FC Ħamrun Amateurs

FC Ħamrun Amateurs

Full name	Football-Club Ħamrun Amateurs
Nickname(s)	Tas-Sikkina, Ta' Werwer
Founded	1 July 2022 (2022-07-01)
Ground	Victor Tedesco Stadium
Capacity	2,000
Chairman	Jürgen Buhagiar
Manager	Alexander Attard
League	MAFA 2nd Division
2022–23	1st
Website	https://fchamrunamateurs.mt
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Football-Club Ħamrun Amateurs is a Maltese Sports Organisation based in Ħamrun, Malta. It is primarily recognised for its men's non-league football team, which competes in the MAFA Second Division, part of the Malta Amateur Football Association league system.

The club was founded by brothers Jürgen and Kurt Buhagiar, who jointly conceived the idea of creating an amateur football team for the community. Their vision extends beyond football, aiming to establish a broader sporting community that fosters participation in various athletic activities.

History

In the beginning

At the onset of the year 2022, Ħamrun Amateurs commenced extensive preparations for their inaugural participation in the Malta Amateur Football Association club competitions. The administration issued a call for talented players to undergo tryouts, with the intention of assembling a competitive team for the upcoming competitions sanctioned by the Association. As a significant milestone, the team was officially accepted as a member of the Association, thus granting them eligibility to partake in its various tournaments.

During the initial year of establishment, Ħamrun Amateurs diligently focused on solidifying their team structure and initiated various procedures in collaboration with prominent government entities such as the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, and SportsMalta. These endeavors aimed to attain official recognition for the team, enabling them to apply for schemes and funding opportunities offered by these institutions. Efforts yielded favorable outcomes, as their application was successfully accepted, resulting in the team being granted a prestigious certificate as a Voluntary Organisation (VO/2365). Additionally, they earned membership in the esteemed Hamrun Associations Union, a noteworthy accomplishment that further strengthened their standing within the local sports community.

Season 2022/2023

Ħamrun Amateurs began their season with a Campus Recruitment program, attracting candidates. After training in July, the team played several friendlies in August and September, including a memorial match for the late Christian Degabriele of Paola Kordin Football Club.

The team officially debuted on October 1 against Fgura Spartans, scoring their first goal in the MAFA competition but losing 2–1. Despite early setbacks, the team later secured a win and a draw, ending 2022 on a positive note.

In January 2023, the team held a Winter Training Camp and played friendlies. Throughout February and March, the Amateurs consistently improved, culminating in a victory over Fgura Spartans, surpassing them in the standings. In April, the team made its MAFA Knockout debut vs Għaxaq Wolves but was eliminated despite Andriy Camilleri's first goal in this competition.

The season concluded on May 13, 2023, with Ħamrun finishing 5th out of 6 teams, securing 13 points with 3 wins, 4 draws, and 8 losses, scoring 16 goals and conceding 30. They also received the Fair Play Award for their exemplary disciplinary record, qualifying for the Twanny Agius Fair Cup.

Season 2023/2024

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 Football Club, 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, the 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, Ħamrun secured second place after a 0–0 draw against Valletta Stars St. Dominic's and another 0–0 draw against Marsa St. Michael. The latter team ultimately won the title.

MAFA 3rd Division

Following the 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, Ħamrun 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, the team participated in the second competition of the MAFA season. After the draw, we were matched against Ta’ Giorni Wanderers. The team were eliminated, bringing their journey in this competition to an end.

Season 2024/2025

The season will commence on the 11th of July by having the first preseason training session.

Kits

The club's kit colors are red and black stripes. These colors have historical significance and represent a strong connection with the sportive community in Ħamrun.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor (chest)	Shirt sponsor (sleeve)
2022–2024	Erima	Tetu Bar & Restaurant	Clentec Ltd
2024-present		Ta' Fonzu

Emblem

The emblem features a modern, abstract design inspired by the Spartan Warrior, an iconic symbol of football in Ħamrun. This historic figure has been reimagined in a contemporary, minimalist style, bridging the club’s legacy with its forward-looking vision. The streamlined design resonates with the next generation, giving them a symbol they can connect with and make their own.

Stadium

Ħamrun Amateurs utilise the Victor Tedesco Stadium, owned by Ħamrun Spartans, for training sessions and friendly matches. However, the team is unable to host their home league matches at this venue due to restrictions imposed by the Malta Amateurs Football Association's league schedule, which dictates that league games are played exclusively at two designated venues.

Statistics

Domestic

Season	League	Position	MAFA Knockout	Twanny Agius Fair Play Cup	Significant Events
2022/23	MAFA 3rd Division	5th	2nd Round		Won the fair play award
2023/24	MAFA 3rd Division	1st	1st Round	2nd Place	Promoted to MAFA 2nd Division
2024/25	MAFA 2nd Division

Honours

• MAFA 3rd Division
  • Champions (1): 2023–2024
• MAFA Fair Play Award
  • Winners (1): 2022–2023

Players

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	MLT	Marvin Bellia
—	GK	MLT	Jean Paul Cachcia
—	GK	MLT	Graig Sultana
—	GK	ARG	Santiago Sacilas
—	DF	MLT	Danyl Azzopardi
—	DF	MLT	Dunstan Bonnici
—	DF	MLT	Jürgen Buhagiar
—	DF	MLT	Kurt Buhagiar
—	DF	MLT	Andriy Camilleri
—	DF	MLT	Mark Ellul
—	DF	MLT	Larkin Portelli
—	DF	MLT	Daniel Sant
—	DF	MLT	Corben Sciberras
—	DF	MLT	Matthew Vassallo
—	DF	POL	Semir Kadhim
—	DF	COL	Diego Franco
—	MF	COL	Luis Felipe Ariza

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	MLT	Francesco Falzon
—	MF	MLT	Byron Fenech
—	MF	MLT	Andre Galea
—	MF	MLT	Ryan Tanti
—	MF	COL	Nicholas Guevara
—	MF	COL	Santiago Guevara
—	MF	COL	Steven Ortiz
—	MF	SRB	Marko Veselinov
—	FW	MLT	Owen Cassar
—	FW	MLT	Charlo Debattista
—	FW	MLT	Charlton Mifsud
—	FW	MLT	Liam Mizzi
—	FW	MLT	Denim Parnis
—	FW	MLT	Josef Zammit
—	FW	SYR	Maher Hajy Semu
—	FW	COL	Nicolas Mogollon
—	FW	COL	Andres Suarez

Captain

Years	Captain
2022–present	Larkin Portelli (DF)

Coaching staff

Coaching staff
Alexander Attard	Head Coach
Fitness department
Robert Scerri	Fitness Trainer
Medical department
Franco Davies	Physiotherapist
Damien Davis	Masseur
Emanuele Aliotta	Orthopedic
Team Council
Stephen Buhagiar	Head of Team Council

Club Structure

Executive Management

Member	Role
Jürgen Buhagiar	Chairperson
Kurt Buhagiar	Deputy Chairperson
Stephen Buhagiar	Board Member for Sport

Administrative Department

Member	Role
Francesca Buhagiar	Club Secretary
Kurt Buhagiar	Financial Controller

Marketing & Communications Department

Member	Role
Naomi Buhagiar Turner	Marketing Manager
Dean Turner	Social Media Coordinator

Commercial Department

Member	Role
-	Commercial Director
-	Event Coordinator

Logistics Department

Member	Role
-	Operations Manager
-	Equipment Supervisor

Fan Engagement & Supporters Club

Member	Role
-	Fan Engagement Manager
-	Community Outreach Lead