Maltese Footballer Given Emotional Send Off By International Fans
After a very successful year with Portuguese football club Boavista, Maltese captain Andre’ Schembri will be heading to pastures new. In an emotional post which appeared on Facebook yesterday, the 31-year-old footballer said that it was time to say goodbye “due to reasons that are beyond my control.” Thanking all the people who made him feel welcome from day one, Schembri said “it was an honour to have played, sweat and scored for the Panthers,” finally concluding that “Boavista will always have a special place in my heart.”
In less than 24 hours, the post gathered over 1,000 likes, and hundreds of extremely positive (albeit slightly sad) comments. Portuguese fans and Maltese friends and family alike came together to congratulate Schembri on his stellar performances, along with showing their constant support to a man who has always famously fought for whatever team he’s played for.
A popular Boavista blog even issued an entire piece on Schembri, bidding farewell to the player in a beautifully emotionally way. “I start by saying I’ve never had the chance to meet you,” the post started. “Not personally, at least. I’ve sung your name from the stadium multiple times.”
The post went on to share a photo from a 1979 match where Schembri’s father had played against Boavista and told his son it was a very special game to him, and something which eventually had helped Andre’ make the decision to join the Portuguese club.
“No one supports Boavista exclusively because of its achievements, but for what they represent: with hard work, dedication and passion, everything is possible!” the blogger continued. “And you, my dear Schembri, are the living proof of it. Your time at Boavista was short but memorable, and you are the reason a supporter like me owns a shirt with your name and number.”
A couple of hours after the news broke that Andre Schembri would be leaving Boavista, media in Cyprus started reporting rumours that he would coming back to the Cypriot league, having already joined Omonia Nicosia twice (2012-2014 and 2014-2016). Schembri even made front page on some papers.
This afternoon, in fact, it was officially confirmed that Schembri would be joining Cyprus’ Apollon Limassol on a two-year contract. Earlier this year, Apollon won the Cyprus Cup for the second consecutive year, so they’ll definitely be looking to up their game with someone like Schembri.
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish Schembri the best of luck!