Birkirkara put faith in coach Zammit

Paul Zammit has been named coach of Premier League club Birkirkara.

Zammit's appointment was confirmed yesterday afternoon following a lengthy meeting with a Birkirkara FC delegation.

"I'm honoured that Birkirkara FC, one of the most successful clubs in Malta in the last decade, have put their faith in me," Zammit said.

"This club is going through a period of transition but they are still ambitious.

"After four years with Valletta, I was looking for a new challenge with another top local club and Birkirkara fit the bill perfectly."

During his four-year spell with Valletta, Zammit led the team to the Premier League title in season 2007-08 but his final year there ended in disappointment as the much-fancied Citizens failed to retain the title, won by Hibs, and lost to Sliema in the final of the FA Trophy.

Once it became known that Valletta and Zammit had parted ways, the latter was immediately installed as the leading candidate to succeed John Buttigieg at Birkirkara.

Branko Nisevic, the former Hibs, Valletta and Sliema defender, has been appointed assistant coach of Birkirkara and will also take over their U-19 team.

Buttigieg is being linked with a role on the MFA coaching staff. However, he has agreed to preside over Birkirkara's training sessions until the end of this week.

Birkirkara are one of the four teams taking part in the Euro Cup between tomorrow and Friday. They start their commitments in the pre-season tournament with a match against Sliema at the Centenary Stadium, tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Qormi are set to sign defender Kenneth Spiteri who played for Msida St Joseph last season while champions Hibs have closed in on the signing of Ryan Camilleri from Pietà Hotspurs.