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From Hockey To Football, Check Out Malta’s Latest Sporting News Over The Past Week

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It’s high time that local sporting achievements are taken more seriously and athletes are given the recognition they deserve. Lovin Malta is proud to launch its weekly sports roundup where you’ll be able to catch up on everything sports-related that has happened over the past seven days.

From local fixtures and results to noteworthy achievements of athletes playing abroad, here’s everything you need to know about sports and Malta over the past week.

Football

The BOV Premier League has taken a bunch of twists and turns this season with many vying for the number one spot. Current league winner Floriana FC has sunken all the way to 11th place while their arch rivals, Valletta FC, also falling to a subpar 9th place.

On the other hand, a rejuvenated and reforged Ħamrun Spartans find themselves on top with 34 points, followed closely by Hibernians.

Premier League duties commenced last weekend with five exciting matchups. Here’s how each team fared.

Ħamrun Spartans continue to prove why the are the top contender for the title with a 1-0 win against Sirens.

Hibernians continue to chase the leaders with a 1-0 win against Sliema Wanderers.

Third in the Premier League, Gżira United FC is proving to put on a show after toppling current champions Floriana, 4-1.

Balzan vs Tarxien Rainbows wasn’t the most high profile game played this weekend but it sure meant a lot to both teams who are at risk of being relegated.

Balzan lost to Tarxien Rainbows, 0-1.

Mid table contenders Santa Lucia were held to a 1-1 standstill against 13th place Zejtun Corinthians who cling onto Premier League hopes for the time being.

International

In international news, 16-year-old football prodigy Haley Bugeja resumed her Serie A duties on Saturday after contributing to Sassuolo’s 3-0 win against Empoli Ladies with a second half appearance.

Bugeja will also be facing AC Milan in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia Femminile on 30th January.

Maltese goalkeeper Rashed Al-Tumi also returned to his Serie D side Arzachena in a 1-1 draw against Carbonia.

Transfer Window

It was a busy transfer window period for local teams which bolstered their squads with some notable signings.

Most notably, Valletta FC signed Italian midfielder Davide Paglia and Brazilian winger Lucas Campos.

Paglia started his career in Lazio, playing both with the under-17’s and under-19’s squads. During the 2017/18 season, he received his first team call up and featured in the UEFA Europa League list.

Paglia also played for the Italian under-17’s national team.

Campos makes his move to Valletta from renowned Brazilian club Botafogo which plays in the the first tier of the Brazilian football league.

Balzan FC brought on Dutch winger Moussa Sanoh from PSV Eindhoven. The Ivorian represented the Netherlands at youth levels and had stints in Romania and England at the club level.

Sirens FC signed Gambian winger Lamin Bittaye from Serie D side Fiuggi.

And Ħamrun Spartans unveiled their latest signing, French defender Claude Dielna, with this incredible video.

Earlier today, Floriana FC reached an agreement with Dutch midfielder Jeroen Lombe. Lombe has played with Holland’s under 16’s, 17’s and 18’s national team and has had stints in Austria, Turkey, India, Portugal, Romania and Georgia.

Futsal

Luxol St Andrews Futsal Club featured in the UEFA Futsal Champions League main round match up against Futsal Klub Dobovec last weekend.

The Maltese side hosted the Slovenian champions, 9th ranked in Europe, in their third participation in the UEFA main round.

Unfortunately, the Maltese side bowed out of the competition following a 2-3 loss.

“We bow out of the UEFA Futsal Champions League main round but we gave it all with a very strong side. Good luck to Dobovec for the elite round,” the club said on Facebook.

Basketball

The Malta Basketball Association BOV Men’s League continued with one fixture over the weekend, Gżira Athleta vs Depiro.

Gżira dominated the match through and through with a comfortable 98-67 win.

The remaining results from amatuer leagues can be found below.

A special shout out to Maltese FIBA certified basketball referee Bernard Vassallo who will be officiating a FIBA Euroleague Women group bubble in Bourges, France over the next week.

This week’s fixtures can be found in the video below, including streams to every game.

Hockey

Malta’s hockey league resumed with Floriana Young Stars losing to Qormi Daikin, 0 – 2 in the Hockey 9s, Round Two.

The senior’s national league saw White Hard lose 0-3 to Gree Sliema Hockey School.

And Floriana Young Stars senior team beat Rabat, 3-1.

Snooker

The national snooker championships continued with one Premier Division matchup.

Emanuel Mallia won 4-0 against Mario Cutajar in the Best of 7 Frames.

Matthew Calleja beat Pierre Pace 3 – 2 in the Best of 5 Frames in the 1st Division.

Lothar Mallia couldn’t keep up with Shaun Deguara (0-3) in the Best of 5 Frames in the 2nd Division.

Jesmond Falzon captured the 3-0 win against Scott Muscat in the Best of 5 Frames in the 3rd Division.

Weight Lifting

One of Malta’s most promising Olympic weightlifters Tenishia Thornton smashed her own jerk record with an incredible 94kg lift over the weekend.

Tenishia is first the Maltese athlete to win a medal in a International Weightlifting Federation event, claiming bronze at the world championship.

Did we miss anything? Let us know by sending us an email at [email protected]

READ NEXT: 'Sheer Ignorance': Junior Minister For Sports Clifton Grima Shows Solidarity With Racially Abused Maltese Player

When JP's not too busy working on polyrhythmic beats, you'll probably find him out and about walking his dog.

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