Southclan (Malta Paintball Team)

Southclan Malta, also known as Southclan Paintball Team Malta, is a Maltese tournament paintball team associated with the development of competitive paintball in Malta. The team is documented participating in international competition from 2016, including tournaments in Sicily and the National Xball League (NXL) European Championships.[1][2]

Southclan competed in the Amateur 3v3 division at the 2024 NXL European Championships in Dreux, France, finishing 25th of 28 teams.[2]

History

Early competition

Southclan was active in Malta by 2016, although its precise founding date has not been established.

In May 2016, the team travelled to Sicily to participate in the Sicilian Paintball Cup, organised by the Sicilian Paintball League.

The documented Maltese squad included:

The event was advertised as a two-day competition incorporating three-player speedball at Lo Spazio Siracusa and woodsball at Palazzolo Acreide.

The competition brought together participants from Italy, Malta and the United States.

Southclan's participation is documented by Malta Paintball, although its final tournament placing has not been established.[1]

Epic Fields Paintball

During the early 2020s, Southclan was associated with Epic Fields Paintball, a playing and training facility in Burmarrad, within the locality of St Paul's Bay, Malta.

The venue provided a local training area incorporating protective netting and inflatable paintball bunkers.

Southclan's official PBLeagues profile identified Epic Fields Paintball in San Pawl il-Baħar as the team's home field.[3]

The facility was also associated with HBI Malta and the development of organised tournament paintball on the island.

The team's documented use of Epic Fields ended in September 2024, according to a public announcement by Chris Cioffi. This does not establish that Southclan itself ceased operating.[3]

2024 NXL European Championships

Southclan Malta competed at the 2024 NXL European Championships, held at Ace Paintball in Dreux, France, from 28 August to 1 September.

The team entered the Amateur 3v3 division, competing against teams from across Europe and other participating countries.

Official PBLeagues records show Southclan finishing 25th among 28 teams, earning 20.5 ranking points.[2]

The competition was separate from the Division 4 Xball entry of HBI Malta, which also represented the Maltese competitive paintball community at the event.[4]

Tournament results

Year	Tournament	Division	Result
2016	Sicilian Paintball Cup	Three-player competition	Participation documented; placing unverified [1]
2024	NXL European Championships	Amateur 3v3	25th of 28 [2]

Relationship with Maltese paintball

Southclan was among the Maltese teams participating in organised tournament paintball before the establishment of the present Malta Paintball voluntary organisation.

Its international appearances provided documented examples of Maltese players competing abroad during the 2010s and 2020s.

Several individuals associated with Southclan, including Chris and Jesmond Cioffi, subsequently became involved in Malta Paintball's organisational and competitive activities.[1][5]

Southclan, HBI Malta and Malta Paintball should be distinguished as separate team or organisational identities. Shared participants do not establish that one organisation was formally renamed or succeeded by another.

References

External links