2022–23 in Gozitan football Gozo 2023 Island Games First Division Nadur Youngsters Second Division S.K. Victoria Wanderers G.F.A. Cup Nadur Youngsters Super Cup Ghajnsielem First Division Knock-Out Cup Nadur Youngsters Second Division Knock-Out Cup Xagħra United Second Division Challenge Cup S.K. Victoria Wanderers
The 2022–23 season was the annual competitive association football season in Gozo organised by the Gozo Football Association for 2022–23.
Overview
During the 2022-23 football season, the Gozo national football team participated in the 2023 Island Games.
As for domestic club football, 14 Gozitan clubs participated in the 2022–23 Gozitan football season, with 8 playing in First Division, the top division in Gozo, and the remaining six in the Second Division.
The Gozo Football Association also held a number of cup competitions, namely: the G.F.A. Cup, a knock-out cup which was contested by all Gozitan clubs; the Super Cup, contested by the holders of the First Division and the G.F.A. Cup; the First Division Knock-Out, a knock-out cup contested by clubs playing in the First Division; the Second Division Knock-Out, a knock-out cup contested by clubs playing in the Second Division; and the Second Division Challenge Cup, a cup contested by clubs playing in the Second Division.
The draw for all the competitions organised by the Gozo Football Association for the 2022–23 season was held on 22 July 2022. All matches organised by the Gozo Football Association were held at either the Gozo Stadium or the Kerċem Ajax Stadium. No matches were held at the Sannat Ground, given that it was still being refurbished.
Gozitan clubs also participated in the knock-out cups organised by the Malta Football Association. Indeed, the clubs of the First Division participated in the 2022–23 Maltese FA Trophy whereas the clubs of the Second Division participated in the National Amateur Cup.
2023 Island Games
Squad
The following players were called up for the 2023 Island Games by coach Mark Buttigieg.
Caps and goals correct as of 20 June 2023
Group 4
TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts Jersey3300100109 Gozo32014136 Menorca31025503 Saint Helena3003013-130
Fixtures
First Division
The 2022–23 season was the 73rd edition of the Gozitan First Division. It was played between 9 September 2022 and 16 April 2023 and was contested by eight teams.
ClubLocationPosition in 2021–22Għajnsielem Għajnsielem 2ndKerċem Ajax Kerċem 3rdNadur Youngsters Nadur 1stOratory Youths Victoria 6th Qala Saints Qala 1st in Second DivisionSannat Lions Sannat 7thVictoria Hotspurs Victoria 4thXewkija Tigers Xewkija 5th
In terms of format, the First Division was split into two phases. In the first part of the season, the eight teams of the First Division faced each other played in a double round-robin format. Thereafter, the First Division was split into two divisions, with the top four at the end of the first part of the season qualifying for the Top Four and the bottom four qualifying for the Playout.
Each club in both divisions played each other twice, with the winner of the Top Four being crowned winners of the 2022-23 First Division, the club ending bottom of the Playout being relegated to the 2023-24 Second Division, and the club ending second from bottom getting the chance to defend the top flight status by qualifying for the Promotion/Relegation Play-off.
Ultimately, Nadur Youngsters won the league for a record 14th time, Sannat Lions got relegated, and Victoria Hotspurs ended up penultimate and vied for their top division status in the Promotion/Relegation Play-off, which they lost against Xagħra United.
First Phase
League table
Results
Second Phase
Top Four
Play-Out
Promotion/Relegation Play-off
The Promotion/Relegation Play-off was contested by Victoria Hotspurs, who finished second from bottom in the First Division, and Xagħra United, who ended runners-up in the Second Division. Xagħra United won the match 2–1, thus winning the right to participate in the upcoming First Division and condemning Victoria Hotspurs to Second Division football.
Details
Second Division
The 2022–23 season was the 61st edition of the Gozitan Second Division. It was played between 16 October 2022 and 19 March 2023 and was contested by six teams.
