4 3 47 21 +26 43 — 1–2 4–1 2–2
2 Qala Saints 20 11 6 3 42 25 +17 39 3–2 — 1–3 2–0
3 Kerċem Ajax 20 9 5 6 34 26 +8 32 1–2 2–2 — 0–0
4 Xewkija Tigers 20 7 6 7 26 19 +7 27 1–2 1–1 3–1 —
Source: Gozo FA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (only if deciding champion); 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.
(C) Champions

Play-Out

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts GĦJ ORY VCH SNT
1 Għajnsielem 20 8 3 9 39 36 +3 27 — 2–0 2–3 2–1
2 Oratory Youths 20 6 5 9 24 33 −9 23 5–1 — 2–1 0–3
3 Victoria Hotspurs (Q) 20 4 4 12 32 45 −13 16 Qualification to Promotion/Relegation Play-off 1–2 3–0 — 1–2
4 Sannat Lions (R) 20 4 3 13 21 62 −41 15 Relegation to the 2023–24 Gozitan Second Division 1–4 1–2 2–2 —
Source: Gozo FA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (only if deciding champion); 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated

Promotion/Relegation Play-off

The Promotion/Relegation Play-off was contested by Victoria Hotspurs, who finished second from bottom in the First Division, and Xagħra United, who ended runners-up in the Second Division. Xagħra United won the match 2–1, thus winning the right to participate in the upcoming First Division and condemning Victoria Hotspurs to Second Division football.

Details

Victoria Hotspurs1–2Xagħra United
Andrea Debrincat 40' Report Kenneth Mercieca 18'
Michael Bezzina 25'
Referee: Darryl Agius

Second Division

Second Division
Dates16 October 2022 – 19 March 2023
ChampionsS.K. Victoria Wanderers (6)
PromotedS.K. Victoria Wanderers
Xagħra United
Matches played45
Goals scored153 (3.4 per match)
Biggest home winS.K. Victoria Wanderers 5–0 Għarb Rangers
Biggest away winMunxar Falcons 0–5 S.K. Victoria Wanderers
Highest scoringGħarb Rangers 3–5 St. Lawrence Spurs
← 2021–22
2023–24 →
All statistics correct as of 25 March 2023.

The 2022–23 season was the 61st edition of the Gozitan Second Division. It was played between 16 October 2022 and 19 March 2023 and was contested by six teams.

Club Location Position in 2021–22
Għarb RangersGħarb6th
Munxar FalconsMunxar2nd
S.K. Victoria WanderersVictoria8th in First Division
St. Lawrence SpursSan Lawrenz4th
Xagħra UnitedXagħra5th
Żebbuġ RoversŻebbuġ3rd

Each team played each other 3 times, thus playing 15 matches in total. S.K. Victoria Wanderers won the Second Division for the sixth time whereas Xagħra United ended runners-up and qualified for the 2022-23 Promotion/Relegation Play-off.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 S.K. Victoria Wanderers (P) 15 11 2 2 38 13 +25 35 Promotion to the 2023–24 Gozitan First Division
2 Xagħra United 15 9 2 4 29 17 +12 29 Qualification for the Promotion/Relegation Play-off
3 Żebbuġ Rovers 15 7 1 7 29 24 +5 22
4 Munxar Falcons 15 5 4 6 21 31 −10 19
5 St. Lawrence Spurs 15 4 4 7 18 24 −6 16
6 Għarb Rangers 15 0 5 10 18 44 −26 5
Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2023. Source: Gozo FA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (only if deciding champion); 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.
(P) Promoted

Results

Matches 1 to 10

Home \ Away GĦB MXR SKV STL XGR ŻBĠ
Għarb Rangers — 2–2 2–5 3–5 0–3 0–3
Munxar Falcons 2–2 — 2–3 0–0 1–3 1–0
S.K. Victoria Wanderers 1–0 3–1 — 0–0 1–0 3–0
St. Lawrence Spurs 0–0 1–2 0–4 — 1–0 2–3
Xagħra United 2–2 2–2 1–0 2–0 — 2–3
Żebbuġ Rovers 3–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 2–3 —
Source: Gozo FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 11 to 15

Home \ Away GĦB MXR SKV STL XGR ŻBĠ
Għarb Rangers — 1–2 2–5
Munxar Falcons — 0–5 2–3 0–4
S.K. Victoria Wanderers 5–0 — 4–3 2–1
St. Lawrence Spurs 1–1 — 0–1
Xagħra United 5–2 1–0 — 0–3
Żebbuġ Rovers 1–2 0–1 —
Source: Gozo FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

G.F.A. Cup

G.F.A. Cup
Tournament details
CountryGozo
Dates22 October 2022 - 23 April 2023
Teams14
Defending championsNadur Youngsters(9)[7]
Tournament statistics
Matches played13
Goals scored67 (5.15 per match)
All statistics correct as of 23 April 2023.

