Xewkija Tigers F.C.

Full name Xewkija Tigers Football Club
Nickname(s) Tigers, Yellows
Founded 1939
Ground Gozo Stadium
Gozo, Malta
Capacity 4000
Chairman Jeffrey Farrugia
Manager Jesmond Zammit
League Gozo Division One

Xewkija Tigers F.C. is a football club from the village of Xewkija in Gozo, Malta. The club was founded in 1939, and currently plays in the Gozo Football League.

History

The Tigers have a very positive history in local football and for many seasons they were among the contenders for the honours in Gozo. Xewkija Tigers can trace their foundation to 1939. Yet it was 5 years after that, that they played their first competitive match. It was in fact during the 1944–45 season where Xewkija Tigers first participated in the local competitions, when since then they had only played friendly games, mainly due to the difficulties Gozitans suffered during the World War II. Xewkija's first honour arrived in the following season, 1945–46, where they lifted the Galea Cup in a match won against Xaghra Blue by 1–0 on 12 May 1946.

In the period between 1958–59 and 1965–66 seasons Xewkija participated in the local league under two different names, Xewkija United/Xewkija Tigers and Xewkija Rovers. The name Xewkija United was only used for a single season (1958–59), where successively the team was called again Xewkija Tigers. Whereas Xewkija Rovers continued to play as a separate team from the Tigers for some more years in the Gozo Football League, precisely until the 1965–66 season. At the end of this season it was decided that Xewkija Rovers should stop participating in the Gozitan league, leaving the village's representation solely to Xewkija Tigers.

Xewkija Tigers' first domestic league honour came at the end of the 1974–75 season. This squad included the likes of: John Busuttil, Mike Apap, Salvu Cilia, Charlie Le Prevost, Frank Mizzi, Carmel Attard, Raymond Rapa, Paul Vella, John Spiteri, Wistin Scerri, John Attard, Carmel Portelli, Benny Vella, Paul Hili, Joe Debrincat and Joe Grech. It was guided to victory under Mr. Joe Psaila, whereas the club was in the hands of President Mr. Frans Zammit Haber.

Xewkija Tigers' glory days were the early 1980s (1982–83 and 1983–84) when the team managed to win 2 consecutive league titles, together with the GFA Cup and the Silver Jubilee Cup. In other words this team managed to win all the titles which the Gozitan league offered in these years. Xewkija were managed by Mr. Salvu Cilia.

Xewkija Tigers' last domestic title arrived in the 2000–01 season in a decider final won against Nadur Youngsters F.C. by 4–3. It was a great and an unpredictable win, because 5 games before the end of the season Xewkija Tigers were trailing Nadur Youngsters by 8 points. Xewkija were once again managed under Mr. Salvu Cilia, who incidentally left his mark in all Xewkija's league titles (1 as a player and 3 as a coach).

After 2 seasons in the lowest division of the Gozo Football League, Xewkija Tigers returned with the big boys at the end of the 2008–09 season after winning the Promotion Decided with contenders Xaghra United by 3–2 (starting line-up: J.Grima, S.Mercieca, J.Vella, J.Vella, J.Cefai; S.Mizzi, A.Fotso, M.Pace (P.Rapa), J.Azzopardi (J.Azzopardi); C.Bugeja, R.Buttigieg). Xewkija were under the guidance of coach Mario Bonello.[1]

Players

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Malta GK Steve Sultana
2 Malta DF Joseph Azzoppardi
3 Malta DF Manuel Xerri
4 Malta DF Joseph Cefai (captain)
5 Malta DF Josmar Vella
6 Malta DF Peter Buttigieg
8 Malta MF Christian Bugeja
12 Malta MF Martin Hrbusa
No. Position Player
14 Malta MF Keith Fenech
13 Malta MF Gennaro Hili
15 Malta MF Glen Magri
20 Malta FW Joseph Mario Vella
21 Malta FW Thomas Vella
77 Malta FW Daniel Bogdanović
88 Malta FW Rodney Buttigieg
99 Brazil MF Thiago Melo Dos Santos


Out On Loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
Malta GK Joseph Grima at Munxar Falcons
Malta MF Paul Rapa at Victoria Hotspurs
Malta MF Joseph Azzopardi at Kercem Ajax

Honours

First Division:

  • Champions (8): 1974–75; 1982–83; 1983–84; 2000–01; 2011–12; 2013–14; 2014–15; 2016-2017
  • Runners-up (8): 1984–85; 1985–86; 1990–91; 1991–92; 2001–02; 2004–05 2012-2013 2015-2016

Second Division:

  • Champions (7): 1964–65; 1969–70; 1972–73; 1980–81; 1987–88; 1995–96; 2008–09
  • Runners-up (5): 1952–53; 1968–69; 1979–80; 1993–94; 2007–08

G.F.A. Cup:

  • Champions (10): 1983–84; 1984–85; 1989–90; 1990–91; 1999–00; 2001–02; 2004–05; 2011–2012; 2014-2015; 2015-2016

Super Cup:

  • Champions (4): 2004–05; 2011–2012 2014-2015 2015-2016

Republic Cup:

  • Champions (1): 1999–00

Gemaharija Cup:

  • Champions (1): 1989–90

Silver Jubilee Cup:

  • Champions (1): 1983–84

Independence Cup:

  • Champions (4): 1992–93; 2000–01; 2003–04; 2011–12

Freedom Cup:

  • Champions (5): 1979–80; 1980–81; 2000–01; 2003–04; 2011–2012

Galea Cup:

  • Champions (2): 1945–46; 1952–53

Challenge Cup:

  • Champions (2): 1974–75; 1980–81

Rothmans Cup:

  • Champions (1): 1987–88 (2nd Div.)

K.O. Winners Cup:

  • Champions (2): 1993–94 (2nd Div.); 1996–97 (1st Div.) 016-2017 (1st Div)02

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
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