Archives

Abdilla, Scerri target final prize to end 2019 on top note

Published: 20-12-2019 15:55
image1 (102)
image2 (33)
Valletta and Balzan will be going all out to end 2019 on a top note by winning the BOV Super Cup at the National Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 15.00). This annual showdown pits the champions against the FA Trophy holders. Valletta have earned the right to contest the BOV Super Cup final after winning the title last season while Balzan captured the FA Trophy, their first major honour, after edging the Whites on penalties in a riveting final last May. Valletta and Balzan will be contesting their third cup final in just over a year as the two teams also met in last year’s BOV Super Cup with the Citizens prevailing 2-1. Darren Abdilla and Jacques Scerri, the coaches of Valletta and Balzan respectively, together with captains Jonathan Caruana and Steve Bezzina took part in the pre-match news conference on Friday. Abdilla, who took charge of Valletta last summer, said his players know what it takes to win finals as they have vast experience of contesting decisive matches. “This is another final and we will be doing our utmost to win the BOV Super Cup,” Abdilla said. “There is an honour at stake and everyone knows that success means everything for this club. We expect a difficult final against a strong Balzan team led by my respected colleague Jacques Scerri. “We are approaching this game like we normally do for the other matches. The players are focused and calm... the atmosphere is serene as the players have contested many finals. They know how to handle the pressure.” Jacques Scerri is also backing his Balzan players to rise to the challenge and emulate their FA Trophy win against the same opponents. “Seven months ago, we were in this same hall, meeting the media before the FA Trophy final,” Scerri said. “On that occasion, Balzan managed to win the FA Trophy after an extraordinary final. It was the first major honour won by the club, a significant achievement, but now we have a chance to win the second trophy and we will be giving our all to lift the Super Cup.” CAPTAINS’ DETERMINATION Jonathan Caruana and Steve Bezzina, the captains of Valletta and Balzan, both spoke about their resolve to help their team win the BOV Super Cup. “There is an honour at stake and our aim is to win it and end another successful year for Valletta on a high,” Caruana, who last year helped the Citizens to their 12th Super Cup triumph, said. “We want to win for the club, for ourselves and most importantly for our supporters. We have won many finals but we have also lost some and we don’t want to experience that feeling.” Balzan’s Bezzina believes that victory in the BOV Super Cup final could set the tone for a better second half of the season. “I will be giving my maximum to lead and help my team-mates win this final,” Bezzina said. “This is a chance to win a second trophy and conclude the year on a good note but success in the BOV Super Cup could also kickstart our league season and help us attain continuity as we’ve had an up-and-down campaign so far.” Valletta beat Balzan 2-0 in the first-round league match in September.