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The Right to Dreamby Jonathan Spiteri16/03/2010 The year 2006 was the last time we Birkirkara supporters had something to dream about. The FA Trophy won two seasons ago was as sweet as unexpected, especially after the epic semi-final clash with number one rivals Valletta. Still it turned out to be just a consolation for the majority of the Stripes’ fans after the dismal 2006/07 campaign. While competing in a Trophy final is always something special, it just cannot match the hype built one weekend after the other when a team is right in the thick of a title race! The fact that, apart of being tense for the match involving your team you are also eager to see how your rivals fair, makes the hunt for the championship crown one of the most thrilling and exciting roller coaster rides one could embark on, especially when the gap between the teams is a narrow one, when there is any! Direct encounters tend to transform themselves into cup-ties, since a win for either of the parties could give the necessary advantage vis-à-vis the final success. It has been four years since we were in this kind of position at this stage of the competition. Three points are too few to start thinking of what can happen come May the fifth, as everything is still on the cards. Our players should be psychologically at their top though, since they have managed to prove everyone wrong, and find themselves with the chance to defy all the odds. While we are all entitled to fantasise on what this team can achieve, we must not forget all the good work and the improvement done since Mr Zammit’s take-over. His predecessor has done a very good job by winning the FA Trophy in 2008 and qualifying for a European competition last season, but Mr Zammit has given the players, especially the young ones, the necessary self-belief that they can be up there with the very best if they work hard and as a team. In my opinion, our coach has already won his personal championship and is surely looking forward to build on what seem to be solid foundations. 
In a recent interview, Mr Zammit identified the great unity and the willingness to sacrifice oneself for the rest of the team as the main reasons behind the team’s consistent performances. The players’ celebrations at the end of the clash with Hibernians (our team deserved to take all the three points, no matter what others say) clearly show how glad they are with each other. They help each other out on the pitch and then share the pleasant moments together as everyone would have given the same level of input. The fact that quite a number of players have accepted to play in various positions due to the necessities imposed upon our coach, underlines the level of commitment these players are showing towards their team, their club and their supporters. 
Angus Buhagiar has gone through a metamorphosis this season. All those who follow local football with interest have started to appreciate him as a strong, fast and talented attacking player. He has played both as a central striker and as a right winger. This season though, when right back Thomas Paris was out injured, he was asked by the coach to fill in the void. “I accepted to play in this new position immediately,” he said. “At first I felt a bit uncomfortable as a right back, since I was never asked to perform defensive duties before, but things improved one match after the other. I must also say that both the coach and the rest of my team mates always believed I could become a good full back, and with their help during training I manage to improve and also regularly make it to the starting eleven.” Angus is just one example of a player having to adapt himself in an unfamiliar position, and this is what he thinks about it: “This is the perfect proof of the level of commitment all the players are showing. In my opinion, our team is made up of quality players who are versatile and can play in different positions, and are ready to do so without hesitation. This was maybe the thing that made up for the fact that we have a short squad.” 
Up next are Tarxien Rainbows. They might have been defeated in all their first three matches in the championship pool, but still I consider them as one of the most well organised teams this season. They can be a threat to everyone, especially when their Brazilians are in form, and if not pressurised, their direct football can undo even a solid defence like ours. We have to be careful and approach this game as if we were playing a direct contender for the title. We asked Buhagiar whether the fact that we are sole leaders can put the lads under pressure: “Well, one would expect us to be under some sort of pressure from now on, since there is a lot at stake. Each game is as important as a knock-out final, but our coach always tells us to focus on one game at a time, and that is what we have been doing since the beginning of the season, and will continue to do so until the very last one!” As usual, we could not let our interviewee go without asking him about the support. He commented: “Supporters are turning up in larger numbers; still I expect many more in the upcoming matches. I believe that Birkirkara’s support can be the best on the island, since they are colourful, vociferous and hopefully in thousands in the nearest future!” Finally we asked him if he really thinks that Birkirkara can win the league. “Yes, I believe we can do it, and so do my team mates. So far we have proven that, even though we were not considered genuine title contenders, we are up there with seven games to go. Our supporters would do nothing wrong if they dream about winning the championship, but I urge them not to get over enthusiastic and keep supporting us without exerting excessive pressure on us. Let us fill in every seat in the section occupying our supporters because we are capable of doing so. We promise we will do our utmost to carry the honour down to Valley Road!” So let us do our utmost in order to help our players make this dream come true!! COME ON YELLOWS!! |