It's done! For the first ever time Jeepers Handyman Centre was crowned with the Maltese National Futsal Champions title! A great and successful challenge for the Noel Attard Flores' guys, who managed to overcome the strong competition offered by the European Pilot Academy's team(former Serbia), recent Cup winners, and the past season holders of Hibernians. The party could start just after a dramatic 1-1 draw against Scandals Bar, in the match which was supposed to be the easiest one during the play off series, after getting two impressive triumphs over Hibernians and European Pilot Academy.


The new champions are now ready for the european experience, with the UEFA Futsal Cup preliminary round to take place in the middle of August (Draw on July 2nd in Nyon).

Below: the most important matches reports and some pictures from the play off series!



Futsalplanet Related Items

-> Play Off series 2006/2007: the Jeepers' masterpiece!

-> Maltese Regular Season 2006/2007, group A: all results and standing

-> Maltese Regular Season 2006/2007, group B: all results and standing

-> The National Cup went to European Pilot Academy!

-> Maltese Futsal Story



Jeepers Handyman Centre: we are the Champions!

-> Have a look at the Awarding Ceremony on Youtube!!

The Champions Roster

Marvin Spiteri (Malta)
Zeljko Anicic (Serbia)
Pavel Adamov (Bulgaria)
Christopher Borg (Cap) (Malta - San Bastjan)
Basil Emeka (Nigeria)
Richard Busuttil (Malta)
Owen Galea (Malta)
Rob De Vries (Netherlands)
Michael Molzahn (Germany)
Andrew Debono (Malta)
Alvin Cacciattolo (Malta)
Craig Pickard (England)

Team manager: Noel Attard Flores (Malta)





Press release by the Maltese National Champion Club

Jeepers Handyman Centre Futsal Champions

Jeepers Handyman Centre are the new Futsal First Division Champions for season 2006-07

After placing second in the MFA Futsal League First Division Section B with 21 points, seven points behind section winners European Pilot Academy, Jeepers went all the way to win the Championship play-offs. The playoffs are played between the first two teams of the first division’s Section A and Section B, to determine the eventual League winners.

Jeepers Handyman Centre beat outgoing champions Hibernians 8-3 and the previous year's champions European Pilot Academy 6-3.

A 1-1 draw with Scandals Bar was enough to earn Jeepers the top spot and the title of Futsal Champions for the 2006-07 season.

A newly promoted side, Jeepers Handyman Centre saw their objectives adjust from modestly avoiding relegation, to winning the national league, as their performances improved from one match to another. The club, which was founded in 2002, won promotion to the second division in season 2003/04, and eventually to first division in season 2005/06.

National Futsal team coach, Czech Michael Striz, congratulated the club, and said that the enthusiasm and hard work shown by this club should serve as an example to other clubs, so that the level of Futsal in Malta can continue to improve further.

Prolific Jeepers Handyman Centre striker Zeljko Anicic is also a finalist in the Melita Digital Malta Football Awards competing for the Best Futsal Player Award.

Futsal is a fast growing sport in Malta, and this year, the MFA Futsal League grew to four divisions with a total of 64 teams.




Story of a triumph

The first, basic, step

Hibernians vs Jeepers Handyman Centre 3-8 (Playoffs)

Match report by Gianluca Busuttil

14 May 2007

Today's encounter between Jeepers Handyman Centre and Hibernians was probably Jeepers' best match this season. Jeepers were the underdogs, playing today against the current Maltese Futsal Champions. Seconds into the match, Basil Emeka forced a great save from the Hibs keeper, and from the ensuing corner, Pavel Adamov drove home a brilliant volley to open the score, and give Jeepers a very important 1-0 lead. It was a dream-start for Jeepers. Hibs soon brought everyone back down to Earth with a superb goal to draw level with Jeepers in less than two minutes. A powerful shot from outside the box, gave keeper Marvin Spiteri no chance. Emeka however had other thoughts, and was quick to counter Hibernians' strike with another fast goal.

Ten minutes of hot and heated action followed. Hibernians missed a chance from a 2-on-1 situation starting from what seemed to be a foul on Zelkjo Anicic. Jeepers coach Noel Attard Flores promptly called for a time-out, as things seemed to be getting out of hand. Hibs were making sure that Anicic, probably the most important player for Jeepers went nowhere unmarked. But this could have been their crucial mistake, for by doing so, they were leaving Emeka, in outstanding form today, free to roam deep into Hibs defence. He was giving the Hibernians defenders a nightmare and very soon scored again, giving his team an important 3-1 lead.

