John Tabone Women’s Shield winners Hibernians announced a new coaching path on Thursday as they named Malta Women’s national team coach Charles Bonnici as their new team coach for the remainder of the season.
This move comes as Winnie Buhaigar, who has led the team since July, departs the Paola-based club after a rollercoaster start to the season.
“The Hibernians Basketball Club would like to announce that Charlie Bonnici has been appointed as the new coach for our Hibernians Women’s Senior Team. Welcome on board!” The club said in a statement.
“In the meantime, the Hibernians Basketball Club would like to thank former coach Winnie Buhagiar for her commitment throughout the past months.”
Under Buhagiar, the Paolites made significant roster changes, with former Starlites trio Steffi de Martino, Maria Bonett, and Andie Saliba all joining the team before the signing of American forward Mikayla Brandon. This newly built squad depth reaped instant rewards, as the team looked solid at both ends of the court. Eventually, the Shield Trophy gave Hibs their first accolade after a long drought.
In spite of this momentum, the team struggled to match the pace once the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League campaign started, losing their opening fixtures. Nevertheless, Hibernians eventually got back to winning ways and are now in fourth place in the standings on 10 points (3-4).
While it is still unclear why Hibs and coach Buhagiar parted ways, this change brings to the team an experienced mentor in Bonnici, whose last stint in senior women’s basketball saw him win the league with Starlites.
Bonnici, who was appointed Malta NT women’s coach last season, comes to the team with a FIBA Small Countries Games silver medal on his resume after a strong showing by his team in Kosovo in the summer. While it was rumoured that he could return to Starlites for this season, the Naxxar side announced former Malta guard Peter Shoults with Bonnici seemingly to remain only the NT coach. However, he now rejoins his former trio and the rest of the Hibs roster as they focus on climbing up to the top positions of the league.
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