2023–24 Maltese Challenge League Explained

Season:2023–24
Dates:16 September 2023 – 5 May 2024
Competition:Maltese Challenge League
Winners:Melita
Promoted:Melita
Żabbar St. Patrick
Relegated:Attard
Luqa St. Andrew's
Msida Saint-Joseph
Żejtun Corinthians
Matches:195
Total Goals:501
League Topscorer:Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa
(17 Goals)
Biggest Home Win:Żebbuġ Rangers 6-0 Msida Saint-Joseph
(17 March 2024)
Melita 5-1 Pietà Hotspurs
(27 April 2024)
Biggest Away Win:Attard 0-6 Żebbuġ Rangers
(7 April 2024)
Highest Scoring:Fgura United 4-4 Melita
(17 December 2023)
Longest Wins:Melita
(7 Games)
Longest Unbeaten:Senglea Athletic
(12 Games)
Longest Winless:Msida Saint-Joseph
(13 Games)
Longest Losses:Msida Saint-Joseph
(11 Games)
Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25
Updated:5 May 2024

The 2023–24 Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons) is the second-level league football in Malta. It is the fourth season that the competition has been running in its present form.

The top two teams (Melita and Żabbar St. Patrick) were promoted to the 2024–25 Maltese Premier League. The bottom four teams (Msida Saint-Joseph and three others) will be relegated to the 2024–25 Maltese National Amateur League.

Teams

The league consisted of sixteen teams; ten teams remaining from the previous season, four teams promoted from the 2022-23 Maltese National Amateur League, and two teams relegated from the 2022-23 Maltese Premier League.

Team changes

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

To Maltese Challenge League

Promoted from Maltese National Amateur League

Relegated from the Maltese Premier League

Promoted to the Maltese Premier League

Relegated to Maltese National Amateur League

TeamLocationManager
AttardAttard Robert Magro
Fgura UnitedFgura Kevin Vella
Lija AthleticLija Joseph Galea
Luqa St. Andrew'sLuqa
MarsaMarsa Orosco Anonam
MelitaSan Ġiljan Clive Mizzi
Msida Saint-JosephMsida Neville Galea
Pietà HotspursPietà Manuel Caruana
Senglea AthleticSenglea Liam Mangion
St. AndrewsSt. Andrew's, Malta Vesko Petrovic
Swieqi UnitedSwieqi Pablo Doffo
Tarxien Rainbows Jacques Scerri
Żabbar St. PatrickZabbar Emilio Cornago San Pedro
Żebbuġ RangersŻebbuġ Rodney Bugeja
Żejtun CorinthiansZejtun Ivan Casha
ŻurrieqŻurrieq Saviour Debono Grech

Kits

TeamKit manufacturerShirt sponsor (front)Shirt sponsor (back)Shirt sponsor (sleeve)
Attard GivovaBilven Ltd, SearchedA to Z Electronics (Both)
Fgura UnitedAdidasFundazzjoni Sebħ, Trust Stamp, Euro Bridge, Iveco (Top Left)EuroSport (Top), Rad Auto Dealer (Bottom)Fundazzjoni Sebħ (Right), Hair Haven (Left)
Lija Athletic MacronFalzon Group Of CompaniesTeamSport (Top), La Crema (Bottom)
Luqa St. Andrew'sMacronSeduta ConstructionBilon Service (Right)
MarsaLegeaF Schembri
Melita HummelAtlas Insurance Hub88 (Top), Burger King (Middle) Eurosport (Bottom) I nouv (Right), VIBE (Left)
Msida Saint-JosephLegeaC.A.M.C. Security, MTZ Group (Top Left)Sports Locker (Top), The Tub (Bottom)Cuschieri Group (Left), KF Kebab (Right)
Pietà Hotspurs JartaziFamalco.net, A1 Supplies, Xuereb InstallationFarstone Construction (Top)
Senglea AthleticGivovaPalumbo, AUM, JCJuc Ltd
St. AndrewsMacronFiat, Frank Saltatg (Left), Marsali (Right)
Swieqi UnitedErimaPlatin P Casino, BEHREight Four Capital (Top)
Tarxien RainbowsErreàCassar, Dee SpasCargo Nigel (Bottom)AEN (Right)
Żabbar St. PatrickErreàThe ShorelineDL Group (Top), Kristal (Bottom)
Żebbuġ RangersJomaThe Convenience Shop, Coop Italia
Żejtun CorinthiansErreàInno-hitMagic Castle (Right)
ŻurrieqErimaTrust PaymentXace (Top), Corendion, D£, B.home (Bottom)Tax ORB (Left), Firetech (Right)

