Malta and Cyprus have a lot of similarities. Both are small Mediterranean island nations. Both were colonised by the UK before gaining independence in the 1960’s. Both have superb and identical climates. Both have economies geared towards iGaming and Banking. Both drive on the left. Both have their own native languages, despite English being widely spoken (and indeed official in Malta). And, most crucially here, both love football but have questionable histories in terms of national sides as a general rule.
For some time, I have wondered why more Maltese footballers have not made the transition to play in Cyprus. On top of the aforementioned factors, the Cypriot Protathlima (top-flight) league is a superior competition to our own MPL. Salaries are generally higher and facilities are more advanced. It is a league that boasts countless current full internationals and has attracted some big names in the past such as Stevan Jovetić, Paul Okon, Hámilton Ricard, Lomana Lua Lua, Matt Derbyshire, Jason Puncheon and many more.
THE MALTESE CONNECTION
Some may be surprised to know that there has been a Maltese presence in Cyprus already. Among those who have plied their trade in the eastern Mediterranean are defender Luke Dimech who spent two seasons in the top-flight with AEK Larnaca. The big centre-half made over 50 appearances in all competitions and was also part of the side that beat Floriana 0-8 at Tony Bezzina Stadium in 2011.
Steve Borg is another Malta international central defender who spent time in Cyprus, albeit for only one season. The former Valletta, Gżira United and Ħamrun Spartans man played for Aris Limassol in the 2015/16 season, going on to make over 30 appearances. Capped 82 times for the national side, the ever-youthful Borg even managed to get on the scoresheet for Aris, netting in a 1-2 away win at Ethnikos Achnas.
In 2012, national team goalkeeper Andrew Hogg departed Valletta and made his way to Cyprus, signing for Enosis Neon Paralimni. Initially joining as the club’s second-choice stopper, he gradually worked his way into first-choice reckoning with solid performances, playing over 20 times for the club from the east of the island. His form would eventually earn him a move to the Greek Super League where he signed for AEL Kalloni.
Others to have left Malta to earn a living in Cyprus include two naturalised players. Both Malta internationals, current Gudja United coach, Orosco Anonam, and Udo Nwoko were both born in Nigeria but made their names in Malta. Anonam would spend a very short period playing for arguably Cyprus’ largest club, APOEL Nicosia.
Signing for APOEL in the summer of 2002, Anonam had already tasted football abroad with Vasas in Hungary. However he was not able to replicate his previous form in Cyprus and left the club after just 3 early round Champions League appearances, including one start against Flora Tallinn. The striker would end up back at former club Sliema Wanderers by the end of the year after a somewhat indifferent spell in the Cypriot capital.
Udo Nwoko would be the archetypal journeyman in his career, playing in several different countries and countless different clubs. Spells included time in Brazil, Wales, Egypt, England, Greece, China, Bulgaria and Portugal to name a few. But nestled in amongst the football tourism were two spells in Cyprus. He would spend five months in 2010 with Doxa Katokopias in the Protathlima, but also in the second tier with MEAP in the central village of Nisou. Whilst stats are not very reliable for this period, some deep research shows a yield of 12 games and 1 goal from the latter spell.
THE WOMEN
It’s not just the men who have dipped their collective toes in the water in Cyprus. Some of Malta’s women’s international have also made the two hour flight between the two islands in search of competitive football.
One such example is current international Maya Lucia, who is at present playing for the all-conquering Apollon Limassol team that has just recorded the latest in six back-to-back championship titles! The full-back joined the club from the south coast in the summer of 2025, winning the title at her first attempt. She also represented the club in the UEFA Women’s Champions League where they took on the likes of Swiss side, Young Boys, and Scotland’s Hibernian.
But Maya Lucia was not the first Malta international to join the club. That accolade belongs to Rachel Cuschieri who played in Limassol between 2014 and 2017. In doing so, the midfielder became the first Maltese woman to play professionally outside of Malta itself, and went on to have spells in Belgium, Netherlands and Italy, where she is still playing with Genoa.
