Goals achieved says Arrigo

The sweeping move which culminated in Stefan Giglio's FA Trophy-clinching goal at the National Stadium on Tuesday encapsulated Sliema Wanderers' ambitious transfer policy over the last few years.

Carlo Mamo initiated the move on the left before passing to Rupert Mangion in the middle. The former Hamrun Spartans midfielder twisted and turned to steal a yard on his immediate opponent before quickly serving Giglio who had set off on a powerful run from the middle of the pitch.

Running forward at full throttle, he supplied a perfect pass to Danilo Doncic and continued his sprint into the box. The compliment was returned as Doncic's through-pass and an intelligent Michael Mifsud feint allowed the ball to reach Giglio who blasted home.

No wonder, Robert Arrigo, the Sliema Wanderers president, was ecstatic. His first league and cup double since assuming the reins of the club eight years ago was sealed thanks to a stunning move involving five players, all lured to the Blues' fold by his drive to buy the best talent in the local scene.

"I am honoured to have been the president who deposited in the club's showcase the 100th trophy won by Sliema Wanderers," Arrigo told The Times the day after the team clinched their 19th FA Trophy triumph.

"It was a very proud moment as this honour meant that all the goals I set out to achieve when I took over have been accomplished. In these last two seasons, we were the best team and had the strongest squad. Obviously, our success is the result of the investment we have made in players."

True to their reputation, Sliema did not hold back from bolstering their squad despite their championship win the season before. Giglio, Jamie Pace and Daniel Bogdanovic joined in summer while Michael Mifsud returned in January after almost three years at Kaiserslautern.

Pace and Bogdanovic chose to join other clubs in January to improve their prospects of first-team football but Giglio and Mifsud more than repaid the faith shown in them with a string of match-winning performances.

"Mistakes in the transfer market are normal and our acquisitions have not always paid off," Arrigo said. "You always hope that your judgment of which players will enhance the team's potential is correct and I believe that this year we committed less mistakes."

Arrigo has tipped Giglio to succeed skipper Noel Turner as the MFA Player of the Year.

"Stefan should be the favourite but there are other Sliema players who have been tremendous this season," he said.

Crowned champions with two games to spare, the manner of Sliema's comfortable victory in the final over Marsaxlokk enhanced their status as the best team around.

"On the back of our performances in the last two months, it was always going to be difficult for Marsaxlokk or any other team to stop us," Arrigo said.

"We can rely on so many different combinations to score goals thanks to the quality of our players. This makes life difficult for the opposition as restraining one player often leaves a gap for another to do the business. This was very clear in the final as our two goals were scored by two midfielders, Brincat and Giglio.

"The game was not easy. In finals, the margin between victory and defeat is so thin and one chance or lucky episode could make all the difference. This year's final was no exception as that first goal was crucial.

"We really enjoyed our moment of glory... it was high time we lifted the Trophy as Sliema were the beaten finalists on many an occasion during my time."

Domestic hegemony is desired by all the leading clubs in Malta but Arrigo's Sliema have enjoyed their fair share of success, by local standards, in European competitions.

In 1996-97, they moved to the second round of the UEFA Cup at the expense of Georgian club Margveti and last year, Sliema made it to the second qualifying round of the Champions League after a 3-2 aggregate victory over Latvian champions Skonto Riga.

Knowing Arrigo's ambitious nature, the Sliema president will have already turned his attention to his club's participation in the Champions League in July. His desire of a Maltese impact in the unforgiving European arena is not confined to Sliema Wanderers.

"Progress in European competitions should be a target not just for Sliema but for all the other Maltese clubs," he contended.

"My belief is that local clubs should strengthen their teams so as to boost their drive of improving Malta's co-efficient in European competitions. More results like Sliema achieved last year can put our teams in a seeded position.

"However, I cannot imagine how we can improve in Europe if we continue to be impeded by the MFA from fielding five non-Maltese players for our UEFA commitments. These restrictions are not helping our cause when our opponents are using the maximum amount of foreign players," Arrigo added.

Malta's accession into the European Union should abolish these restrictions but the noises emerging from the Malta FA corridors are that the local football authorities are adamant to introduce some form of limit on EU non-national players.

EU-MFA dilemma

In his bid to clear the uncertainty over the implications of the EU-football related regulations and the MFA's radical proposals, Arrigo, a Member of Parliament for the party in office, has been trying to raise the issue in the country's top political forum.

Recently, Arrigo asked a parliamentary question to Minister for Education and Youth Louis Galea on the validity of any proposed moves to restrict the amount of professional EU footballers on the pitch at any given time (PQ 5631).

According to Dr Galea's reply, EU rules resist any form of discrimination between EU citizens on the grounds of nationality.

The Sliema head has also mailed a number of questions to president Joe Mifsud regarding the Malta FA's interpretation of the EU rules and their proposal to limit the number of EU non-nationals to three on the field of play.

"All I'm asking for is clarification on the interpretation of the rules as there seems to be a lot of grey areas," Arrigo added.

Every club has a responsibility to grasp the full facts of how the new realities brought about by Malta's status as EU member since the first day of this month will affect them but Arrigo's is a lone voice in this important exercise.

His attention to such pressing matters mirrors the professionalism with which he carries out his duties as the head of one of the country's leading clubs.

Sliema face a tall order to find a suitable replacement for him when he decides to leave his seat. That day may not be too far away.

"My intention has always been not to stay long as club president," Arrigo said.

"I decided to assume the presidency of Sliema for the love of the club and the game. I believe there are people around the club who have the goals and ambition to lead Sliema and one day, I will step aside and make room for them."

Asked if he intends to continue as president for another season, Arrigo said: "Probably yes. Now I will take a few days' rest and I will see after that."