2020-21 BOV Premier League set for exciting start

The 2020-21 National League draws were made this afternoon at the Centenary Hall. Matchday One of the 2020-21 BOV Premier League, scheduled to kick off on September 11, features a series of clashes between teams with high aspirations of challenging at the top. Floriana, the winners of the 2019-20 BOV Premier League, face Gżira United in their opening fixture, Valletta, runners-up last season, take on Birkirkara and Hibernians meet Sliema Wanderers. Sirens, fourth last season, launch their campaign against Ħamrun Spartans. Żejtun Corinthians, promoted as champions of the BOV First Division, start their maiden top-flight campaign against Santa Lucia. The BOV Premier League draw was conducted by Dr Angelo Chetcuti, General Secretary of the Malta FA, and former Malta midfielder Nicky Saliba. Rivals Floriana and Valletta are scheduled to meet on the 10th day while the first clash between Ħamrun Spartans and Valletta will take place on the 14th day. The 2020-21 BOV Premier League consists of 16 teams with the four bottom teams to be relegated and the fifth-from-bottom (12th) facing the third-placed team in the BOV Challenge League in a promotion/relegation play-off. The draws covered seven championships organised by the Malta FA, namely the BOV Premier League, BOV Challenge League, BOV National Amateur League, BOV Women’s League, National Youth League (Sections A to D), Women’s U19 League and Women’s U15 League. Gareth Sciberras, the former Malta midfielder, and Rebecca D’Agostino and Natasha Pace, former captain and vice-captain of the Malta women’s team, assisted with the draws of the women’s and youth championships. MATCHDAY ONEĦamrun Spartans vs SirensŻejtun Corinthians vs Santa LuciaSliema Wanderers vs HiberniansLija Athletic vs Senglea AthleticFloriana vs Gżira UnitedMosta vs Gudja UnitedTarxien Rainbows vs BalzanValletta vs BirkirkaraMatches to be played on 11-13 September, 2020BOV CHALLENGE LEAGUE The BOV Challenge League will comprise 15 teams. The top two teams gain promotion to the BOV Premier League, the third-placed side meets the 12th-placed team in the Premier League in a play-off and the bottom five teams will be relegated. MATCHDAY ONEPembroke Athleta vs Pietà HotspursQormi vs Naxxar LionsSwieqi United vs St George’sMarsa vs Vittoriosa StarsSan Ġwann vs QrendiSt Andrews vs Fgura UnitedŻebbuġ Rangers vs MqabbaMatches to be played on 11-13 September, 2020 BOV NATIONAL AMATEUR LEAGUE The BOV National Amateur League is made up of 22 teams split into three groups – two of seven and one of eight. The three group winners will earn automatic promotion while the nine teams finishing second to fourth in every group will accede to the play-offs. The winner of the play-offs will secure the fourth and final promotion slot to the BOV Challenge League. MATCHDAY ONE GROUP AŻurrieq vs MellieħaBirżebbuġa St Peter’s vs GħargħurGħaxaq vs MarsaskalaTa’ Xbiex vs Mġarr United GROUP BRabat Ajax vs Żabbar St PatrickLuqa St Andrew’s vs SiġġiewiMsida St Joseph vs Mdina Knights GROUP CMelita vs KalkaraXgħajra Tornados vs AttardKirkop United vs Dingli SwallowsMatches to be played on 16-18 October, 2020 BOV WOMEN’S LEAGUE – MATCHDAY ONEMġarr United vs MostaMtarfa vs KirkopSwieqi United vs BirkirkaraMatches to be played on 29 September, 2020 NATIONAL YOUTH LEAGUE – MATCHDAY ONE SECTION AĦamrun Spartans vs Pietà HotspursHibernians vs Sliema WanderersSt Andrews vs MelitaValletta vs BirkirkaraMosta vs BalzanLija Athletic vs San Ġwann SECTION BSwieqi United vs Naxxar LionsŻabbar St Patrick vs Santa LuciaŻebbuġ Rangers vs MqabbaFloriana vs Luqa St Andrew’sPembroke Athleta vs AttardRabat Ajax vs Qormi SECTION CSirens vs MarsaFgura United vs Mġarr UnitedSt George’s vs MarsaxlokkMsida St Joseph vs Żejtun CorinthiansMellieħa vs Kirkop UnitedTarxien Rainbows vs Għaxaq SECTION DKalkara United vs Ta’ XbiexDingli Swallows vs Gżira UnitedSenglea Athletic vs Sta Venera LightningsSiġġiewi vs MarsaskalaMtarfa vs GħargħurXgħajra Tornados vs ŻurrieqMatches to be played on 14-16 September, 2020 WOMEN’S UNDER-19 LEAGUE – MATCHDAY ONESwieqi United vs MtarfaMġarr United vs BirkirkaraMosta vs Raiders GħargħurMatches to be played on 27 September, 2020 WOMEN’S UNDER-15 LEAGUE – MATCHDAY ONEMġarr United vs MtarfaSwieqi United bs MostaSenglea Athletic vs Żebbuġ RangersKirkop United vs Birkirkara Matches to be played on 17 October, 2020