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of
departure
Date of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Melita Saviour Debono GrechEnd of Contract24 April 2023Pre-season Clive Mizzi25 May 2023
Marsa Ryan FenechEnd of Caretaker Orosco Anonam15 May 2023
Żurrieq George MagriResign29 April 2023 Saviour Debono Grech10 May 2023
Żabbar St. Patrick Emilio CornagoEnd of Caretaker2 May 2023 Joseph Spiteri20 May 2023
Żebbuġ Rangers Brian SpiteriEnd of Contract3 May 2023 Rodney Bugeja19 May 2023
Pietà Hotspurs Rodney Bugeja6 May 2023 Manuel Caruana26 May 2023
St. Andrews Brian Said7 May 2023 Ramon Zammit13 May 2023
Żejtun Corinthians Orosco Anonam15 May 2023 Ivan Casha29 May 2023
Swieqi United Stephen DamatoSigned by Sirens24 May 2023 Pablo Doffo26 May 2023
St. Andrews Ramon ZammitSacked21 October 202313th Charles Muscat (Caretaker)21 October 2023
Senglea Athletic Edgar Degabriele21 November 202310th Liam Mangion30 November 2023
St. Andrews Charles MuscatEnd of Caretaker21 January 202415th Vesko Petrovic21 January 2024

Venues

On 29 January 2024. The Malta Football Association introduced another three stadiums Charles Abela Stadium, Luxol Stadium and Sirens Stadium due to the final fixture of the first round that played five matches at the same time.[1]

PembrokeMostaSan Pawl il-BaħarTa' QaliHamrun
Luxol StadiumCharles Abela StadiumSirens StadiumCentenary StadiumVictor Tedesco Stadium
Capacity: 600Capacity: 700Capacity: 800Capacity: 3,000Capacity: 1,962

Regular season

During the regular season, each team plays each other once (either at home or at away). The top six teams qualify for the Top Six, while the bottom ten teams qualify for the Play-Out.

League table

Results

Second phase

Top Six

The top six teams from the regular season face each other twice more (once at home and once away), with the top two teams earning promotion to the 2024–25 Maltese Premier League. Results from the regular season were carried over into this round.

League table

Results

Play-Out

The bottom ten teams from the regular season face each other for the second time (either at home or away), with the bottom four teams being relegated to the 2024–25 Maltese National Amateur League. Results from the regular season were carried over into this round.

League table

Results

Relegation tie-breaker

With both St. Andrews and Luqa St. Andrew's level on 28 points, a play-off match was conducted to the looser will be Relegation to the 2024–25 Maltese National Amateur League.

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

[2]

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Andre Carlos Penha Da CostaMelita17
2 Augusto Rene' CaseresMarsa13
Duvan Mosquera TorresZebbug Rangers
4 Bledi AllaAttard12
Ofufu IbehFgura United
6 Camilo Andres Sanchez GonzalesLuqa St. Andrews11
7 Erjon BeuLija Athletic10
Alan Abdel RahmanLuqa St. Andrews
David Oliveira SouzaZabbar St.Patrick
10 Johan Alberto CastanoFgura United9
Pavlidis Claudio AntunesPieta Hotspurs
Ivan Sousa Flora FranciscoZurrieq

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result StadiumDate
Andre Carlos Penha Da CostaMelitaMsida Saint-Joseph4-0 (H)Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun1 October 2023
Santiago Fabian MoracciTarxien RainbowsAttard4-2 (H)Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali22 October 2023
Augusto Rene' CaseresMarsa6-0 (A)Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun4 November 2023
Ivan Sousa Flora FranciscoŻurrieqSt. Andrews3-2 (A)Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali2 December 2023
Pavlidis Claudio AntunesPieta HotspursMarsa3-1 (A)10 December 2023
Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa4MelitaFgura United4-4 (A)17 December 2023
Augusto Rene' CaseresMarsaSt. Andrews4-1 (A)Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun27 January 2024
Rundell WinchesterTarxien RainbowsLija Athletic4-0 (A)11 February 2024
Donys Aldair Quintero MaldonadoMarsaSenglea Athletic4-1 (H)Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali6 April 2024
Johann BezzinaŻebbuġ RangersAttard6-0 (A)Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun7 April 2024
David Oliveira SouzaŻabbar St. PatrickŻurrieq4-1 (A)Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali21 April 2024
William James EnglandSt. AndrewsLija Athletic5-0 (H)Sirens Stadium, San Pawl il-Baħar28 April 2024
Notes4 Player scored 4 goals

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1 Matthew GrechŻabbar St. Patrick13
2 Gosef MizziMelita12
Glenn ZammitSenglea Athletic
4 Andreas VellaTarxien Rainbows11
5 Jamie AzzopardiZebbug Rangers9
6 Christopher FarrugiaMarsa8
Frederick TaboneZejtun Corinthians
8 Reeves CiniPieta Hotspurs7
Jean Claude DebattistaSwieqi United
Ryan CaruanaZurrieq

Discipline

Player

Club

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BOV Challenge League match day 15 fixtures released. maltafootball.com. 29 January 2024.
  2. Web site: Tables & Statistics. maltafootball.com. 20 September 2020 .