2024–25 Maltese Challenge League
| Season | 2024–25 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 September 2024 – April or May 2025 |
| Matches played | 48 |
| Goals scored | 112 (2.33 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Andrei Ciolacu (7 Goals) |
| Biggest home win | Valletta 6–0 Lija Athletic (22 September 2024) |
| Biggest away win | Santa Lucia 0–5 Marsa (15 September 2024) |
| Highest scoring | Santa Lucia 0–5 Marsa (15 September 2024) |
| Longest winning run | Valletta Pietà Hotspurs (4 Games Each) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Valletta Pietà Hotspurs Żebbuġ Rangers (4 Games Each) |
| Longest winless run | Żebbuġ Rangers (6 Games) |
| Longest losing run | Żebbuġ Rangers (6 Games) |
← 2023–24 2025–26 →
All statistics correct as of 3 November 2024. | |
The 2024–25 Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons) is the second-level league football in Malta. It is the fifth season that the competition has been running in its present form.
Teams
[edit]The league consisted of sixteen teams; ten teams remaining from the previous season, two teams promoted from the 2023-24 Maltese National Amateur League, and four teams relegated from the 2023-24 Maltese Premier League.
Team changes
[edit]The following teams have changed divisions since the 2023–24 season:
To Maltese Challenge League[edit]Promoted from Maltese National Amateur League Relegated from the Maltese Premier League |
From Maltese Challenge League[edit]Promoted to the Maltese Premier League Relegated to Maltese National Amateur League
|
Location of teams in 2024–25 Maltese Challenge League
| Team | Location | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Fgura United | Fgura |  Kevin Vella
|
| Gudja United | Gudja |  Orosco Anonam
|
| Lija Athletic | Lija | Joseph Galea
|
| Marsa | Marsa | Saviour Debono Grech
|
| Mgarr United | Mgarr | Brian Spiteri
|
| Mtarfa | Mtarfa | Ivan Casha
|
| Pietà Hotspurs | Pietà | Manuel Caruana
|
| Santa Lucia | Santa Luċija | Liam Mangion
|
| Senglea Athletic | Senglea | Robert Cassar
|
| Sirens | St. Paul's Bay | Stephen Damato
|
| St. Andrews | St. Andrew's, Malta | Jose` Borg
|
| Swieqi United | Swieqi |  Pablo Doffo
|
| Tarxien Rainbows | Tarxien | Jacques Scerri
|
| Valletta | Valletta | Thane Micallef
|
| Żebbuġ Rangers | Żebbuġ | Rodney Bugeja
|
| Żurrieq | Żurrieq | Francis Cassar
|
Kits
[edit]| Team | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fgura United | Adidas | Fundazzjoni Sebħ, Trust Stamp, Euro Bridge, Iveco (Top Left) | EuroSport (Top), Rad Auto Dealer (Bottom) | Fundazzjoni Sebħ (Right), Hair Haven (Left) |
| Gudja United | Macron | Handy Man, SixSevenEight | Apex Group (Top) | Thomas Smith Insurance Broker (Left) |
| Lija Athletic | Macron | Falzon Group Of Companies | TeamSport (Top), La Crema (Bottom) | |
| Marsa | Legea | F Schembri | ||
| Mgarr | Zeus | Zarb Coaches, SCS Sammut Concrete Supplies, Ballut Blocks, Big Mat | Frame Group (Top), GPC Concrete Solutions, Smart Transport LTD (Bottom) | Blaugrana (Left), Halmann Vella (Right) |
| Mtarfa | Givova | Angelo Stores Mtarfa | ||
| Pietà Hotspurs | Jartazi | Famalco.net, A1 Supplies, Xuereb Installation | Farstone Construction (Top) | |
| Santa Lucia | Capelli Sport | Multivend, avanza | Elmo (Top), Konica Minolta (Bottom) | Yellow Army (Left), Levissima (Right) |
| Senglea Athletic | Givova | Palumbo, AUM, JCJuc Ltd | ||
| Sirens | Macron | Café del Mar Malta, Welbee's | Arringo (Top), Malta National Aquarium (Bottom) | |
| St. Andrews | Macron | Fiat, Frank Salt | atg (Left), Marsali (Right) | |
| Swieqi United | Erima | Platin P Casino, BEHR | Eight Four Capital (Top) | |
| Tarxien Rainbows | Erreà | Cassar, Dee Spas | Cargo Nigel (Bottom) | AEN (Right) |
| Valletta | Nike | Iniala | Inter Sport (Top) | Toyotomi, Da Mattia (Left), 5 Beans (Right) |
| Żebbuġ Rangers | Joma | The Convenience Shop, Coop Italia | ||
| Żurrieq | Erima | Trust Payment | Xace (Top), Corendion, D£, B.home (Bottom) | Tax ORB (Left), Firetech (Right) |
Managerial changes
[edit]| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senglea Athletic | Liam Mangion
|
End of Contract | 5 May 2024 | Pre-season | Robert Cassar
|
15 May 2024 |
| Gudja United | Renzo Kerr Cumbo
|
5 May 2024 | Orosco Anonam
|
11 May 2024 | ||
| Żurrieq | Saviour Debono Grech
|
Resign | 5 May 2024 | Francis Cassar
|
9 May 2024 | |
| Marsa | Orosco Anonym
|
8 May 2024 | Saviour Debono Grech
|
8 May 2024 | ||
| Mtarfa | George Magri
|
16 May 2024 | Ivan Casha
|
1 July 2024 | ||
| Santa Lucia |  Alessandro Zinnari
|
Sign For Ħamrun Spartans | 17 May 2024 | Liam Mangion
|
6 June 2024 | |
| St. Andrews |  Vesko Petrovic
|
End of Contract | 25 May 2024 | Jose` Borg
|
29 May 2024 | |
| Valletta | Juan Cruz Gill
|
End of Caretaker | 5 July 2024 | Thane Micallef
|
5 July 2024 |
Venues
[edit]| Ta' Qali | Hamrun | |
|---|---|---|
| Centenary Stadium | Victor Tedesco Stadium | |
| Capacity: 3,000 | Capacity: 1,962 | |
|
|
Regular season
[edit]During the regular season, each team plays each other once (either at home or at away). The top eight teams qualify for the Top eight, while the bottom eight teams qualify for the Play-Out.
