The U*BET FA Trophy competition is building up to a crescendo as the quarter-final draws are due to be made on Monday 27 January.
The expectations of the eight teams in the hat will be high as they hope for a benign pairing in their bid to reach the last four of the second most prestigious competition in local football. The new all-inclusive format for Maltese and Gozitan league sides introduced in recent seasons has opened a window of opportunity for teams outside the top bracket to advance to the last stages. This time it is the turn of Pieta Hotspurs and Gzira United from the second tier of the national league to reach the last eight, the former rattling Hibernians, the holders, with a 1-0 shock win, with the Gzira team overcoming St George’s 2-1. The other six participants in the draw hail from the Premier division. They are Birkirkara, who cruised to a 4-0 victory over 1st division side St Andrew’s, Valletta, who ousted Mosta 3-0, Sliema Wanderers, 8-7 winners over Balzan on penalties, Naxxar Lions, who removed Floriana 1-0, and Qormi and Rabat Ajax, the former, finalists in the previous two seasons, when defeating Tarxien Rainbows 6-5 after a penalty shoot out and the latter after disposing of the remaining representatives from Gozo, Kercem Ajax. The draws will be conducted by MFA Chief Executive Officer Bjorn Vassallo in the presence the association’s Deputy General Secretary, Rodney Pisani, and Vasileos Kasiotakis, General Manager of Maltco Lotteries Ltd. Club and Press representatives will also be present. The ties are scheduled for the 15th and 16th February, with the venues to be announced later.