Even though they were losing, Hibernians stayed composed, defended wisely in their own half, and caught Jeepers out on the counter attack. In the remaining minutes before half-time, Hibs actually managed to score twice and draw level with Jeepers once again. Keeper Marvin Spiteri saved twice on two freeshots awarded for very dubious fouls. Coach Attard Flores alternated substitutes Alvin Cacciattolo and Rob De Vries with Borg, Anicic and Adamov, to keep the team fresh and lively.The two teams went into half-time on a 3-3 draw.

Few moments into the second half, Emeka scored again to bag a hat-trick. This goal paved the way for an excellent half by all Jeepers Handyman Centre players. Jeepers were now visibly the more confident team on the pitch, administering ball possession, waiting patiently, almost inviting the opponents to come out in search for a goal. And every time, Jeepers were ready to strike.

Four goals in quick succession from Emeka, Adamov, Anicic and again Emeka gave Jeepers an amazing 8-3 lead on the Maltese Champions. Both Rob De Vries, and Christopher Borg, when they were sent into play as last man, controlled the Hibernians fast and skilful strikers in an excellent manner, leaving them hardly any room to manoeuvre. And when the Hibs danger man number 7 Predrag Babic , managed to get in a shot, he found keeper Richard Busuttil ready. Busuttil actually managed to keep a clean sheet today. Cacciattolo had a quiet day, not finding enough space in today's match for his characteristic runs.

Hibernians were now getting nervous, and when the referee stopped play for a foul in favour of Jeepers, all hell broke loose on the pitch as Hibernians had other ideas. A Hibernians man slammed violently the ball into the referee's head from behind him, whilst other Hibs players surrounded the referee off the pitch. Hibernians officials and supporters entered the fray and the assistant ref wisely blew the final whistle and abandoned the match. It was a great pity that such a lovely match had to degenerate into such a violent incident, an embarrassment to local sport, which should be condemned by all. Jeepers players and officials very wisely stayed close to their bench, and away from all provocation.

The score at the moment of match abandonment was 8-3, and we must now wait for MFA to decide the outcome of this match, based on the match official's report. In our opinion, since Jeepers had no part in the aggression on the referee, the final score should stand, and the three points should rightfully go to Jeepers Handyman Centre.

Man of the match today was undoubtedly Basil Emeka, with five goals to his credit.

Jeepers Handyman Centre were: Marvin Spiteri, Christopher Borg (Cap), Zeljko Anicic (1), Pavel Adamov (2), Basil Emeka (5), Owen Galea, Rob De Vries, Andrew Debono, Alvin Cacciattolo, & Richard Busuttil. Team Manager: Noel Attard Flores.

Next playoff match is Friday 18th. May, when Jeepers Handyman Centre play against former Futsal champions, European Pilot Academy.




Close to the glory

Jeepers Handyman Centre vs European Pilot Academy 6-3 (Playoffs)

Match report by Gianluca Busuttil

18 May 2007

Today’s playoff match was of utmost importance to both Jeepers Handyman Centre and European Pilot Academy. Both teams entered this match level on three points, and both knew that the winner would have made a big step towards winning the Championship. The first moments of the match saw European Pilot Academy take control and barely a minute into the match, Marco Glumac prevailed over Jeepers keeper Marvin Spiteri and opened the score, giving European Pilot Academy an early lead.

Jeepers were not disheartened, and very few minutes later, the usual Basil Emeka scored to put Jeepers level, after a 1-on-1 with the opponent keeper. The two teams were very equally matched and could not find an opening in each others’ defence. We saw actions from both sides for some minutes, until at around the tenth minute, Zelkjo Anicic scored after a great show of team effort with Emeka. The score was now 2-1. Spiteri also did well to keep out efforts from various European Pilot Academy players, as the Serbs were now pressing hard for an equaliser. Rob De Vries was in great form today, confirming himself as one of Jeepers’ key player at the back. However it was Jeepers who scored another goal, as Emeka and Anicic broke away on a fast counter attack, with the former putting the team further ahead 3-1. European Pilot academy now seemed to have slowed down, and Jeepers pressed hard in the hope of going into half-time with a three-goal advantage. Their efforts were rewarded, as Emeka scored again from a rebound. In the dying moments of the first half, European Pilot Academy’s number 10 put home a good goal to put his team back in the match. The two teams went into half-time with Jeepers leading the score by 4 to 2.
All the newly acquired Jeepers fans were now on their feet, as the match evolved into a very exciting duel between these two top teams of Maltese Futsal. Minutes into the second half, Emeka scored his poker of goals to give Jeepers back their merited three-goal advantage. Shortly after, Anicic hit the post from a great shot from way out of the box. Alvin Cacciattolo was then pulled down heavily after a good run, and most of the fans were yelling their heads off for the ref eree to pull out his yellow card, but match official thought otherwise. The yellow card came shortly after as the Serbs’ number 10 committed a bad ‘last man’ tackle from behind on Emeka, who had a clear passage to the goal.

