Category: Team News

Victorians confirm committee ahead of new season

Naxxar Victorians have established the new committee and the members’ duties ahead of the 2024-25 season in MAFA Division 3.

Last season was an experimental campaign for the Victorians with numerous upgrades made to improve the club’s financial and administrative operation and with the new season around the corner, the committee met for its season initiation meeting earlier this month, confirming each member’s roles, while welcoming two new members.

One significant step agreed upon during the meeting was the separation of the committee into two parts: the non-playing (executive) members and the playing (non-executive) members. This division serves to avoid bias in decisions related to player and coaching changes.

2024-25 Committee

President Karl Borg retains his position at the helm of the club with vice president Antoine Farrugia and general secretary Jeremy Busuttil.

Matthew Gauci remains the club’s Chief Financial Officer while Kurt Aquilina will continue in his Communications manager role.

Meanwhile, Nathan Farrugia, Christopher Cutajar, Mikhail Duca, and new additions Miguel Zahra and Clayton Cachia will all follow general member roles within the club.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com teams, we would like to wish the newly confirmed committee all the best for the coming season.

Jake Agius named Naxxar Victorians interim coach

Aguis to replace Muchmore in charge of team

Naxxar Victorians FC would like to announce that Jake Agius will take over as the club’s interim head coach for the 2024-25 season in MAFA Division 3.

Agius, a former player at the club until the 2022/23 season, will be returning to lead the team in higher capacity, replacing former coach Connor Muchmore who stepped down at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Muchmore, who led the team for the past two seasons, officially left his post on the final day of the Division 3 campaign which saw the team finish fourth. The English coach oversaw the team during a transitional period as the club was introduced to a new crop of players which will now be the basis of the coming seasons.

“Today ends my time coaching Naxxar Victorians, with a 1-1 draw with Hal-far Titans,” Muchmore had said in a statement on his socials.

“I was always taught to do whatever I’m doing with 100% commitment, and due to other obligations I’m no longer able to manage that so it’s time to take a step back, I’d like to thank all my players both past and present, my assistant coach Antoine Farrugia, and the committee for trusting me to come in and do a job! It’s been quite a ride, but I’ll always be here to support the club! Let’s see what comes next!”

New coach Agius will take over immediately as the team begins preseason training this month.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com teams, we would like to extend our appreciation to Muchmore, while wishing Agius all the best for the coming season in charge of Naxxar Victorians.

Victorians file official complaint over referee issues

Actions included racism towards players and a fellow official, and explicitly advising a penalty would be handed to the opponent

Following numerous issues that arose during our match against Kalkara Flames and an internal investigation with the squad and coaching staff, the Naxxar Victorians club has submitted an official complaint to the Malta Amateur Football Association (MAFA) with regard to this matter. The following is the full letter:

Attn: Malta Amateur Football Association

Subject: Official Complaint Regarding Sub-Par Officiating and Instances of Racism during [Match Day

11/NOV/2023 at Qormi F.C. Di Santos Ground]

To whom it may concern,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent football match between [Kalkara Flames] and [Naxxar Victorians] held on [11/NOV/2023] at [Qormi F.C. Di Santos Ground]. Unfortunately, the match was marred by sub-par officiating and several distressing incidents of racism that have raised serious questions about the integrity and inclusivity of the game.

Firstly, I would like to address the issue of sub-par officiating during the match. It is evident that the performance of the match referee Mr. Lorry Sammut, fell far below the expected standard. Several questionable decisions were made throughout the game, leading to a sense of frustration and dissatisfaction among both players and spectators as well as creating a scenario during the game which led to unnecessary injuries. One such instance was caught on video as per the attached screenshots. Not only was a clear penalty denied in this case, but our player was also injured on this occasion and the match referee decided to ignore the situation instead of calming nerves, thus exacerbating further tempers. Such officiating not only affects the outcome of the match but also undermines the credibility of the sport.

Video of the foul inside the area that was not given by referee Lorry Sammut, with a similar illegal tackle taking place seconds later.

Furthermore, and more alarmingly, there were multiple instances of racism that occurred during the match. Racist remarks and discriminatory behaviour were directed towards our foreign players from the beginning of the game. Such players were barely allowed to touch the ball or use body strength against their counterparts in 50:50 situations without immediately getting fouls called upon. These situations were made worse by the referee constantly telling our foreign players to ‘Shut Up’. Any attempt made by our team Captain to talk amicably to the referee was met with threats of further sanctions.

