Hibernians conquering all in Malta
Monday, December 1, 2014
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Hibernians FC are 12 points clear at the top in Malta after just 13 league games. "We are like a family on and off the pitch," defensive stalwart Clayton Failla told UEFA.com.
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Plenty of sides have made brilliant starts to the 2014/15 season, but there is no league that has been dominated quite like the Maltese Premier Division, where Hibernians FC reign supreme.
A 6-0 victory against Qormi FC in their 13th game of the campaign maintained Branko Nišević's team's 12-point lead at the top of the table. Hibernians have dropped just two points all season – in a 1-1 draw against Tarxien Rainbows FC on 18 October. The Paola outfit are averaging over three goals a match and have conceded only six this term. In most other countries, it would look like game over, but the Premier League rules mean there is still hope for the chasing pack.
Back in Malta after a long spell in the Italian lower leagues, central defender André Agius told UEFA.com: "Unfortunately, the 12-point lead over current champions Valletta might still not be enough, since the points totals get halved after all the teams have played each other twice. We have to keep working day in day out to keep getting results every weekend. This has been an amazingly positive run, but we have to keep our foot on the gas because this team can do more."
Serbian coach Nišević, once a Hibernians player, is clearly doing the right things behind the scenes in his second season in charge after being lured away from a job in the Malta Football Association (MFA) technical centre. As stalwart Clayton Failla explained: "Our secret is that we play as a team – we are like a family on and off the pitch. There is way to go before any title talk, though. We need to keep working hard as there are still 20 finals to play."
The Paolites have also profited from Brazilian talent. Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias and Jackson Lima have shone while Edison (14) and Jorginho (10) have contributed 24 goals between them. However, no less satisfying has been the form of local players, with Under-21 international Johan Bezzina a regular starter in midfield. "The atmosphere in the camp is incredible," the 20-year-old said. "A mention to our coaching staff and the committee members – they are why we are always prepared for anything that is thrown at us."