Former Naxxar Victorians left-back, Kurt Aquilina will be the team’s new head-coach for the coming season 2018/19. This was announced yesterday evening during the Naxxar Victorians Pre-season dinner at Munchies Mellieha. Together with Aquilina, Karl Borg will occupy the role of Goalkeeper coach for the season. The pair have been part of the Naxxar Victorians club since its initiation into MAFA and have enough knowledge about the league as possible.
Following the departure of former coach, Luke Camilleri last month, the club had been looking for a replacement with a number of options being considered. However, it was none other than Aquilina who took responsibility and began to guide the team in preparation for the new season.
Aquilina’s first test came in the 2-2 draw versus Senglea Gunners last Monday evening where the boys were unfortunate not to take the lion’s share after Senglea drew level in the last couple of minutes. The boys had come back from a 1-0 scoreline with two great goals by Clayton Falzon and James Camilleri to make it 2-1 before Senglea’s eventual equaliser.
“I’m very happy with the progress we’ve made so far. The players have been through a lot of confusion this Summer,” Aquilina told naxxarvictorians.com after the Senglea match, “the transition from one coach to another is pretty confusing… I mean, the players work hard but the team needs organisation and I hope I can provide this to them.”
Aquilina has played football with MFA clubs Lija Athletic, Mgarr United and Ta’ Xbiex SC in the past. He was also an integral part of last season’s Naxxar Victorians squad, also captaining the side versus Qormi Hotspurs in the first round.
“I think my experience in the MFA and MAFA leagues will be useful to guide the boys in the way I feel we should act.”
Aquilina remarked that discipline and communication are the two main things he would like to ingrain in the players’ mentalities. “The more we work hard and keep communication on the pitch, the easier it is for us to play.”
Aquilina praised the determination many of his players (and former teammates) have shown and how they are excited for the season to start as much as the club administration itself.
Aquilina’s first match as coach for the Naxxar Victorians takes place on the opening day, October 13th at home to San Giljan Saints. The Saints and Victorians have played against each other twice already, once in November 2017 where the Saints beat the Victorians 5-0, and again in April 2018 which ended in a 1-1 draw. The latter was Camilleri’s third match out of just four with club as a coach. From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Kurt Aquilina all the best as coach for the coming 2018/19 season with Naxxar Victorians FC.