2023–24 Maltese National Amateur League

The 2023–24 Maltese National Amateur League (referred to, for sponsorship reasons, as the IZIBet National Amateur League) occurs between 15 September 2023 and 23 April 2024. This is the fourth season since the Second and Third divisions were unified into the two-group Amateur League system. The Maltese National Amateur League is Malta's third-highest professional football division. The 2023-24 League winners will be promoted to the Maltese Challenge League.

Maltese National Amateur League
Season2023–24
Dates15 September 2023 – 23 April 2024
ChampionsMgarr United
PromotedMgarr United
Mtarfa
RelegatedDingli Swallows
Ghaxaq
Kalkara United
Mdina Knights
Mqabba
Santa Venera Lightning
Siggiewi
St. George's
Ta' Xbiex
Matches played239
Goals scored908 (3.8 per match)
Top goalscorerKurt Borg
(33 Goals)
Biggest home winSan Ġwann 11-0 Ta' Xbiex
(28 January 2024)
Biggest away winTa' Xbiex 0-10 Mgarr United
(28 October 2023)
Highest scoringTa' Xbiex 1-10 Vittoriosa Stars
(20 January 2024)
San Ġwann 11-0 Ta' Xbiex
(28 January 2024)
Kirkop United 10-1 Ta' Xbiex
(7 April 2024)
Longest winning runMtarfa
(8 Games)
Longest unbeaten runMtarfa
(13 Games)
Longest winless runMdina Knights
(23 Games)
Longest losing runMdina Knights
(21 Games)
All statistics correct as of 23 April 2024.

Team changes

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The following teams have changed divisions since the 2022–23 season:

Promoted from
2022–23 Maltese National Amateur League
Relegated from
2022–23 Maltese Challenge League
Senglea Athletic
Msida Saint-Joseph
Luqa St. Andrew's
Zabbar St. Patrick
Marsaskala
Mqabba
Mtarfa
Qrendi
San Gwann
Vittoriosa Stars

Teams

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Twenty-Three teams competed in the 2023-24 League. These teams were split into two groups.

Team Location Manager
Birzebbuga St. Peter's Birzebbuga   Edward Azzopardi
Dingli Swallows Dingli   Nicolai Caruana
Gharghur Gharghur   Kevin Borg Degiorgio
Ghaxaq Ghaxaq   Spiridione Curmi
Kalkara United Kalkara   Paul Bugeja
Kirkop United Kirkop   Matthew Caruana
Marsaskala Marsaskala   Brian Vella
Mdina Knights Mdina   Roland Sollars
Mellieħa Mellieħa   Warren Said
Mgarr United Mgarr   Brian Spiteri
Mqabba Mqabba   Vincent Carbonaro
Mtarfa Mtarfa   George Magri
Pembroke Athleta Pembroke   Jeffrey Mifsud
Qormi Qormi   Lydon Fenech
Qrendi Qrendi   Gotthard Conti
Rabat Ajax Rabat   Paul Falzon
San Ġwann San Ġwann   Xavier Saliba
Santa Venera Lightnings Santa Venera   Marco Grech
Siggiewi Siggiewi   David Mifsud
St. George's Cospicua   Trevor Thomas
Ta' Xbiex Ta' Xbiex   Mario Fenech
Vittoriosa Stars Birgu   Dennis Apap
Xgħajra Tornados Xghajra   Keith Darmanin

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure
Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Mellieha   Antoine Camilleri Sacked 6 October 2023 9th (Group A)   Roger Walker and   Ivan Mandic (Caretakers) 6 October 2023
Siġġiewi   Alexander Delia 19 November 2023 11th (Group A)   David Mifsud 19 November 2023
Mellieha   Roger Walker and   Ivan Mandic End of Caretakers 3 January 2024 9th (Group A)   Warren Said 3 January 2024
Mġarr United   Jason Camenzuli Sacked 4 February 2024 2nd (Group B)   Brian Spiteri 5 February 2024

Venues

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Pembroke Mosta San Pawl il-Baħar Ta' Qali Hamrun
Luxol Stadium Charles Abela Stadium Sirens Stadium Centenary Stadium Victor Tedesco Stadium
Capacity: 600 Capacity: 700 Capacity: 800 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 1,962
         