The most concerning incident occurred when a penalty was awarded against Naxxar Victorians merely 1 metre in front of the linesman (of foreign nationality) because of an alleged foul (which the linesmen did not deem so in the first place) and most importantly outside of the box (as stated initially by the linesmen himself). The match referee in this case decided to give the penalty, ignoring the linesmen completely. What made this incident worse was that our captain who witnessed the verbal exchanges between the referee and the linesman felt the latter was bullied into accepting the referee’s decision and again was told to ‘Shut Up’. From a subsequent internal investigation, it transpired that one person in the stands next to the Kalkara bench heard the words ‘At the first chance you will be awarded a penalty’ uttered by the same referee in question.

Now we of course understand that such instances can be interpreted as hearsay and conjecture, but one cannot fail to notice the uncharacteristically large number of similar issues that point towards a trend in the decision-making process of the referee in question thus creating an environment that goes against the principles of fair play and inclusivity that football strives to uphold. It is disheartening to witness such behaviour, and it is imperative that immediate action is taken to address and rectify these issues.

I am aware that the Malta Amateur Football Association is committed to promoting a safe and inclusive environment for all participants in football. Therefore, I urge the Association to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents mentioned above.

I trust that the Malta Amateur Football Association will treat this complaint with the utmost seriousness it deserves and take prompt and effective action to address the issues raised. Football should be a sport that unites people and promotes positive values, and I believe that through decisive action, we can ensure that the beautiful game remains true to these principles.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing about the steps the Association will take to address these concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Jeremy Busuttil

General Secretary

Naxxar Victorians Amateur F.C.

Naxxar Victorians squad

Naxxar Victorians squad announced ahead of Matchday 1

The Naxxar Victorians squad has finally been confirmed and we are glad to announce that 24 players have been either re-signed or added to our roster for the coming season in MAFA Division 3.

Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers Mikhail Duca and Karl Borg announced their retirement from the game due to health issues. Etienne Lia has left the club after two seasons. Over the summer, however, the club has retained Ayrton Agius. Former goalkeeper Kurt Aquilina, who spent last season outfield, has returned in between the sticks for his seventh season with the club.

Defenders

Defender Shaun Mumford will not be signing for the club this season due to family commitments. Full-back Antonio Dattoli will be overseas this year, unavailable to the squad. Jake Agius has also left the club after an injury-hampered season in the last campaign.

The three players have since been replaced by Daniel Agius, Raphael Said, and Andre Grima – a youthful trio who should provide the club with future stability. They join veteran players like Matthew Gauci, Chris Cutajar, and Dale Cassar.

Midfielders

In midfield, Andrew Steve Cassar, Dejan Mijailovic, and Ryan Micallef have all joined this summer. They fill a void left following the departure of Luke Bugeja in mid-season who had put in a transfer request as well as a long-term injury to Nathan Farrugia – the latter unsure of a return date as yet.

Attackers

In attack, new signings Nigel Muscat Edwards and Luke Mifsud will be hoping to make an immediate impact. They cover the injury of top-scorer Fabrizio Farrugia. Danijel Vasic joins after a trial period last season which had unfortunately ended in injury. The Serbian is well on his way to taking the pitch again as another valid option up front with speedy forward Maverick Grech who re-signed this summer.

Further extensions and new signings will be announced by the club at a later stage before the January deadline. Until then, we wish the Naxxar Victorians squad all the best for the coming season.

Nigel Muscat Edwards signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that forward Nigel Muscat Edwards has signed with the club for the new season.

Muscat Edwards who plays as a winger or striker has joined after a summer of preparation under coach Connor Muchmore. The 24-year-old has adapted to life as a Victorian and is raring to go as the new season begins this week!

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Nigel Muscat Edwards all the best for the coming season.

Dejan Mijailovic signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that midfielder Dejan Mijailovic has signed with the club for the new season.

Mijailovic who plays as a central midfielder has joined after a summer of preparation under coach Connor Muchmore. The 25-year-old has adapted to life as a Victorian and is raring to go as the new season begins this week!

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Dejan Mijailovic all the best for the coming season.

Raphael Said signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that defender Raphael Said has signed with the club for the new season.

Said who plays as a right-sided full-back has joined after a summer of preparation under coach Connor Muchmore. The 21-year-old has adapted to life as a Victorian and is raring to go as the new season begins this week!

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Raphael Said all the best for the coming season.

Daniel Agius signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that defender Daniel Agius has signed with the club for the new season.

Agius who plays as a centre-back has joined after a summer of preparation under coach Connor Muchmore. The 23-year-old has adapted to life as a Victorian and is raring to go as the new season begins this week!

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Daniel Agius all the best for the coming season.

Giuseppe Dattoli re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that defender Giuseppe ‘ Gigi’ Dattoli has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Dattoli‘s third season at the Naxxar club after another positive campaign with the team. The 32-year-old made 13 appearances and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Gigi Dattoli all the best for the coming season.