The GFA Cup was contested by all the fourteen clubs of First Division and the Second Division.

Out of the fourteen participants, the first two which were drawn, namely Nadur Youngsters and S.K. Victoria Wanderers, got a bye and qualified directly to the Quarter Finals. Conversely, the remaining twelve teams were drawn to contest the Preliminary Round, with the winners of the six ties joining Nadur Youngsters and S.K. Victoria Wanderers in the Quarter Finals.[2]

Preliminary Round

22 October 2022 Sannat Lions (1)1–10 Qala Saints (1) Kerċem Ajax Stadium

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final

Details

Nadur Youngsters6-0Għajnsielem
Marcelo Barbosa 7', 23', 65' (pen.)
Stefan Cassar 21'
Igor Nedeljkovic 28', 61'		 Report
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele

Super Cup

Super Cup

The 2022 Gozitan Super Cup was the 32nd Maltese Super Cup, an annual football match played between the title holders of the Gozitan First Division and the G.F.A. Cup.

It was contested on 21 September 2022 by Nadur Youngsters, who won both the 2021-22 First Division and the 2021-22 G.F.A. Cup, and Ghajnsielem, who were runners-up in both competitions.[8]

Details

Nadur Youngsters2–4Għajnsielem
Joseph Zammit 25'
Adrian Parnis 72' (o.g.)		 Report Patrick Dos Santos Cruz 2' 68' (pen)
Daniel Farrugia 45'
Shaun Attard 90+4'
Referee: Darryl Agius

First Division Knock-Out Cup

First Division Knock-Out Cup
Tournament details
CountryGozo
Dates29 October 2022 - 12 April 2023
Teams8
Defending championsNadur Youngsters (2)[9]
Final positions
ChampionsNadur Youngsters (3)
Runner-upQala Saints
Tournament statistics
Matches played7
Goals scored28 (4 per match)
All statistics correct as of 31 March 2023.


The cup was contested by the clubs participating in the 2022-23 First Division. Given that there were eight contestants, all clubs were drawn to the participate in the Quarter-Finals.[2]

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final

Details

Nadur Youngsters2–1Qala Saints
Marcelo Barbosa 11'
Gennaro Hili 41'
Igor Nedeljkovic Red card 32'		 Report Rafael Conrado Prudente 32'
Referee: Andrea Sciriha

Second Division Knock-Out Cup

Second Division Knock-Out Cup
Tournament details
CountryGozo
Dates24 March 2023 - 14 April 2023
Teams6
Defending championsŻebbuġ Rovers (2)[10]
Final positions
ChampionsXagħra United (4)
Runner-upŻebbuġ Rovers
Tournament statistics
Matches played5
Goals scored14 (2.8 per match)
All statistics correct as of 16 April 2023.

The clubs who ended up in the last four positions of 2021-22 Second Division qualified for the Preliminary Round. The winners of the two ties qualified for the semi-finals, where they joined the seeded teams, namely S.K. Victoria Wanderers as the club relegated from the 2021-22 First Division and Munxar Falcons as the Second Division runners-up for the same season, which got a bye and qualified directly to the Semi-Finals.[2]

Preliminary Round

Semi-Finals

Final

Details

Żebbuġ Rovers0–1Xagħra United
Report Leiner Garcia Panesso 58'
Referee: Anthony Paul Vella

Second Division Challenge Cup

Second Division Challenge Cup
Tournament details
CountryGozo
Dates3 September 2022 - 1 April 2023
Teams6
Final positions
ChampionsS.K. Victoria Wanderers (3)
Runner-upXagħra United
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored57 (3.56 per match)
All statistics correct as of 31 March 2023.

