Marsaxlokk target slot in Europe

Marsaxlokk are concentrating their efforts on two fronts at the moment as the Southerners are assembling a squad, strong enough to play in Europe next year, and also seeking to clear the club's name from match-fixing allegations in a case which has now been dragging on for months.

Marsaxlokk finished fourth in the Premier League last season, failing to win a slot in Europe.

The club's run-in to the crucial phase of the Championship Pool was hit badly by news that a Marsaxlokk player and official had admitted in court their part in a bribery case during a Premier League match late last year.

Marsaxlokk FC president Robert Micallef yesterday told reporters, during a press briefing at the Eurosport headquarters, that his committee had dedicated most of their time lately to bolster Patrick Curmi's squad besides putting up a strong defence in the bribery probe in front of the MFA board.

"On the football front, we wanted to bring in the players we knew could help us obtain a better placing than we did last season," he said.

"It was not easy with the investigation going on and taking more time than expected to finish. We think Marsaxlokk are clean and the club has nothing to do with any wrongdoing mentioned elsewhere.

"We are prepared to do everthing possible to make sure our club's reputation is safeguarded.

"Personally, I want the whole truth to emerge the quickest possible. We cannot devote our attention solely on this case with the season getting under way this weekend."

Micallef said the new additions to the squad needed little convincing to join Marsaxlokk despite all speculation about the club's future.

"Some might think differently but we did not find it hard to convince the new players to join us," Micallef said. "We have signed five key players who will surely add more options to our coach."

Marsaxlokk parted ways with Julio Alcorse, Marcelo Perreira, Renato Conceicao, Kevin Sammut and Christian Cassar but made up with the signings of Bulgarian duo Martin Deanov and Emil Yantchev, and Benin striker Florent Raimy.

The three foreigners were presented to the media yesterday along with other newcomers Roderick Bajada and Glenn Zammit. Others could follow before the deadline at the end of the month.

Marsaxlokk conducted pre-season at their new facilities which includes an artificial turf pitch among other refurbishments.

Micallef said Marsaxlokk FC have already invited UEFA president Michel Platini to officially open the training grounds when the Frenchman visits the island for a congress in January.

Meanwhile, the build-up to the 2009/10 championship was plainsailing, coach Curmi said.

"We tried not to think about what was happening outside the football spheres," Curmi said.

"Having our own training facilities was a huge bonus for us. We've now reached the start of the new championship in top physical shape.

"True, some results in pre-season friendlies were negative but we did not read too much in that as we were only looking to gel the new players into the group."