Eyes on the prize

Pilloried for their lack of grit and team spirit in critical matches, which ultimately cost them the league title, Sliema Wanderers at last showed character when, with a four-goal blitz in the final 20 minutes, they turned the tables on their fading rivals Valletta to seal their passage to the final.

On their part, Birkirkara relied on their great fighting spirit and stamina to see off the challenge of Hibernians, the newly-crowned champions of Malta, thanks to a last-gasp Chucks Nwoko header.

This evening`s Trophy final, the last to be sponsored by Rothmans, has taken on added significance for the two finalists whose main priority this season was to win the league title.

Sliema Wanderers are certainly driven by a great desire to silence their detractors, including many of their own supporters, who lambasted them for their failure to become champions. That a victory today would enable them to move ahead of eternal rivals Floriana in the all-time FA Trophy winners` list, will certainly provide the Blues with an added incentive to win the cup. Sliema and Floriana currently lead the all-time FA Trophy winners` list with 18 successes each.

Birkirkara, so unlucky with injuries this season, have always been on the losing end in Trophy finals and they will be itching to lay that jinx to rest today. Moreover, the Stripes, contesting the fourth Trophy final in a row, will also look to eradicate the painful memories of a 4-1 humbling to Sliema Wanderers in the 1999-2000 Rothmans Trophy final which spoilt their first league title celebrations.

Injuries continue to plague Stephen Azzopardi, the young Birkirkara coach, who has done a tremendous job in guiding his team to third place in the standings and to today`s final when the odds were stacked against his side.

Long-term injury victims Michael Spiteri, Antoine Zahra and Hubert Suda are still out of the equation while Michael Cutajar, who missed the 1-0 semi-final victory over Hibernians last Friday, represents their major fitness doubt ahead of this evening`s clash at Ta` Qali.

Joe Brincat and Clint Micallef also complained of minor injuries during the week and did some individual training but Azzopardi is hopeful that all the doubtful players will be declared fit to play in today`s showdown.

"This is our third final against Sliema in the last 12 years and it`s high time we get one over them. Perhaps, Sliema are regarded as slight favourites going into the final mainly due to their greater depth of resources but if we play with the same commitment and spirit as we did in our last five games, I see no reason not to be confident in our chances of victory," Azzopardi told The Times yesterday.

The fact that Birkirkara are still looking for their first Trophy success in their history will weigh heavily on the players` shoulders. "Birkirkara have never won the Trophy and that will increase the pressure on the players. Having said that, I am sure they will be adamant to break their duck.

"I am very delighted at the manner with which the players reacted to the adversity caused by injuries to so many regular players. Beating Valletta after seven failed attempts, placing third in the Premier League to secure qualification to Europe and reaching the final of the Rothmans Trophy when we had so many players missing, represent an achievement for this club this season," Azzopardi said.

Jeff Wood`s selection worries before today`s final are restricted to Roger Walker and Carlo Mamo. While the latter is definitely out of the picture as he is serving a six-month ban after failing a doping test, Walker is poised to make a comeback to the Sliema team after picking a knock on his head in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat of Pietà Hotspurs.

"It is a massive game for the club. Obviously, when you reach a cup final, the aim is to win the trophy but in football, there is always going to be winners and losers.

"I`m sure Birkirkara are talking and preparing for the final in the same way as we are. They have been plagued by injuries throughout the season and now that they`re in the final, they are going to try hard to win it," Wood said.

Having been under immense pressure as Sliema failed to deliver the goods in the Premier League, Wood is now hoping his team underlines its credentials as one of the best teams in Malta by lifting the Trophy for a record 19th time.

"We have won two cups early in the season and came second in the league. I`m sure that a lot of clubs would like to be in our situation. All I`m expecting of my players is to go out there and do their best to win this competition. If we play with the same commitment and quality as we did against Valletta, we have a good chance to win the Trophy," Wood said.

Birkirkara and Sliema shared the honours in their last three league matches, 1-1, 2-2 and 0-0 but the Wanderers had won the first round encounter 1-0 courtesy of a Danilo Doncic goal.

If today`s final is still a draw after the normal 90 minutes, extra-time will be played. If no winner emerges after extra-time, a replay will be played on Sunday.