The Second Division Challenge Cup consisted of two phases. In the first phase, the Qualifying Round, which was played between 3 September 2022 and 5 October 2022, the clubs of the Second Division faced each other in a single round-robin tournament. The clubs which placed in the first two places qualified for the final.[2]

Qualifying Round

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts SKV XGR MXR ŻBĠ STL GĦB
1 S.K. Victoria Wanderers 5 5 0 0 20 5 +15 15 — 3–1 4–0
2 Xagħra United 5 4 0 1 13 7 +6 12 1–4 — 2–0 5–2
3 Munxar Falcons 5 1 2 2 8 11 −3 5 3–5 — 0–0 3–3
4 Żebbuġ Rovers 5 1 1 3 6 10 −4 4 1–3 1–2 — 1–0
5 St. Lawrence Spurs 5 0 3 2 5 12 −7 3 0–4 2–2 —
6 Għarb Rangers 5 0 2 3 4 11 −7 2 0–2 1–1 —
Source: Gozo FA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (only if deciding champion); 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.

Final

By virtue of finishing first and second place respectively in the Qualifying Round, S.K. Victoria Wanderers and Xagħra United won the right to play the Second Division Challenge Cup Final.[11]

Details

S.K. Victoria Wanderers1–0Xagħra United
Kersten Grima 64' Report
Referee: Reuben Spiteri Delicata

2022-23 Individual Honours

Honour Winner Club/Notes
GFA Player of the Year Award Jordi Parnis Qala Saints
1st Division Top Scorer Brazil Marcelo Barbosa
16 goals		 Nadur Youngsters
1st Division Foreign Player of the Year Brazil Marcelo Barbosa Nadur Youngsters
People Choice's Award Jordi Parnis Qala Saints
GFA Young Player of the Year Matthias Cordina Xagħra United
GFA Coach of the Year Mark Buttigieg Nadur Youngsters
2nd Division Player of the Year Matthias Cordina Xagħra United
2nd Division Top Scorer Nigeria Aud-Gustine James Obaje
14 goals		 S.K. Victoria Wanderers
Gozo 2nd Div. Foreign Player of the Year Nigeria Aud-Gustine James Obaje S.K. Victoria Wanderers
GFA Fair Play Award Sannat Lions
GFA Official of the Year Josmar Azzopardi Żebbuġ Rovers
GFA Achievement Awards John Camilleri 334 Career Goals
Top Maltese Scorer
Frank Muscat 270 Career Goals
7th Top Maltese Scorer
GFA Recognition Award Gigi Xuereb Salesian Youths
Lifetime Contribution

Maltese FA Trophy

Preliminary Round

20 November 2022 Kercem Ajax (1) 3–2Marsaskala Malta(2)Kerċem Ajax Stadium
20 November 2022 Ghajnsielem (1) 5–0Qrendi Malta(2)Kerċem Ajax Stadium

Round Of 32

14 January 2023 Attard Malta(2)2–8 Kerċem Ajax (1) Victor Tedesco Stadium
14 January 2023 Mtarfa Malta(2)1–2 Qala Saints (1) Victor Tedesco Stadium

Round of 16

15 February 2023 Hibernians Malta(1) 8–0Kerċem Ajax (1)Tony Bezzina Stadium
15 February 2023 Gzira United Malta(1) 3–0Qala Saints (1)Centenary Stadium

National Amateur Cup

Preliminary Round

Round of 16

8 October 2022 Qormi Malta(3) 2–0Xagħra United (2)Sirens Stadium
8 October 2022 Siggiewi Malta(3) 2–1Żebbuġ Rovers (2)Sirens Stadium

References

  1. ↑ "Men's football competition draw". Guernsey 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Gozitan champions Nadur start defence of the title against Victoria Hotspurs". Gozo Football Association. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "National Amateur League (Quarter Finals) and Izibet FA Trophy (Preliminary Round) Draws Held Today". Malta Football Association. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "National Amateur Cup Draws Were Held Today". Malta Football Association. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Team Gozo". Facebook. Gozo Island Games Association.
  6. ↑ "Nadur Youngsters crowned Gozitan champions". Gozo Football Association. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Nadur win the BOV GFA Cup to mark a memorable treble". Gozo Football Association. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ghajnsielem win the Super Cup in opening match of the new season". Gozo Football Association. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Nadur Youngsters win the BOV GFA 1st Division Knock Out". Gozo Football Association. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Zebbug Rovers win the BOV GFA 2nd Division Knock Out". Gozo Football Association. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "SK Victoria Wanderers end the qualifier with maximum points". Gozo Football Association. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
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