This season was also a landmark season for a number of reasons. Primarily, the Under 17s team competed in the league (Section D) and achieved a remarkable 4th place. Swieqi also introduced their women’s team to the league championship and the ladies achieved some great results despite it also being their maiden year.
With regards to the Seniors team, several changes were made in the summer in order to make the team more competitive. Swieqi got off to a great start in Division 2 beating Mellieha 4–0 with newcomer Leontiev Konda grabbing a hat-trick. By Christmas, the Orange were in 4th place having just gone on a 4-game unbeaten run (including 3 wins and a draw). However, a post-new year slump followed with the Orange losing some crucial games but recovering quickly by beating Zejtun 1–0 (and achieving the double over them) and holding Zabbar to a 0–0 draw. The battle to avoid relegation culminated with a game against Dingli. Both clubs needed the win and Swieqi won when it mattered by 2 goals to 1 (with goals from Matthew Asciak and Omar Smeir). The Orange ended the season with 33 points – certainly an achievement for their first year in 2nd Division.
The form team of the season was however the Under 19 squad. Bolstered by a year’s experience in Section E, the Orange were in no mood to be complacent throughout the campaign though they were mightily challenged by Xghajra throughout the season. With Neil Farrugia in stunning form, the Orange continued to rack up with after win and Promotion to Section D was finally sealed when Swieqi beat St. George’s 4–0 at the Sirens ground. With the race to the title going right down to the wire, Swieqi had to beat Mtarfa at Rabat on the final day of the season to ensure the Championship. Swieqi prevailed in a tight encounter thanks to goals from Erik Gollcher and Daniel Bezzina. It was truly a fitting end to a team which had dominated the Division from start to finish!
