In June, preparations began for Campus Recruitment, aimed at assembling a squad for the upcoming season. Approximately 40 players participated in trials, including locals, non-residents of Hamrun, and individuals of foreign nationality. From these candidates, a final selection of 30 players was made. July was dedicated to intensive training sessions, followed by friendly matches in August and September. Additionally, a memorial match was organized in honor of Christian Degabriele, a Paola Kordin player, during which a moment of friendship and remembrance was observed.
As October approached, training frequency was increased to twice weekly to enhance preparation. On October 1st, FC HAMRUN AMATEURS made their official debut against Fgura Spartans. The team scored its inaugural goal in the MAFA competition within the first minute, courtesy of Andriy Camilleri from a Josef Zammit corner. Despite this achievement, the match concluded with a 2-1 loss for Hamrun. The initial rounds proved challenging, resulting in four consecutive defeats. However, the team persevered, achieving victories against Fgura Spartans and securing a draw against Gzira Sports-Club within a span of three days, concluding the year 2022 on a positive note.
In January 2023, the team took a four-week break followed by a Training Camp, which attracted new talent. Friendly matches against Valletta Stars and Zebbug Youngsters were held at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. February presented further challenges, with weekly fixtures leading to consistent improvement in performance and point accumulation. March saw continued success with a notable victory over Fgura Spartans, marking the first time Hamrun surpassed them in the standings and achieved back-to-back wins by defeating Bugibba Club de Swat.
April marked the debut of Hamrun Amateurs in the Knockout stage of the second MAFA competition, with Andriy Camilleri again scoring the opening goal. Despite their efforts, the team exited the tournament prematurely. The season concluded with their last competitive fixture on May 13, 2023, marking the conclusion of Hamrun Amateurs' inaugural season.
The team finished fifth among six competitors with a total of 13 points, secured through 3 wins, 4 draws, and 8 losses, scoring 16 goals and conceding 30. Due to Fgura Spartans' withdrawal, the MAFA Committee adjusted standings, deducting three points awarded to Hamrun Amateurs. Notably, the team received the Fair Play Award for exemplary discipline throughout the league season, having received the fewest yellow and red cards among all division participants. This achievement qualified them for the Twanny Agius Fair Cup..
The second season commenced in June with an open call for new players eager to try out for the team. The months of July, August, and September were dedicated to preparations for another competitive season. During this period, the team engaged in training sessions, friendly matches, and tournaments, including the Christian Degabriele Memorial Cup and the Twanny Agius Fairplay Cup.
Christian Degabriele Memorial Cup
In collaboration with Paola Kordin, the Memorial Cup was established to honor the memory of the late Christian Degabriele, a former player of Paola Kordin. The match was fiercely contested and ended in a 1-1 draw. Unfortunately, our team was defeated in the penalty shootout. It is noteworthy that during this match, donations were collected and presented to the Degabriele family and the Karl Vella Foundation.
Twanny Agius Fairplay Cup
This new competition was created in memory of the late President of the Association. Teams that won the Fair Play award in each division qualified for this competition, which took place on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Despite being considered underdogs, our team secured second place after a 0-0 draw against Valletta Stars St. Dominic and another 0-0 draw against Marsa St. Michael. The latter team ultimately won the title.
MAFA 3rd Division
Following our strong performances in the Fairplay Cup, the next objective was to secure promotion as champions. From the outset of the championship, the team demonstrated consistency, accumulating a total of 28 points from 12 matches, with 8 wins, 4 draws, and no losses. We scored 34 goals and conceded only 4. The first match of the championship took place on October 7, 2023, and the final match on May 18, 2024.
On April 20, 2024, we were crowned champions after winning the direct confrontation against Ħal Far Titans, the team that also secured promotion. Throughout the season, we achieved several milestones, including being the highest-scoring team, the team with the most clean sheets, and winning all matches in the second round.
It was evident that the technical team, along with the Board, worked meticulously to ensure the team's preparation for securing its first major honour.
MAFA Knockout
On January 6, 2024, we participated in the second competition of the MAFA season. After the draw, we were matched against Ta’ Giorni Wanderers (2nd Division). Unfortunately, we were eliminated, bringing our journey in this competition to an end.
Awards & Nominations for the 2023/2024 Season
The season will commence on the 11th of July by having the first preseason training session.