Lowenbrau Cup heralds early start for new season

The football season in Malta this year is in for an early start as the Lowenbrau Cup, the summer competition organised by the Malta FA, kicks off three weeks in advance on Monday at the Hibs Ground.

The three participants in this tournament are the three clubs representing Malta in the main UEFA competitions - Sliema Wanderers, the Lowenbrau Cup holders, Hibernians and Birkirkara.

The draws of the competition were held yesterday at the Lowenbrau headquarters in Qormi in the presence of MFA president Joe Mifsud and firm director Paul Debattista.

Hibs and Birkirkara were drawn to meet in the first match on Monday. Sliema enter the fray today week, when facing the losers of Monday's match, or the Stripes if the opening tie ends all-square.

The Lowenbrau Cup comes to a close on Friday, July 12, when Sliema face the winners of the Birkirkara-Hibs tie. All matches start at 6 p.m.

The Paolites will be the first Maltese club in action in Europe when facing Ireland's Shelbourne in the first qualifying round of the Champions League on July 17 at Ta' Qali.

They are expected to figure with almost the same squad that won them the championship last season. The only exceptions are Silvio Vella, who retired, and the inclusion of Lee Lombardi, who was acquired from St Andrews.

Birkirkara face Ukraine's Metalurg in the UEFA Cup on August 15 and could field two Czech players and a Scottish midfielder in their team.

The Wanderers, who play Polonia Warsaw in the UEFA Cup, have so far been the most active side in the transfer market having already secured the services of Joe Brincat from Birkirkara and Bizu from Floriana. Czech Pavel Mraz and Ryad Gango-Rtsa will also feature for the Blues in Eurocups.

The MFA president augured that the Lowenbrau Cup will herald a new season full of exciting play and attractive football. As regards the early dates of the competition, he said it was ideal for Maltese clubs in Euro competitions to be given a chance to test their powers before their international commitments.

"The Lowenbrau Cup has always been a huge success with the clubs and fans," Dr Mifsud said. "One hopes that the same interest will also be maintained this year notwithstanding the change of dates."

The MFA president thanked Lowenbrau for their support during the past seven years and said the two parties had just signed a new two-year agreement which will extend their relationship until 2004.

Dr Debattista said it was his company's satisfaction to give its share of help to local football and re-iterated that it's Lowenbrau's stance to maintain their commitment with the Malta FA.

"We believe that our sponsorship is providing a timely boost to Maltese clubs whose participation in the UEFA competitions means huge financial expenses," he said.

"We wish Hibs, Sliema and Birkirkara good luck and hope that Lowenbrau's contribution will help them obtain satisfactory results."

Lowenbrau Cup: Monday - 6 p.m. Birkirkara vs Hibs. Wednesday - 6 p.m. Losers Game 1 vs Sliema. Friday, July 12 - 6 p.m. Winners Game 1 vs Sliema.