San Ġwann women teams thriving in new chapter

In the last couple of seasons, the MFA Women’s League has welcomed two new locations in its football movement.

In the 2020/2021 season, Mtarfa made their debut in the senior women’s league after having already been part of the youth competitions. In the current 2021/2022 campaign, it was the turn of San Ġwann to make their entry at this level after replacing the departing Mosta in all competitive categories – U-16’s, U-20’s and ‘A’ football.

Throughout the past years, San Ġwann has become an established club in nurturing gifted players in men’s football. Their reputation bodes for their future in the women’s game as they will be looking to emulate their teaching process with the young girls as well.

“Although we made the move from Mosta to San Ġwann, the team stayed united and that was very important for us,” Lynn Mifsud, senior club captain told the Times of Malta. 

“Once joined forces with San Ġwann, we found a huge cooperation from the nursery and they have always been helpful when it was needed.

One of the main situations being that we needed training space for at least three to four times weekly. It has not always been easy but I believe that whenever the parties communicate with each other, it has always paid dividends. 

San Ġwann have immediately left their mark in their first season as their U-16’s girls have managed to reach the Knock-Out competition final after beating Raiders Lija in the semi-finals. They will contend the cup final against Swieqi United on May 15.

These U-16’s girls are coached by Mifsud. Coaching the young girls has also allowed her to learn more about the game and view it from a different perspective as well. 

“I am thrilled to have embarked in this coaching experience because it helps me enrich my football knowledge at the same time,” Mifsud admitted.

“Obviously, coaching is a different world and you have to face different challenges especially since I am coaching young girls so therefore they are in their early stages of juggling school and football while going through some important physical development.

In addition, they look up to the coach as their role model so that adds further responsibility on my shoulders.”

In addition, the U-20’s side finished their season in a respectable fourth position after 15 games played, just behind established clubs like Birkirkara, Raiders Lija and Swieqi United. 

At senior level, it was expected that the team – coached by Gżira United player Jean Paul Attard – would find it tough to obtain points on a regular basis.

Nonetheless, the San Ġwann side have been brimming in confidence game after game and they are now in high spirits after chalking up their first win in the league two weeks ago. 

Goals from Yulya Carella and Kylie Pantalleresco handed San Ġwann a 2-0 victory over Mtarfa. Against the same opponents, they also recorded their first positive result (0-0) in the opening round of the season.

Mifsud is one of the players that brings plenty of experience to a side that includes also a handful of young talents that have already represented Malta at youth level. 

“Our senior’s league is hard because every year the teams become stronger, but this does not dishearten us,” the San Ġwann player said.

“It has been a massive satisfaction for us to clinch the first three points in the history of this club.

Such result has injected more confidence into us as we look over for a bright future.”

MFA WOMEN’S LEAGUE – THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES

TODAY – 20.30

Swieqi United vs Mġarr United, Mġarr Ground.

San Ġwann vs Raiders Lija, Centenary Stadium.

TOMORROW – 20.30

Kirkop United vs Mtarfa, Centenary Stadium.

MD20 bye: Birkirkara.