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.
| Season | 2024–25 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 September 2024 – April or May 2025 |
| Matches played | 24 |
| Goals scored | 63 (2.63 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Andrei Ciolacu (4 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 (3 Games) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Senglea Athletic Swieqi United Tarxien Rainbows Valletta Żebbuġ Rangers (3 Games Each) |
| Longest winless run | Lija Athletic Mtarfa Santa Lucia (3 Games Each) |
| Longest losing run | Mtarfa (3 Games) |
← 2023–24 2025–26 →
All statistics correct as of 29 September 2024. | |
Teams
editThe 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
editThe following teams have changed divisions since the 2023–24 season:
To Maltese Challenge LeagueeditPromoted from Maltese National Amateur League Relegated from the Maltese Premier League |
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
editDuring 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 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 9 | Qualification for the Top Eight |
| 2 | Tarxien Rainbows | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 7 | |
| 3 | Swieqi United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 7 | |
| 4 | Marsa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 6 | |
| 5 | Pietà Hotspurs | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | |
| 6 | Gudja United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | |
| 7 | Senglea Athletic | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 | |
| 8 | Mgarr United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | |
| 9 | St. Andrews | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Qualification for the Play-Out |
| 10 | Sirens | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 4 | |
| 11 | Żebbuġ Rangers | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
| 12 | Żurrieq | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | |
| 13 | Fgura United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | |
| 14 | Mtarfa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 0 | |
| 15 | Santa Lucia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 0 | |
| 16 | Lija Athletic | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 29 September 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
editSeason statistics
editScoring
editTop scorers
edit- As of 29 September 2024[1]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Andrei Ciolacu
|
Valletta | 4 |
| 2 | Lydon Micallef
|
Marsa | 3 |
 Emmanuel Bio
|
Pieta' Hotspurs | ||
| 4 | Michael Gatt
|
Fgura United | 2 |
 Diego Silva Caetano
|
Gudja United | ||
| Aslen Kevin De Sa Mendes
|
Marsa | ||
| Terence Vella
|
Senglea Athletic | ||
| Carlos Henneberg
|
St. Andrews | ||
| Alan Abdel Rahman
|
Swieqi United | ||
| Augusto Rene' Caseres
|
Swieqi United | ||
| James Scicluna
|
Valletta | ||
 Camilo Andres Diaz Arias
|
Zebbug Rangers | ||
| Duvan Mosquera Torres
|
Zebbug Rangers |
Clean sheets
edit| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timothy Aquilina
|
Valletta | 3 |
| 2 | Daniel Attard
|
Gudja United | 2 |
| Jake Pisani
|
St. Andrews | ||
| 4 | Ryan Caruana
|
Marsa | 1 |
| Jake Farrugia
|
Pieta' Hotspurs | ||
| Johnathan Grech
|
Senglea Athletic | ||
| Andreas Vella
|
Tarxien Rainbows |
Discipline
editPlayer
edit- Most yellow cards: 3
Adolphus Nagbe Marshall (Fgura United)
Julian Camilleri (Lija Athletic)- Omar Khatib (Lija Athletic)
- Gabriel Aquilina (Marsa)
Samuel Boakye (Mgarr United)
Jean Carlos Cloth Goncalves (Santa Lucia)- Alexander Cini (Senglea Athletic)
- Elizeu Espirito Santo Da Conceicao (St. Andrews)
- Thomas Melillo (Pietà Hotspurs)
- James Vella (Żebbuġ Rangers)
- Most red cards: 1
- Julian Camilleri (Lija Athletic)
- Andy Gilson (Mtarfa)
- Jean Carlos Cloth Goncalves (Santa Lucia)
- Andrea Cassar (Sirens)
- Sammy Elfarsi (Sirens)
- Elizeu Espirito Santo Da Conceicao (St. Andrews)
Club
edit- Most yellow cards: 13
- Most red cards: 2
References
edit- ^ "Tables & Statistics". maltafootball.com. 20 September 2020.