ClubLocationPosition in 2021–22Għarb Rangers Għarb 6thMunxar Falcons Munxar 2ndS.K. Victoria Wanderers Victoria 8th in First DivisionSt. Lawrence Spurs San Lawrenz 4thXagħra United Xagħra 5thŻebbuġ Rovers Żebbuġ 3rd
Each team played each other 3 times, thus playing 15 matches in total. S.K. Victoria Wanderers won the Second Division for the sixth time whereas Xagħra United ended runners-up and qualified for the 2022-23 Promotion/Relegation Play-off.
League table
Results
Matches 1 to 10
Matches 11 to 15
G.F.A. Cup
The GFA Cup was contested by all the fourteen clubs of First Division and the Second Division.
Out of the fourteen participants, the first two which were drawn, namely Nadur Youngsters and S.K. Victoria Wanderers, got a bye and qualified directly to the Quarter Finals. Conversely, the remaining twelve teams were drawn to contest the Preliminary Round, with the winners of the six ties joining Nadur Youngsters and S.K. Victoria Wanderers in the Quarter Finals.
Preliminary Round
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Details
Super Cup
The 2022 Gozitan Super Cup was the 32nd Maltese Super Cup, an annual football match played between the title holders of the Gozitan First Division and the G.F.A. Cup.
It was contested on 21 September 2022 by Nadur Youngsters, who won both the 2021-22 First Division and the 2021-22 G.F.A. Cup, and Ghajnsielem, who were runners-up in both competitions.
Details
First Division Knock-Out Cup
The cup was contested by the clubs participating in the 2022-23 First Division. Given that there were eight contestants, all clubs were drawn to the participate in the Quarter-Finals.
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Details
Second Division Knock-Out Cup
The clubs who ended up in the last four positions of 2021-22 Second Division qualified for the Preliminary Round. The winners of the two ties qualified for the semi-finals, where they joined the seeded teams, namely S.K. Victoria Wanderers as the club relegated from the 2021-22 First Division and Munxar Falcons as the Second Division runners-up for the same season, which got a bye and qualified directly to the Semi-Finals.
Preliminary Round
Semi-Finals
Final
Details
Second Division Challenge Cup
The Second Division Challenge Cup consisted of two phases. In the first phase, the Qualifying Round, which was played between 3 September 2022 and 5 October 2022, the clubs of the Second Division faced each other in a single round-robin tournament. The clubs which placed in the first two places qualified for the final.
Qualifying Round
Final
By virtue of finishing first and second place respectively in the Qualifying Round, S.K. Victoria Wanderers and Xagħra United won the right to play the Second Division Challenge Cup Final.
Details
2022-23 Individual Honours
HonourWinnerClub/NotesGFA Player of the Year AwardJordi ParnisQala Saints1st Division Top Scorer Marcelo Barbosa 16 goalsNadur Youngsters1st Division Foreign Player of the Year Marcelo BarbosaNadur YoungstersPeople Choice's AwardJordi ParnisQala SaintsGFA Young Player of the YearMatthias CordinaXagħra UnitedGFA Coach of the YearMark ButtigiegNadur Youngsters2nd Division Player of the YearMatthias CordinaXagħra United2nd Division Top Scorer Aud-Gustine James Obaje 14 goalsS.K. Victoria WanderersGozo 2nd Div. Foreign Player of the Year Aud-Gustine James ObajeS.K. Victoria WanderersGFA Fair Play AwardSannat LionsGFA Official of the YearJosmar AzzopardiŻebbuġ RoversGFA Achievement AwardsJohn Camilleri334 Career Goals Top Maltese ScorerFrank Muscat270 Career Goals 7th Top Maltese ScorerGFA Recognition AwardGigi XuerebSalesian Youths Lifetime Contribution
Maltese FA Trophy
Preliminary Round
Round Of 32
Round of 16
National Amateur Cup
Preliminary Round
Round of 16
References
External links Gozo Football Association - Official website Malta Football Association - Match Centre Gozo Team at Men's Football Tournament - Island Games Guernsey 2023