ANDRÉ SCHEMBRI
Many will be familiar with André Schembri’s prolonged footballing journey on the island. Capped 94 times at senior level, he spent time with both Omonia Nicosia and Apollon Limassol. The latter was characterised by a run in the 2017/18 Europa League group stages where the club earned draws with Lyon, Everton and Atalanta. The following season, Apollon beat Lazio and Marseille in the same competition at the group stage. In all, Schembri made 79 appearances for Apollon, scoring 16 goals.
Schembri would later go on to join the club’s coaching staff in their youth setup, before becoming Director of Football in 2021 and Under-19’s Coach in 2022. He would subsequently go on to the become senior Coach at 2nd Division side Anagennisi Derynia for a short spell, before becoming Assistant Coach at Protathlima side Nea Salamina, a position he still occupies today. And anyone who reads his social media, or indeed his excellent autobiography (André Schembri – 10 snin nilgħab fl-Ewropa) will know that the former Malta international is very much at home in Cyprus and seems to have little appetite to return to our shores anytime soon.
He has since completed his UEFA Pro License with the MFA and it seems highly likely that he will want to test himself in the hot seat of a club again in the not too distant future. He has stated that such an opportunity could be outside of Cyprus, but it’s clear he has made a good life for himself on the island, and has grown his reputation accordingly.
OTHER CONNECTIONS
It’s not all been one-way traffic. In recent times Fgura United boasted the services of young Cypriot winger Spyros Nicolaou. The youngster joined the Challenge League club in the winter transfer window of 2023 and stayed until the end of the season before returning to his homeland with Akritas Chlorakas. And in more recent seasons there has also been the case of defender Nemanja Kerkez who spent half a season with Balzan, becoming a mainstay in their youth side but making only a handful of first team appearances as they went on to be relegated from the Premier League.
Added to that are other foreign players who have earned their wages in both countries. Included in the list are the likes of Jordi Cruyff (Valletta, AEK Larnaca as Sporting Director), the late Chris Bart-Williams (APOEL Nicosia, Marsaxlokk), Udo Akpan (Balzan, Agia Napa, ENAD Polis, Anagennisi Derynia) and of course Enzo Cabrera (Birkirkara, AEK Larnaca). Added literally on the day this article has been published, is former Belgium international, Anthony Limbombe. He has now signed for Sliema Wanderers but spent the second half of the 25/26 season with Akritas Chlorakas.
THE FUTURE?
Could more Maltese players look at Cyprus in the future, as a destination to go and play their football and experience a more professional environment? It would certainly make a lot of sense.
Cyprus offers a life very similar to Malta but also a very financially thriving and uber competitive top-flight league. A quick look at the current UEFA Coefficient rankings puts the Protathlima at 15th, ahead of countries such as Scotland, Austria, Sweden and Croatia. Our own MPL currently sits in 46th, between Lithuania and Estonia. So there is no doubt it’s a significant step up.
Wages are much, much higher than those generally earned in Malta. Clubs are signing current internationals and Aris Limassol have in recent seasons signed the likes of Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Ross McAusland from Glasgow Rangers in Scotland. By contrast, the MPL total wage spend currently is estimated at €12m a season. Progress indeed for us, but we can still not hope to match the amount of money sloshing around the island of our Mediterranean cousins.
Clubs in Cyprus have much better facilities for players to work in day-to-day. Private training campuses are the norm for most top-flight clubs. Regular exposure to the later stages of UEFA competitions is another plus for any would be recruits.
We know we have the talent in Malta. Players such Matthew Guillaumier and Alexander Satariano recently spent time in the Greek top two leagues, as well as Poland’s top-flight. Paul Mbong had a short spell in Serbia’s top-flight but clearly needs to go abroad to develop. There are countless others who could go and excel in Cyprus as well. Watch this space?
by Paul Gellard
pastizziandpenalties.com 
Leave a comment