League stage

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Mtarfa (P) 22 17 4 1 71 13 +58 55 Promotion to the 2024–25 Maltese Challenge League and Championship play-offs
2 Birzebbuga St. Peter's 22 15 4 3 67 26 +41 49
3 Qrendi 22 13 2 7 55 28 +27 41
4 Xgħajra Tornados 22 11 4 7 33 30 +3 37
5 Mellieħa 22 11 4 7 50 29 +21 37
6 Rabat Ajax[a] 22 10 4 8 31 29 +2 34
7 Mqabba[a] (R) 22 11 1 10 33 32 +1 34 Qualification for the relegation play-offs
8 Pembroke Athleta 22 9 3 10 50 51 −1 30
9 Santa Venera Lightning (R) 22 7 4 11 32 47 −15 25 Relegation to the 2024–25 Maltese National Amateur League 2
10 Siggiewi (R) 22 5 3 14 23 47 −24 18
11 Kalkara United (R) 22 4 4 14 30 73 −43 16
12 Mdina Knights (R) 22 0 1 21 6 75 −69 1
Updated to match(es) played on 14 April 2024. Source: [1]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, relegation, or teams for relegation play-offs).
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Rabat Ajax and Mqabba finished equal on points, A play-off decider determines the seventh place and Qualification for the relegation play-offs

Group A Results

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Home \ Away BRZ KLK MDI MLĦ MQA MTF PBK QRE RBT SVL SIG XJR
Birzebbuga St. Peter's 7–1 6–0 3–3 3–0 0–3 3–1 1–0 3–1 5–1 2–0 2–1
Kalkara United 1–1 3–0 0–9 0–1 2–5 1–5 0–4 2–4 2–2 1–4 0–0
Mdina Knights 0–5 0–2 0–5 1–3 0–4 1–6 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–3 1–1
Mellieħa 3–2 1–2 2–0 0–3 0–0 2–0 2–1 1–3 2–2 4–0 0–1
Mqabba 1–4 4–2 3–1 0–3 0–3 1–3 0–3 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–2
Mtarfa 1–1 7–0 7–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 4–0 4–0 4–1 3–0
Pembroke Athleta 2–7 8–3 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–8 4–5 0–0 0–3 4–1 2–1
Qrendi 4–1 3–0 4–1 1–3 0–3 0–1 5–3 0–0 6–0 3–0 1–2
Rabat Ajax 1–2 2–4 2–0 2–1 0–3 1–1 2–1 0–0 4–0 2–0 1–0
Santa Venera Lightning 1–3 2–1 2–0 3–3 1–0 0–3 1–2 2–1 3–1 0–1 2–3
Siggiewi 1–1 3–2 2–0 1–2 1–3 0–4 0–3 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1
Xgħajra Tornados 0–5 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–1 1–2 2–0 1–3 2–1 4–2 2–1
Updated to match(es) played on 14 April 2024. Source: [2]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Mgarr United (C) 20 14 4 2 68 18 +50 46 Promotion to the 2024–25 Maltese Challenge League and Championship play-offs
2 Qormi 20 11 4 5 47 31 +16 37
3 Marsaskala 20 12 1 7 39 29 +10 37
4 San Ġwann 20 10 5 5 52 29 +23 35
5 Gharghur 20 10 4 6 34 25 +9 34
6 Kirkop United 20 10 2 8 52 27 +25 32
7 St. George's (R) 20 9 4 7 47 35 +12 31 Qualification for the relegation play-offs
8 Vittoriosa Stars 20 9 5 6 50 27 +23 29[a]
9 Ghaxaq (R) 20 4 2 14 35 63 −28 14 Relegation to the 2024–25 Maltese National Amateur League 2
10 Dingli Swallows (R) 20 3 1 16 18 67 −49 10
11 Ta' Xbiex (R) 20 2 0 18 23 113 −90 6
Updated to match(es) played on 20 April 2024. Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, relegation, or teams for relegation play-offs).
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Vittoriosa Stars were docked three points.[1]

Group B Results

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Home \ Away DIN GHR GHX KRK MRK MGR QOR SGN STG XBX VIT
Dingli Swallows 0–4 0–3 0–1 2–1 0–4 1–4 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–5
Gharghur 0–1 2–1 0–2 1–0 2–2 3–0 1–5 1–2 4–0 0–0
Ghaxaq 1–0 0–4 2–3 1–3 1–4 1–4 1–6 1–5 5–1 2–2
Kirkop United 9–1 5–0 1–0 0–2 0–1 3–3 0–1 1–3 10–1 0–2
Marsaskala 3–2 1–0 4–3 0–2 0–1 5–2 0–1 3–2 4–1 0–3
Mgarr United 6–0 0–0 10–0 2–1 5–3 2–2 3–1 1–0 9–0 2–0
Qormi 3–0 1–1 3–0 2–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 5–2 4–1 1–0
San Ġwann 0–0 2–3 3–2 3–3 1–2 2–0 3–1 1–4 11–0 1–1
St. George's 6–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–5 1–1 6–3 1–0
Ta' Xbiex 4–6 0–3 2–8 1–7 1–4 0–10 1–2 1–5 0–4 1–10
Vittoriosa Stars 7–0 3–2 4–1 1–2 1–1 4–3 1–2 4–2 2–2 0–3[a]
Updated to match(es) played on 14 April 2024. Source: [4]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ Ta' Xbiex were awarded a 3–0 win after the Malta Football Association's Protests Board upheld their protest. Originally, the match ended in a 5–1 to Vittoriosa Stars.


