Clubs strengthen ranks to challenge for promotion

The advent of a new Division One campaign is accompanied by the usual forecasts and questions about the prospects and expectations of the 10 teams in this category.

What are the chances of St Patrick and Lija? Are they geared for a swift return to the top flight? Will Senglea Athletic celebrate their 75th anniversary in style by returning to the Premier League?

And what about Mqabba? They led the Division One table for practically the whole of last season only to finish third.

Will Marsa live up to their tag as one of the best teams in the league?

With the arrival of notable signings Clint Caruana (Sliema), Fabio Cauchi (Msida), Daniel Cosaitis, David Gauci and Jason Tabone (all from Hibs) and of course new coach Dragan Zivkovic, Senglea Athletic fans are confident their team can finally hit the jackpot.

Senglea are not the only club to have bolstered their squad in pre-season as other clubs also secured some 'big name' signings.

Division Two champions Tarxien Rainbows made headlines on the final day of the August transfer window when they signed Brazilian midfielder Andre Rocha da Silva, ex-Floriana.

Marsa have also been busy in the transfer market. The return of Bulgarian defender Nikolai Slavtchev coupled with the signings of Ivan Casha and Alessio Cassar, both from Marsaxlokk, Timmy Thomas (Senglea) and Darren Vella (Valletta) show Marsa's ambitions to challenge seriously for promotion to the Premier League.

Banking on a new-look strikeforce of Chima Dozie and Gordon Naudi, the latter signed from Mellieha, Naxxar Lions, coached by former Valletta mentor Dennis Fenech, could spring a few surprises. The capture of goalkeeper Reuben Cini from Luxol and Justin Zammit from Valletta also represents astute business by Fenech.

Lowdown on Div. One teams...

Lija Athletic

Coach: Ray Schembri (new).
Last season: Tenth (last) in the Premier League.
In: John Cauchi (Floriana), Marvic Grech and Daniel Scerri (Birkirkara), Paul Camilleri (Birzebbuga), John Camilleri (Gozo), Jean Paul Scerri (Pietà), Beppe Antignolo (Melita), Etienne Mercieca (free).
Out: Simon Agius (Floriana), Jean Paul Desira (Sirens), Jason Cachia (Dingli), Robert Sammut (Siggiewi), Daddy Okeke (transfer listed), Matthew Agius (transfer listed), Brian Spiteri (transfer listed)
Key man: Glenn Barry.

Prediction
¤ Demoted from the Premier League, Lija are not considered among the prime contenders for promotion. A hard campaign awaits Lija who may need to defy the odds to avoid a fight against relegation.

Mqabba

Coach: Vince Carbonaro (new).
Last season: Third.
In: Mark Farrugia (Zurrieq), Pierre Grima, Andrè Formosa (Sliema), Roderick Spiteri, Mauro Bonnici (Hibs).
Out: Donald Gatt (Msida),
Key man: Jean Paul Muscat.

Prediction
¤ A limited squad normally struggles to maintain a challenge but Carbonaro's combination of mean defence, strong midfield and fast attack could make Mqabba a good bet for a runner-up spot.

Naxxar Lions

Coach: Dennis Fenech (new).
Last season: Seventh.
In: Reuben Cini, Jose Borg (St Andrews), Justin Zammit (Valletta), Chima Dozie (St Patrick), Kevin Fenech (Qormi), Gordon Naudi (Mellieha).
Out: Jerry Ani (Valletta), Daniel Zuccaro (Qormi), Matthew Spiteri Gonzi (Sliema).
Key man: Chima Dozie.

Prediction
¤ Naxxar have lost some key players this year, namely Paul Fenech, the Malta U-21 midfielder who joined Msida , and Jerry Ani, now at Valletta. A mid-table finish looks like their most reasonable target.

San Gwann

Coach: Noel Coleiro (confirmed)
Last season: Sixth.
In: Peter Chizoba Anizoba (St Patrick), Adrian Farrugia (Msida), Adrian Ellul (Gharghur), Malcolm Buttigieg (Hibs), Vince Camilleri (Zejtun), Andrea Zammit Tabona (Sliema).
Out: Joseph Achokwu, Kevin Formosa (Qormi), Wayne Mallia (Sta Venera), Mark Psaila (Gharghur).
Key man: Peter Chizoba Anizoba.

