Jonina Ladies will kick off their 2024/25 Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League (WPL) season against debutants Halifax Queens.
Both teams are in the Southern Zone and will meet at the Antie Aku AstroTurf on Sunday, October 20. The Special Ladies will be hoping to start the season on a strong note with a home victory, while Halifax will also be looking to make a statement in their first season in the WPL.
This matchup is not new to these two sides. Jonina Ladies and Halifax Queens previously faced each other twice in the 2022/23 Greater Accra Regional Football Association (GARFA) Women’s Division One League. In their first encounter, Jonina defeated Halifax 5-2 away at the Tema Mexico Park. Halifax initially scored first, but Jonina equalised through a penalty. Jonina then extended their lead with three more goals before Halifax pulled one back. Jonina concluded the match with a final goal, resulting in an epic 7-goal thriller.
In their second meeting, Jonina continued their impressive form against Halifax, securing another victory on their home turf. They thumped Halifax 4-2, with Halifax managing to score only two goals in response.
Following their dominant performance in the 2022/23 GARFA Women’s Division One League, Jonina earned promotion to the top-flight women’s league the following season. However, they lost their first game in the 2023/2024 season against Soccer Intellectuals at home by 1-0. Many football pundits believe this “painful defeat” was a result of their lack of experience at the top level.
With a year of experience in the Women’s Premier League, The Special Ladies will now be hoping to win their first game of the season at home.
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