HORACE MERCIECA

Horace Mercieca (ta’ Zuzu) was born at Nadur on the 22nd of March 1937, and was called to rest in peace on the 14th of December 2008 (aged 71). He had his first education at the Nadur Primary School, after which he entered the Gozo Seminary. His connection with football goes back over 50 years, first as a player then as a coach.

He started playing football at the Gozo Seminary, where he spent 6 years as an intern student. Sports were the only pastime they had at that time. He always played as a goalkeeper. At the Seminary, at that time, were 3 small playgrounds, one for each camarata. When he finished his Seminary Education, at the age of 16, he joined Nadur Olympians and during his first season with them, the Olympians won the 2nd Division Championship with out conceding a single goal. As was the norm of those times, and especially at Nadur, most of the youths used to leave the island to try to find a better live in a foreign country. And most of the Olympians team went this way as well. This was a serious blow and the Club had to be closed with the consequence that Nadur ended up without a football team.

At this stage, Horace cousin, Mr. Anglu Curmi, Mr. Joe Attard and Horace Mercieca tried to make up a team. They managed to elect a committee to start the ball going. Anglu Curmi and Horace Mercieca went to Ghajnsielem, at the house of Mr. Joe Cauchi, at that time Secretary of the Gozo Football Association, to try to register the team they have managed to create. When asked what name they wanted to call their team, they had no hesitation to answer ‘Nadur Olympians’, as they were under the impression that they could continue as before. But this was not the case, as Mr. Cauchi informed them that they could not register a team with the same name as the one that dismantled. An unforeseen problem, but Horace was prompt to say ‘Nadur Youngsters’, as at that time he was thinking of the youngsters at Nadur waiting for their team. Who was to tell Horace at that time that Nadur youngsters were to write so many glorious pages in the Nadur History!

As a Nadur Youngsters player, Horace Mercieca won all the honors possible during his era. These include First Division Championship 1967-1968, Gozo ‘Footballer of the Year’ 1966-1967. He also won the Galea Cup on 3 occasions, 1961-1962, 1963-1964 and 19645-1965, the ESSO Cup, 1962-1963 and the Independence Cup during the season 1967-1968. For many seasons, including the Championship winning season, Horace Mercieca was Captain of Nadur Youngsters. During this same time he was also the guardian of the Gozo XI football team.

Also while playing for Nadur Youngsters; Horace was the regular goalkeeper with the St. Michael’s Training College. With this team Horace won the Full Colors, the equivalent of the Footballer of the Year. Horace also played for a season with Balzan Youths and another with Floriana FC. Near the end of his playing days, Horace joined Oratory Youths, with whom he also won the 2nd Division title (1970-71) and the season after they won the Galea Cup. (1971-72) .

The end of his career as a player came during the 1976-1977 season, after which he joined Qala St. Joseph as a Coach. Under his guidance, Qala won the double in the 2nd Division: Championship and Adidas Cup. He was also called to coach the Gozo XI, which was invited for 2 friendly matches in Libya, during the Independence Celebrations of that country. Gozo XI lost 2-1 against Aswehli, but recovered well to register a memorable 3-0 victory against Misurata XI in front of a packed Stadium. He also coached Calypsian Bosco Youths, with whom during the 1979-1980 season, he won the 2nd Division double, Championship and knockout Competition.

Together with Mr. Joe Psaila, Horace was coach of the Gozo XI team that took part in the 1980-1981 Malta F.A. Trophy. In the quarter finals Gozo eliminate Msida St. Joseph and were themselves eliminated from this prestigious competition in the semi finals by the Famous Floriana FC with the minimum score of 1-0.

But, Horace’s golden years as coach were during the 4 years he spent with Xaghra United between the 1986-1987 and 1989-1990 seasons. During his first year, Xaghra won promotion from the 2nd division, and during the remaining 3 seasons they won all honors they competed for; 1st Division Title, Independence Cup, Gemaherija Cup, Rothmans Cup and Super Cup. Apart of these 5 honors, the Xaghra United team Captain, Raymond Gafa, also won the ‘Footballer of the Year’. Horace won the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ award.

Mr. Mercieca, apart of coaching the above teams, he also coached Victoria Hotspurs, Xewkija Tigers, Nadur Youngsters and returned with Xaghra United. His return to Xaghra brought good luck to the team as they won promotion from the 2nd division again during the 2001-2002 season.

During his career, as a player and as coach, Horace never made any financial profit for himself, but he reckons that football taught him how to become a more respected gentleman gave him an identity with the Gozitan sporting public and helped him make some more friends. For these reasons Horace feels obliged to football.