Interview with Michael Galea

by Ayrton Galea - 16th February 2011

This weekend, Birkirkara will start the Championship Pool phase, and before this important phase commences, we decided to interview the Club's team captain, Michael Galea.

It will be of little or no surprise that we opened this interview by asking him about the disappointing performances that the squad had so far. Michael's reply was, "Yes, I think it is clear that the performances, and most importantly the results, this year have not been up to everybody's expectations. As reigning Champions everybody expected us to continue on last season's fine run and although we started very positively with good results in the European competitions, as time passed by certain limitations became evident. Pin-pointing the reasons for this poor run is not easy but I am sure that top of the list are the incredible number of injuries that our players sustained from the beginning of the season. If I am not mistaken, we have not yet played a single match this year with a full squad. Add to this I think that whereas last year all the players had a great season and 'peaked' at the right time, this year it seems that many of us are struggling to find good form and this is inevitably taking its toll on the results. I wouldn't mind if luck finally helps us too!"

Everyone knows the importance of this Championship Pool phase which consists of ten 'do-or-die' matches, and we asked Michael for his comments about this. "The games that follow are all going to be very difficult and demanding on the team. All in all I think that the level of the teams is quite balanced and every team can beat the other on their day. I am confident that things will turn for the better for us and hopefully we will end the season on a better note."

When talking about the Championship Pool phase, you cannot but mention the battle for the Championship title. Although this seems to be quite an impossible task for Birkirkara, we asked Michael for his comments. We also asked him if the U*Bet FA Trophy is now that squad's main target since the title race seems to be over for Birkirkara. Michael has a different opinion on this: "Never say never. This year our position is not ideal but for the time being we just need to concentrate on winning our games and climbing up in the standings. The fact that points were halved already gives us motivation as the gap has narrowed and we need to be ready to pounce on any slips that the teams above us make. Inevitably, the FA Trophy remains a top target for us but at this point in time we prefer to focus all our energies on our league commitments."

Birkirkara were strengthened by three players, namely Andrei Agius, Rodolfo Kumbrevicius and former Msida St. Joseph player, Ibrahim Babatunde. We asked Michael if he believes that these new signings will give that extra push that the squad needs, and he replied, "The intention of any January signing is to make the team stronger. I firmly believe that our new signings can add depth to our squad and give more options to the Coach."

We turned our discussion on a more personal note, and we talked with him about his new role of playing behind the strikers. Michael's said, "The Coach spoke with me a few weeks ago and told me that he needed me in this position. To be honest I quite like it as it gives me the liberty to move into different areas of the pitch and not be limited to playing for most of the game with my back to the opponent's goal. Inevitably playing further away from the opponent's goal means that it is more difficult to score, but I don't mind as long as I can provide good assists to my teammates."

With word on the street being that Michael will retire in the end of this season, we decided to hear it from the horse's mouth. "My contract expires at the end of this season. I have been with the club since season 1997-98 and these have been 14 wonderful years. For the time being I am only thinking of the current season because my immediate concern is to try to help the Club achieve a better position and hopefully win more trophies."

Michael is the most veteran player in the squad, and also the one that has played for longest with the squad. In view of this we asked what is the best and worst things for playing with our Club, and what would he change if he could change one thing. Our captain replied "Difficult question. Many good things like for example pride to play for the Club, top challenger for every competition, supporters & celebrations on winning of a trophy and so on. What would I change? For all local clubs and not just Birkirkara: to make arrangements so that club can turn semi-professional and have its own facilities ... only that way can Maltese football move forward. "

Birkirkara's top scorer of all time, concluded this very interesting interview by a message to the supporters. "I know it is not easy to continue to follow the team when results do not come our way. But just as last year everybody was overjoyed when we managed to win the league, this year we should all try to stick together in these difficult times as it is only this way, that we will be able to overcome adversity."

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