Champs with all-Maltese team for Birkirkara curtain-raiser

As the dust settles on Euro 2008, the focus of Maltese football enthusiasts swings back to the domestic game today as champions Valletta and Birkirkara, the FA Trophy holders, clash in the opening match of the Euro Challenge Cup (kick-off 8 p.m.).

Formerly known as the Lowenbrau Cup, the Euro Challenge Cup, the inaugural competition on the MFA's calendar, is designed to boost the preparations of the three teams taking part in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup.

The rivalry between the Valletta and Birkirkara fans means that duels between these two adversaries always have an extra edge but the main priority of the two teams this evening is to shed some of the early-season rustiness ahead of their daunting European commitments next week.

Tomorrow week, Valletta will host Slovakian giants FC Artmedia Petrzalska in the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying round match at the National Stadium. Two days later, i.e. Thursday, July 17, Birkirkara will play away to Croatian side Hajduk Split in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie. Marsaxlokk will be at home for the first leg of their UEFA Cup tie against Slaven Belupo, also of Croatia.

Apart from their significance as pre-European competition warm-ups, the Euro Challenge Cup matches also give the supporters of the three participating teams the chance to form their first opinions on the clubs' new signings.

The Valletta faithful will be curious to see how their team's four Maltese recruits, Cleaven Frendo, Jamie Pace, Luke Dimech and Edmond Agius will perform in their first official match in City's white shirt.

Paul Zammit, the Valletta coach, will field an all-Maltese line-up this evening as the club have yet to choose their foreign players for next season. None of the overseas players who were on trial with the Citizens in the past three weeks has impressed Zammit sufficiently to be offered a contract.

Defender Kenneth Scicluna is ruled out of today's match due to a pelvis injury and Kurt Magro will serve the first of a two-match ban after his sending-off in the 2007-08 Trophy semi-final defeat to Birkirkara.

Zammit views today's match as a useful trial for his team but is unhappy about the Malta FA's decision to stage the Euro Challenge Cup matches at the Centenary Stadium.

"The choice of the Centenary Stadium as the venue for the Euro Challenge Cup is not compatible with the key objectives of this competition," Zammit told The Times. "This tournament is intended to help the teams' preparations for the European matches but playing on an artificial pitch is certainly not ideal because as far as I know, the Maltese sides will all play on natural turf in UEFA competitions."

His reservations about the pitch aside, Zammit hopes to glean maximum benefit from today's game in terms of match fitness.

"Match practice is of utmost importance at this early stage of the season," Zammit said. "These games are an integral part of our preparations for the Champions League assignments against Artmedia and also for the season in general.

"However, I can't have a full picture of the strengths and weaknesses of my squad because we haven't signed any foreign players yet."

Birkirkara have retained two of the three overseas players they had last season, defenders Ronnie Hartvig, from Denmark, and Bulgarian Emil Yantchev but Davy Amed Sylla no longer forms part of John Buttigieg's squad.

Three players whose contract with the Stripes expired at the end of last season, Lino Galea, Adrian Ciantar and Roderick Sammut, have been linked with a move to Premier League newcomers Qormi. The trio will not be considered for selection today.

Bajada trial

Midfielder Shaun Bajada has just returned from a two-week trial with a second division club in the Czech Republic and should be available for today's match. Sources told The Times that the Czech club want to sign Bajada but their initial offer has been rejected by Birkirkara.

Coach Buttigieg is also likely to give Angus Buhagiar his official debut. Signed from Floriana, Buhagiar made a substitute appearance in the 0-0 draw against Scottish team Dundee in a friendly match played last Friday.

Birkirkara captain Michael Galea, who last week extended his contract for another three years, is keen for his team to cut a good figure in the Euro Challenge Cup.

"We're only two weeks into our pre-season and it's too early to reach peak form," Galea told The Times.

"The aim of this competition is to help clubs prepare for their European commitments. This is also that time of the season when coaches like to experiment with tactics and positions. Notwithstanding all this, the Euro Challenge Cup is one of the official competitions of the MFA and we will do our best to challenge for the trophy."

The second match of the Euro Challenge Cup on Wednesday will be between Marsaxlokk and the losers of today's match. In case of a draw tonight, Birkirkara will meet Marsaxlokk as they were the first-drawn team.

Hibs can't defend their title this year after failing to finish in the top three positions last season.