Group A Sixth Place tie-breaker

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With both Mqabba and Rabat Ajax level on 34 points, a play-off match was conducted to the looser qualify for the Relegation Play-offs

18 April 2024 Rabat Ajax 2–1MqabbaĦamrun
20:00 CEST
  • Andy Paul Camilleri   29'
  • Immy Micallef   72' (pen)
  • Nikolai Farrugia Cross   60'
  • Ishmael Galea   90+5'
Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Slawomir Olucha

Championship final

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20 April 2024 Mtarfa0–2 Mgarr United Ta' Qali
16:00 CEST
  • Luca Bugeja   15'
  • Jeremy Busuttil   23'
  • Andrea Azzopardi   33'
  • Gabriel Nazareno Mannino   90+7'
  • Nicholas Schembri   19'
  • Julian Camilleri   21'
  • Jurgen Suda   45+1' (pen),   45+1'
  • Jacob Chircop St John   84'
  • Saint Ebisindor Christian   90+4'
Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Vladimir Rizoski

Relegation play-offs

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23 April 2024 St. George's0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)
Pembroke Athleta Ta' Qali
20:45 CEST
  • Erson Schembri   14'
  • Irvin Abela   40'
  • Loumar Cutajar   62'
  • Owen Galea   109'
  • Kyle Sciberras Balbi   19'
  • Weverton Gomes   41'
  • Jordan Busuttil   73'
Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Daniel Casha
Penalties
  • Ivan Bojovic  
  • Erson Schembri  
  • Neil Buttigieg  
  • Adrian Caruana  
  • Dylan Grima  
  •   Weverton Gomes
  •   Kyle Sciberras Balbi
  •   Mouied Algazali
  •   Nigel Zahra
  •   Jordan Vella
23 April 2024 Mqabba1–2 Vittoriosa Stars Hamrun
19:30 CEST
  • Daniel Scerri   60'
  • Andrei Spiteri   71'
  • Leighton Grech   77'
  • Andres Tenorio Viveros   70'
  • Shaban Chikh Ali   90+4'
  • Gabriel Sant  51'
  • Joseph Jojo Ogunnupe   52', 90+3' (pen)
Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Joseph Scerri

Season statistics

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Scoring

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Top scorers

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As of 23 April 2024[2]
Rank Player Club Goals
1   Kurt Borg Mtarfa 33
2   Samuel Saldanha Birżebbuġa St. Peter's 30
3   Weverton Gomes Souza Pembroke Athleta 28
4   Saint Ebisindor Christian Mgarr United 23
5   Brandon Bray Qrendi 21
6   Richmond Baratuipre Hanson Santa Venera Lightnings 19
7   Luka Mijic Mellieha 17
8   Ryan Dalli Kirkop United 16
  Joseph Jojo Ogunnupe Vittoriosa Stars
10   Jayden Borg Qormi 14
11   Nezar Fawzi Abouhaisa San Gwann 13
12   Jurgen Suda Mgarr United 12
  Gianfranco Micallef Mtarfa