Kurt Aquilina re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that goalkeeper Kurt Aquilina has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Aquilina‘s seventh season at the Naxxar club after having been with the team from the start. The 29-year-old has played in various positions but will return between the sticks for the coming season as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Kurt Aquilina all the best for the coming season.

Julian Micallef re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that defender Julian Micallef has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Micallef‘s second season at the Naxxar club after a positive debut campaign with the team. The 24-year-old made two appearances, was named the Most Committed Victorian at the end-of-season awards ceremony, and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Julian Micallef all the best for the coming season.

Matthew Gauci re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that defender Matthew Gauci has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Gauci‘s seventh season at the Naxxar club after having been one of the original first eleven of the club during its debut season in MAFA. The 32-year-old made six appearances last season and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Matthew Gauci all the best for the coming season.

Jimmy Hare re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that midfielder James ‘Jimmy’ Hare has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Hare‘s second season at the Naxxar club after a positive debut campaign with the team. The 31-year-old garnered 13 appearances last season games and will be pushing for a better campaign as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Jimmy Hare all the best for the coming season.

Julian Sultana re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that defender Julian Sultana has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Sultana‘s second season at the Naxxar club after a positive debut with the team last season. The 23-year-old made 10 appearances last season and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Julian Sultana all the best for the coming season.

Keith Zammit Tabone re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that midfielder Keith Zammit Tabone has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Zammit Tabone‘s sixth season at the Naxxar club and has become an integral part of the team. The 29-year-old also had two goals in 10 games last season and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Keith Zammit Tabone all the best for the coming season.

Maverick Grech re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that midfielder Maverick Grech has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Grech‘s second season at the Naxxar club after a positive debut campaign with the team. The 24-year-old also scored two goals in eight games and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Maverick Grech all the best for the coming season.

Clayton Falzon re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that midfielder Clayton Falzon has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Falzon‘s sixth season at the Naxxar club after a positive debut campaign with the team. The 27-year-old also had two assists in 12 games last season and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to push for promotion.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Clayton Falzon all the best for the coming season.

Owen Agius re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that midfielder Owen Agius has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Agius‘ second season at the Naxxar club after a positive debut campaign with the team. The 23-year-old also had an assist in eight games and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to push for promotion.

Owen Agius has re-signed for Naxxar Victorians.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Owen Agius all the best for the coming season.

Christopher Cutajar re-signs with Victorians

The Naxxar Victorians are glad to announce that Club captain Christopher Cutajar has extended his stay at the club for another season.

This will be Cutajar‘s seventh season at the Naxxar club as he was one of the players who formed the first squad back in 2017 when the Victorians debuted in MAFA As an 11-a-side team. He has been the team’s captain for most of his time with us and will be pushing for a better season as the club looks to avenge last season’s disappointment.

Chris Cutajar re-signs with Naxxar Victorians.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com team, we wish Christopher Cutajar all the best for the coming season.

New Victorians committee sworn in

The Naxxar Victorians would like to announce the appointment of Jeremy Busuttil as our new General Secretary of the club. Busuttil was nominated by the rest of the committee prior to this year’s Annual General Meeting that took place on Monday August 7.

Busuttil will be replacing former Sec. Gen. Nathan Farrugia who has decided he will be stepping down to take on a smaller role within the committee as a member. This measure was taken both due to personal commitments outside of the club, as well as a way to assure that the top committee spots within the club are occupied by non-playing members after Busuttil retired from playing at the end of last season.

Due to the fact that no elections were held for the remaining slots within the club’s administration, Karl Borg will remain the club’s president, while Antoine Farrugia retains his seat as vice president. 

Meanwhile, the club’s AGM involved a financial update as well as a rundown of the club’s social media presence. Following that, players and staff in attendance got to know more about the club’s shirt sponsors Pharmacare Premium Ltd, who have extended their partnership with the club for the next two seasons.

Finally, a new player’s handbook was introduced and explained by coach Connor Muchmore for players who will be looking to join or extend their stay at the club as pre-season officially begins this week after a number of weeks focused on trials.

From the Naxxar Victorians and www.naxxarvictorians.com teams, we wish our players, coaching staff, and committee members all the best for the coming season in the Malta Amateur Football Association (MAFA).

2023-24 Naxxar Victorians Committee

PRESIDENT: Karl Borg

VICE–PRESIDENT: Antoine Farrugia

SEC. GEN: Jeremy Busuttil

FINANCIAL OFFICER: Matthew Gauci

MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Kurt Aquilina

MEMBERS: Nathan Farrugia, Christopher Cutajar, Mikhail Duca