During this second half, coach Noel Attard Flores decided to shuffle well his cards with the introduction of experienced veteran Michael Molzahn. The Serbs were now on an all out offensive, but it was Anicic who scored again with an amazing shot from way out to make the score 6-2 for Jeepers Handyman Centre. Keeper Richard Busuttil of Jeepers, who had been doing a great job between the posts, lost his hopes of a clean sheet when European Pilot Academy scored after a 3-on-1 with Busuttil. The score was now 6-3. Soon after, Anicic had a chance to close off the match completely with a chance from inside the box, but he betrayed his usual cool, and put it wide.
When the referee finally blew his whistle for full time, the final score was 6-3 for Jeepers Handyman Centre. Jeepers are now first in the play-offs with six points. Whether Jeepers will win the Maltese Futsal Championship, and earn the right to represent Malta in UEFA Futsal Competitions, shall be decided in their final match against Scandals Bar on Monday 21-05-2007at 8.15pm. We thank our supporters who turned for the previous matches and trust they will be behind us in our last league match.. the match of the year.

Jeepers Handyman Centre were: Marvin Spiteri (Cap), Rob De Vries, Zeljko Anicic (2), Pavel Adamov, Basil Emeka (4), Christopher Borg, Michael Molzahn, Owen Galea, Richard Busuttil, Alvin Cacciattolo & Andrew Debono. Team Manager: Noel Attard Flores.



The deciding match: the dream came true

Jeepers Handyman Centre vs Scandals Bar 1-1

Match report by Gianluca Busuttil

21 May 2007

Although today’s match was not a very fast-paced one, it was absolutely nerve-racking for the Jeepers fans. The team needed a win or a draw to secure first place so a loss simply would not do. However, Scandals Bar put up a fight that was not expected from them because since Jeepers were in front of them by six points, Scandals were already out of the tournament. It seemed that Scandals had been happy to squash into their half and wait for a chance on the counter-attack. In fact they managed to be dangerous on a number of occasions, but keeper Marvin Spiteri was always ready.

Scandals were marking closely both Anicic and Emeka, Jeepers’ two most infamous strikers, whenever they ventured across the half-pitch line. These two were marked very well to the point that they were stopped from creating their usual actions. Zelkjo Anicic appeared frustrated enough to try a shot from way out. This missed, but not by much. Pavel Adamov lost a chance to put Jeepers in the lead after he shot into the opponent keeper during a 1-on-1. Soon after, the same Adamov shot at goal from a rebound, only to see his effort cleared off the goal line by a Scandals player, with the keeper beaten. The referee thought it was a deliberate hands-ball, and pointed to the penalty spot, as he red carded the same Scandals player. The assistant referee intervened, and after consulting each other, the referees reversed this decision, and bounced the ball back into play. The spaces were very restricted, but when Jeepers did manage to get a shot at goal, the Scandals Bar keeper saved time and again.Half-time came and if the score was still 0-0, this was largely to the merits of the Scandals Bar keeper, who was in top form today. As the two teams searched through each others defence, looking for a goal, Adamov was yellow-carded after a bad foul and Anicic missed twice during a long drawn action.

Christopher Borg, the Jeepers captain, and Richard Busuttil, the Jeepers keeper were also in top form today, defying Scandals Bar’s shots again and again, until finally Anicic received a sweet pass from Emeka, and with just the keeper to beat, lobbed the ball over the keeper into the empty net, to give Jeepers a very merited 1-0 lead. Scandals were not disheartened, and from a defence splitting pass by Matthew Naudi, John Stivala took a quick shot on the turn, and managed to put the ball behind Busuttil, who only managed to touch weakly, not enough to deflect it out of the goal. Several actions followed, and Emeka also missed the chance to score as he very uncharacteristically fumbled an easy tap in into an empty net. When the referee finally blew the final whistle, the result was still 1-1, but the one point from this draw was just enough to secure first place in the Championship playoffs.

MFA Vice-President John Farrugia and Futsal Coordinator Mario Gauci conducted the presentation of medals to every Jeepers player and the presentation of the League Championship trophy. When Jeepers Handyman Centre captain Christopher Borg lifted the cup above his head, it was like a dream come true for all Jeepers players and supporters. During their very first year in first division, Jeepers managed to come second in their league section and then went on to a very merited win in the playoffs, to become the Maltese Futsal Champions: the best futsal team in Malta!! Jeepers Handyman Centre were: Marvin Spiteri, Zeljko Anicic (1), Pavel Adamov, Christopher Borg (Cap), Basil Emeka, Richard Busuttil, Owen Galea, Rob De Vries, Michael Molzahn, Andrew Debono & Alvin Cacciattolo. Team manager: Noel Attard Flores.




















Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com