Prediction
¤ Must improve significantly on last season if they are to remain clear of the relegation zone.

Senglea Athletic

Coach: Dragan Zivkovic (new).
Last season: fourth.
In: Neil Attard (Xghajra), Jason Borg (Attard), Clint Caruana (Sliema), Fabio Cauchi (Msida), Daniel Cosaitis, David Gauci and Jason Tabone (Hibs), Mark Marlow (Balzan Y.).
Out: Roderick Spiteri (Hibs), Malcolm Tirchett (Vittoriosa), Timmy Thomas (Marsa), Silvio Sciberras (St George's).
Key man: Kenneth Abela.

Prediction
¤ Have a habit of doing just enough bar winning promotion but they seem to have what it takes to claim a top-two finish.

St George's

Coach: Marco Gerada (new).
Last season: Eighth.
In: Larry Lagana and Charles Cachia (Vittoriosa), Anthony Lagana (Birkirkara), Alan Bonnici (Pieta), Silvio Sciberras (Senglea).
Out: Lawrence Mizzi (Vittoriosa), Jason Mifsud and Joseph Mizzi (Fgura), Chris Richard (Kirkop), Roderick Garcia (Kalkara), Keith Darmanin (Pietà), Vince Camilleri, Ryan Farrugia and Nazzareno Abela (Birzebbuga), Heathcliffe Schembri (Pietà).
Key man: Anthony Ewurum.

Prediction
¤ Ranked among the potential candidates for promotion but may have to settle for a mid-table position.

St Patrick

Coach: Borislav Giorev - (confirmed).
Last season: Ninth (Premier League).
In: Petrovic Goreski (Vittoriosa), Albert Caruana (Gudja), Simon Zerafa, Clayton Micallef, Matthew Fleri Soler, Benoir Fenech (all Hibs), Gilbert Scerri (Balzan).
Out: Alex Camilleri (Hibs), Mark Pullicino (Msida).
Key man: Sandro Costa Brazilino.

Prediction
¤ If Bobby Giorev can bring the best out of his talented team, St Patrick could find themselves making an immediate return to the Premier League.

Tarxien Rainbows

Coach: Jesmond Zerafa (confirmed).
Last season: Div. Two champions.
In: Kurt Coleiro (Luxol), Michael Farrugia and Joseph Tonna (Rabat Ajax), Eric Saliba (Pietà), Kurt Magri, Kurt Zammit, Floyd Farrugia (all Valletta), Andre Rocha Da Silva (free).
Out: Duncan Burke (Vittoriosa), Leslie Burke (Gudja), Chris Camilleri (St Andrews).
Key man: Alan Tabone.

Prediction
¤ Salvation is normally the no. 1 objective of any promoted team but with the new additions to their squad, Tarxien could even sneak into the top three.

St Andrews

Coach: Anthony Garcia - (confirmed).
Last season: Second in Div. Two.
In: Nenad Veselji (Sliema), Michael Borg Olivier (Qormi), Alex Chetcuti (Mosta), Karl Vella Petroni (Gharghur), Mark Sultana (Zurrieq).
Out: Kurt Coleiro (Tarxien), Michael Valenzia (Msida), Reuben Cini and Jose Borg (Naxxar).
Key man: Sam Parkin.

Prediction
¤ Retaining their Div. One status must be St Andrew's main aim but that will be anything but an easy job considering the experience of their rivals.

Marsa

Coach: Michael Molzahn (confirmed).
Last season: Fifth.
In: Ivan Casha, Nikolai Slavtchev and Alessio Cassar (Marsaxlokk), Kevin Cassar (Naxxar L.), Steve Borda (Hibs), Roderick Spiteri and Darren Vella (Valletta), Stephen Meilaq (Hamrun), Jeremy Dalli (Gharghur).
Out: Kevin Farrugia (Qormi), Elvin Attard (Senglea).
Key man: Gilbert Martin.

Prediction
¤ Marsa look very strong and if the players click well together, they should find no difficulty in winning promotion to the Premier League.