League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valletta | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 1 | +15 | 15 | Qualification for the Top Eight |
| 2 | Pietà Hotspurs | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 15 | |
| 3 | Tarxien Rainbows | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 13 | |
| 4 | Żurrieq | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 12 | |
| 5 | Marsa | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 11 | |
| 6 | Swieqi United | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 11 | |
| 7 | Mgarr United | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 | |
| 8 | Sirens | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 | |
| 9 | Gudja United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 7 | Qualification for the Play-Out |
| 10 | Fgura United | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 6 | |
| 11 | Senglea Athletic | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 5 | |
| 12 | St. Andrews | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | |
| 13 | Żebbuġ Rangers | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 4 | |
| 14 | Lija Athletic | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 | −8 | 4 | |
| 15 | Santa Lucia | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 4 | |
| 16 | Mtarfa | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 3 |
Updated to match(es) played on 3 November 2024. Source: Malta Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions or teams for relegation).
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions or teams for relegation).
Results
[edit]Season statistics
[edit]Scoring
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]- As of 3 November 2024[1]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Andrei Ciolacu
|
Valletta | 7 |
| 2 |  Sulahmana Mamadu Bah
|
Zurrieq | 5 |
| 3 |  Emmanuel Bio
|
Pieta' Hotspurs | 4 |
| 4 |  Diego Silva Caetano
|
Gudja United | 3 |
| Lydon Micallef
|
Marsa | ||
| Jurgen Suda
|
Mgarr United | ||
| Blessing Brafo
|
Swieqi United | ||
| James Scicluna
|
Valletta | ||
 Camilo Andres Diaz Arias
|
Zebbug Rangers | ||
| Duvan Mosquera Torres
|
Zebbug Rangers | ||
| Sebastian Grech
|
Zurrieq |
Hat-tricks
[edit]| Player | For | Against | Result | Stadium | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulahmana Mamadu Bah
|
Zurrieq | Gudja United | 3–1 (A) | Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun | 19 October 2024 |
| Andrei Ciolacu
|
Valletta | Santa Lucia | 3–0 (A) | 20 October 2024 |
Clean sheets
[edit]| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timothy Aquilina
|
Valletta | 5 |
| 2 | Daniel Attard
|
Gudja United | 2 |
| Ryan Caruana
|
Marsa | ||
| Johnathan Debono
|
Mgarr United | ||
| Jean Claude Debattista
|
Swieqi United | ||
| Jake Pisani
|
St. Andrews | ||
| Andreas Vella
|
Tarxien Rainbows | ||
| Jurgen Borg
|
Żurrieq | ||
| 9 | Yenz Cini
|
Fgura United | 1 |
| James Pisani
|
Gudja United | ||
| Luke Bonnici
|
Lija Athletic | ||
| Jake Farrugia
|
Pieta' Hotspurs | ||
| Christopher Farrugia
|
Santa Lucia | ||
| Johnathan Grech
|
Senglea Athletic |
Discipline
[edit]Player
[edit]- Most yellow cards: 4
Jamie Cutajar (Gudja United)- Dylan Agius (Marsa)
- Kieran Paul Fenech (Mtarfa)
- Gaetano Joseph Gesualdi (Zebbug Rangers)
- Most red cards: 1
- Julian Camilleri (Lija Athletic)
- Andy Gilson (Mtarfa)
- Ayrton Senna Azzopardi (Mtarfa)
- Zean Leornardi (Pieta' Hotspurs)
- Dylan Mangion (Santa Lucia)
Jean Carlos Cloth Goncalves (Santa Lucia)- Andrea Cassar (Sirens)
- Sammy Elfarsi (Sirens)
- Elizeu Espirito Santo Da Conceicao (St. Andrews)
- Andre Spiteri (Tarxien Rainbows)
Club
[edit]- Most yellow cards: 24
- Most red cards: 3
References
[edit]- ^ "Tables & Statistics". maltafootball.com. 20 September 2020.