Viva Pharmaceutica is the Maltese Champion ...

Ivan Pullicino' Futsal Club "Viva Pharmaceutica" won the Maltese Futsal Title for the second time in row. Now the Maltese Champions are ready for the new UEFA Futsal Cup edition.






Futsal (Five-a-Side Football) - National League

The second edition of the Futsal National League organised by the Malta Football Association came to an end last May. It was interesting as much as the first league organised for the first time during the previous season after an unofficial league had been going on for about three years following an initiative by three university students under the name of Dr Stanley’s Workshop.

This success is the result of new regulations introduced by the MFA purposely tailored for this type of competition and mainly based on straightforward and simple rules for participation and registration of players. The structure of Futsal Teams remained very much that of a group of friends who enthusiastically wanted to dedicate some of their free time to this popular game. The numerous five-a-side pitches that have cropped up in many localities in Malta have helped in no small way in the ever-increasing popularity of this game.

During season 2000/2001 a total of 192 matches were played in two venues, namely, the Hibernians FC Corradino Indoor Pavilion for the First Division with 12 teams divided in two sections. The Zebbug Rangers FC artificial turf pitch was used for the Second Division with 21 participating teams divided into three sections.

The Championship of the First Division was won by Section B winners, Viva Pharmaceutica after beating Amazon FC winners of Section A. In a relegation decider Ds Wolves beat Barcelona, thus keeping their place in the First Division. Liverpool FC, Demajo Timbers and St Helen BC won their respective sections in the Second Division and gained promotion to the top division.

In order to consolidate the Futsal League, the Malta Football Association will be introducing two important awards for the coming season. In line with the other competitions of the Association, the Futsal League 2001/2002 will also have the awards for the Futsal Footballer of the Year and that for the Top scorer of the Competition. Furthermore, an additional venue will also be used for the coming season, thus making it possible to increase the number of participants and accept the many requests from new teams.

In this respect there is the need for more referees in this sector. The MFA is prepared to accept and train persons who wish to become referees for the Futsal game only. Perhaps present and new teams should make every effort to nominate responsible persons for this purpose. Other interested persons may also contact the MFA for more information. Such an initiative would certainly strengthen the foundations of this game.

The enthusiasm shown so far by all participating teams represents a very good and positive sign for Season 2001/2002, which should further consolidate the technical aspect of the Futsal game leading to participation at higher levels of Futsal Competitions in the not too distant future.

Teams who wish to participate in the Futsal League 2001/2002 and who have not yet applied, may do so by not later than 15th September 2001.
New applications should be addressed to the MFA, 280 St Paul Street, Valletta (Att. Mr Mario Gauci)