Naxxar Victorians will face Mqabba Albions in this year’s MAFA knockout preliminary round in January, MAFA general secretary David Abdilla announced on Friday, as he drew this year’s fixtures.
These preliminaries will take place on January 8, 15, and 22 with the date for Naxxar’s match against Mqabba still to be set.
However, if successful, coach Karl Borg’s clan will face fellow Division Two side Balluta Barracudas in the next round of the Cup.
This year’s MAFA Division two will consist of eight teams and according to MAFA’s draw, the Victorians are sixth in the order with which the Malta Football Association (MAFA)’s system – COMET – will decide how this year’s fixtures will take place.
As usual, each team will play two rounds of matches from the start of the season which, this year, will be September 25.
Mqabba and San Gwann Pro-Evolution Academy will be the only newcomers in this year’s Division Two after a draw between interested sides, in order to complete the group as San Giljan Saints and Valletta Stars were promoted to Division One.
Pitches
As for this season’s pitches, Marsaxlokk, Santa Lucija, and Mosta will be the grounds at which the Victorians will play this season. Abdilla said that all COVID-19 protocols from last season will continue to be enforced and all matches will still take place behind closed doors this season. All players will also be required to have a vaccine certificate or a PCR test 48 hours before matchday at the earliest.
A full and updated fixture list will be published soon, so stay tuned!