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Group Stadium Date
  Samuel Saldanha Birżebbuġa St. Peter's Pembroke Athleta 7–2 (A) A Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar 24 September 2023
  Weverton Gomes Pembroke Athleta Mdina Knights 6–1 (A) Charles Abela Memorial Stadium, Mosta 7 October 2023
  Andres Tenorio Viveros Mqabba Kalkara United 4–2 (H) Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar
  Saint Ebisindor Christian6 Mgarr United Ghaxaq 10–0 (H) B Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali 20 October 2023
  Saint Ebisindor Christian5 Ta' Xbiex 10–0 (A) Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar 28 October 2023
  Samuel Saldanha Birżebbuġa St. Peter's Santa Venera Lightnings 5–1 (A) A 29 October 2023
  Morientes Muscat St. George's Ghaxaq 5–1 (A) B 12 November 2023
  Deison Arvey Cuero Siggiewi Mdina Knights 3–0 (A) A 25 November 2023
  Aaron Agius Ghaxaq Ta' Xbiex 8–2 (A) B 26 November 2023
  Brandon Bray4 Qrendi Birżebbuġa St. Peter's 4–1 (H) A 10 December 2023
  Kurt Borg Mtarfa Mdina Knights 7–0 (H) Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali
  Kurt Borg4 Pembroke Athleta 8-1 (A) Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar 16 December 2023
  Gianfranco Micallef
  Ryan Dalli4 Kirkop United Ta' Xbiex 7–1 (A) B Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali 5 January 2024
  Brandon Bray4 Qrendi Pembroke Athleta 5–3 (H) A Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun 8 January 2024
  Weverton Gomes Pembroke Athleta Qrendi 3–5 (A)
  Giovanni Galea Kirkop United Dingli Swallows 9–1 (H) B Charles Abela Memorial Stadium, Mosta 14 January 2024
  Ryan Dalli
  Nezar Fawzi Abouhaisa San Ġwann Ghaxaq 6–1 (A) Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali 19 January 2024
  Jayden Borg Qormi Dingli Swallows 4–1 (A) Charles Abela Memorial Stadium, Mosta 20 January 2024
  Shaban Chikh Ali4 Vittoriosa Stars Ta' Xbiex 10–1 (A) Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar
  Samuel Saldanha Birżebbuġa St. Peter's Mdina Knights 5–0 (A) A Luxol Stadium, Pembroke 21 January 2024
  Andre Joe Cutajar4 San Ġwann Ta' Xbiex 11–0 (A) B Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar 28 January 2024
  Syzmon Grzegorz Plocica
  Nezar Fawzi Abouhaisa
  Brandon Bray Qrendi Siggiewi 4–1 (A) A Luxol Stadium, Pembroke 4 February 2024
  Samuel Saldanha Birżebbuġa St. Peter's Kalkara United 7–1 (H) Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar 10 February 2024
  Weverton Gomes5 Pembroke Athleta 8–3 (H) Charles Abela Memorial Stadium, Mosta 24 February 2024
  Richmond Baratuipre Hanson Santa Venera Lightnings Mdina Knights 4–0 (A) Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar
  Luka Mijic Mellieħa Kalkara United 9–0 (A) 3 March 2024
  Weverton Gomes Pembroke Athleta Siggiewi 4–1 (H) 9 March 2024
  Timothy John Thomas St. George's Ta' Xbiex 6–3 (H) B 10 March 2024
  Jurgen Gerada Ghaxaq Dingli Swallows 3–0 (A)
  Shamison Farrugia Dingli Swallows Ta' Xbiex 6–4 (A) 16 March 2024
  Brandon Bray Qrendi Pembroke Athleta 5–4 (A) A Luxol Stadium, Pembroke 6 April 2024
  Ryan Dalli Kirkop United Ta' Xbiex 10–1 (H) B Charles Abela Memorial Stadium, Mosta 6 April 2024
  Kurt Borg4 Mtarfa Kalkara United 7–0 (H) A Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali 14 April 2024
Notes

4 Player scored 4 goalss
5 Player scored 5 goalss
6 Player scored 6 goals

Clean sheets

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As of 20 April 2024
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1   Dunstan Zarb Mtarfa 11
  Jacob Chircop St John Mgarr
3   Dean Sciberras Rabat Ajax 9
4   Andrew Joseph Zammit Gharghur 8
5   James Abela Mqabba 7
  Christian Cassar Qrendi
7   Mario Bartolo Birzebbuga St. Peter's 6
8   Clayton Rapa Kirkop United 5
  Anthony Curmi Mellieha
10   Clyde Aquilina Santa Venera Lightning 4
  Jonathan Grech Vittoriosa Stars

Discipline

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Player

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  • Most yellow cards: 10
    •   Domenico Marsala (Dingli Swallows)
  • Most red cards: 2
    •   Nicholas Formosa (Gharghur)
    •   Clive Fenech (Ghaxaq)
    •   Neil Borg (Mellieħa)
    •   Gianluca Sultana (St. George's)
    •   Theodoric Catania (Santa Venera Lightning)
    •   Miguel Agius (Ta' Xbiex)
    •   Liam Ciantar (Vittoriosa Stars)

Club

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Awards

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Round Manager of the First Round Player of the First Round
Manager Club Player Club
First Round   Lydon Fenech Qormi   Kurt Borg Mtarfa

References

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  1. ^ "Decision On Vittoriosa Stars". mfa.com.mt/. Maltese National Amateur League. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Tables & Statistics". maltafootball.com. 20 September 2020.
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