Floriana eyeing player-exchange deal with Bolton Wanderers

Floriana FC are looking at the possibility of reaching a player-exchange agreement with Bolton Wanderers in a bid to give their youngsters an ideal opportunity of developing their footballing talent further at the English Premiership club.

Speaking at the launching of the Summer Triangular Tournament 2003, which sees the participation of organisers Floriana FC, Birkirkara FC and Bolton, Floriana president Dennis Burke confirmed that there have already been some contacts with their English counterparts and the response was very encouraging.

"Our objective is to have a number of our youngsters attending regular training camps at the Reebok Stadium. Talks are at an early stage but Bolton's reply was not a negative one," Burke said.

"At the moment we have three players practising with the Bolton squad, Matthew Camilleri, Nicolò Baldacchino and Trevor Cilia, who replaced the injured Christian Cassar. Our strategy is based on youth investment and there's no better way than to give them a taste of professional football."

Burke said Floriana FC are honoured to host Bolton in Malta, especially as their visit arrived on the year they are celebrating their 110th anniversary. He added Floriana are eagerly awaiting the start of the new season where the club's main objective will be to challenge for the honours once again.

"Having a club like Bolton in Malta is a great honour for us. With star players of the calibre of Jay Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff the tournament puts Maltese football in the limelight. Matches will be a good test for both Floriana and Birkirkara," Burke added.

"This season we seek to see the team in the running for domestic honours after a lean patch. We are aware that we are not equipped to win the championship yet but we do have the players who will help us to establish ourselves among the top clubs."

Floriana have English midfielder David Gill on trial at the moment. Burke said they are also waiting for the arrival of a Brazilian midfielder who should be available to play against Bolton on Thursday.

The tournament kicked off yesterday evening at the Hibs Ground with the match between Floriana and Birkirkara. The Stripes will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Bolton. The last match, Floriana vs Bolton on Thursday, will also serve as a farewell party to Greens defender Dennis Cauchi who has decided to retire from the game. Kick-off for all matches is at 6.30 p.m.

Birkirkara PRO John Borg said: "This tournament has come at an ideal time for us as Birkirkara prepare for the UEFA Cup ties against Ferencvaros. Bolton will be a great test for us.

"Unfortunately, due to the current format of Euro competitions, Maltese teams have little chance of playing against more popular sides so this tournament has filled our players with excitement."

Allardyce impressed with Ta' Qali facilities

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, yesterday accompanied by his assistant Phil Brown and players Youri Djorkaeff and Jay Jay Okocha at the Radisson launching, said he was satisfied with the training facilities at Ta' Qali. It all confirmed the positive comments passed to him by his friend Brian Talbot, former coach at Hibernians FC.

"This is my first time here and I'm really impressed with what I have seen so far. I had asked about the place with Brian Talbot and he had spoken very highly of Malta. He had told me that the Ta' Qali training grounds were excellent. We've been there on Saturday and I can say Brian was more than correct in his affirmations," the Bolton boss said.

"We are approaching this tournament very seriously because we want to arrive for the start of the new season in good physical condition. Our first match is against that 'terrible' team so popular in Malta, Manchester United. We hope to achieve a third win on the trot at Old Trafford."

Djorkaeff played for several top clubs in Europe, including Inter and Kaiserslautern. In the Bundesliga, he played with Michael Mifsud. Yesterday, he described the Malta forward as "a great talent who can become one of the top strikers in the Bundesliga."

Asked to give his view on the Premiership when compared to the Italian Serie A, the Frenchman replied: "The English Premier League has become one of the best championships in the world," he said.

"In England, there are some of the top players in circulation and the atmosphere in the stadia is astonishing.

"In Italy, the pressure on the players is too much. They speak on the match throughout the whole week while in England the atmosphere is more relaxed and leaves the players to work in more tranquillity."