Xewkija Tigers F.C. Explained

Nickname:Tigers, Yellows
Ground:Gozo Stadium
Gozo, Malta
Capacity:4000
Season:2023–24position = GFL Gozo Division One, 4th
Pattern La1:Stripes
Pattern Ra1:Stripes
Leftarm1:edd02b
Body1:edd02b
Rightarm1:edd02b
Shorts1:000000
Socks1:edd02b
Clubname:Tigers
Fullname:Xewkija Tigers Football Club
Chairman:Jeffrey Farrugia
Club Secretary:Joseph Attard
League:GFL First Division

Xewkija Tigers F.C. is a football club from the village of Xewkija in Gozo, Malta. The club was founded in 1939, and currently plays in the Gozo Football League, Second Division.

History

Xewkija Tigers Football Club is a Maltese football club, that was founded in 1938. However, the team did not play their first competitive match until five years after their inception. Prior to this, Xewkija Tigers had only engaged in friendly matches, primarily due to the challenging circumstances that the inhabitants of Gozo faced during World War II. It wasn't until the 1944–45 season, that the club made their debut in local competitions.

The following season, in 1945–46, Xewkija Tigers achieved their first trophy by winning the Galea Cup. They secured this title by defeating Xaghra Blue with a score of 1–0 in a match that was held on May 12, 1946.

In the period between 1958–59 and 1965–66 seasons, Xewkija participated in the local league under two different names, Xewkija United/Xewkija Tigers and Xewkija Rovers. The name Xewkija United was only used for a single season (1958–59), where successively the team was called again Xewkija Tigers. Whereas Xewkija Rovers continued to play as a separate team from the Tigers for some more years in the Gozo Football League, until the 1965–66 season. At the end of this season, it was decided that Xewkija Rovers should stop participating in the Gozitan league, leaving the village's representation solely to Xewkija Tigers.

Xewkija Tigers' first domestic league title came at the end of the 1974–75 season. This squad included the likes of John Busuttil, Mike Apap, Salvu Cilia, Charlie Le Prevost, Frank Mizzi, Carmel Attard, Raymond Rapa, Paul Vella, John Spiteri, Wistin Scerri, John Attard, Carmel Portelli, Benny Vella, Paul Hili, Joe Debrincat and Joe Grech. It was guided to victory under Mr. Joe Psaila, whereas the club was in the hands of President Mr. Frans Zammit Haber.

In the early 1980s (1982–83 and 1983–84) Xewkija Tigers won two consecutive league titles, together with the GFA Cup and the Silver Jubilee Cup. The team won all the titles in which the Gozitan league offered in these years. Xewkija were managed by Mr. Salvu Cilia.

Xewkija Tigers' last domestic title was achieved in the 2000–01 season in a final won against Nadur Youngsters F.C. by 4–3. Xewkija were once again managed by Mr. Salvu Cilia, who left his mark in all Xewkija's league titles (one as a player and three as a coach).

After two seasons in the lowest division of the Gozo Football League, Xewkija Tigers returned at the end of the 2008–09 season after winning the Promotion Decided with contenders Xaghra United by 3–2 (starting line-up: J.Grima, S.Mercieca, J.Vella, J.Vella, J.Cefai; S.Mizzi, A.Fotso, M.Pace (P.Rapa), J.Azzopardi (J.Azzopardi); C.Bugeja, R.Buttigieg). The coach at the time was Mario Bonello.

In 2011–12 season Xewkija Tigers won the title in Gozo Football League First Division, G.F.A. Cup, Independence Cup (Malta)

On 22 December 2022 Xewkija Tigers played against Sannat Lions, Xewkija beat Sannat 7–0[1]

Players

Current squad

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Out On Loan

Honours

First Division

Second Division

G.F.A. Cup

Super Cup:

Republic Cup:

Gemaharija Cup:

Silver Jubilee Cup:

Independence Cup

Freedom Cup:

Galea Cup:

Challenge Cup:

Rothmans Cup:

K.O. Winners Cup:

Current staff

Position Name
Head coach Jesmond Zammit
Assistant coach Vince Carbonaro
Goalkeepers coach Vrndic Branko
Team manager
Kit manager Robert Axiaq
Assistant Kit Manager
Club Physio Bruno Di Pietrantonio
Captain Rodney Buttigieg

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Xewkija Tigers Football Club - Contact Us . September 7, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100116003636/http://www.xewkijatigersfc.com/Vs%20Xaghra%20United%20Decider.asp . January 16, 2010 .