Confident Comvalius backs Stripes to seal title before last match

Birkirkara's ability to unleash quick, powerful incursions down the wings has been central to their assault on the Premier League title.

On taking over the reins of the team last summer, coach Paul Zammit immediately focused his energies on improving his players' tactical awareness and instilling a never-say-die attitude but his forays into the transfer market indicated the importance he attached to effective wing play as a chief attacking weapon.

Two of Zammit's major signings were young players who possess the pace and agility to hurt opponents on the flanks, namely Dutch forward Sylvano Comvalius and Karl Pulo.

While Pulo has been used sparingly by Zammit, Comvalius has been a mainstay in a three-pronged attack that features Michael Galea as central striker and the reinvigorated Trevor Cilia who normally operates on the right wing.

Plucked from Ħamrun Spartans, Comvalius took a while to recapture his best form at Birkirkara but once he hit his stride, there was no stopping the former Ajax trainee who is the Stripes' leading scorer in the league with 14 goals.

Last Thursday, Comvalius further underlined his importance to Birkirkara when scoring with a perfectly-flighted free-kick to set the Premier League leaders en route to another important victory over Qormi.

"We are taking it game by game but at this stage of the season, every match is like a final," Comvalius said.

"We made another step towards winning the Premier League title with our victory over Qormi but we have two more to go."

Four points clear at the top with three matches remaining, Birkirkara will secure the title if they win their next two games.

Comvalius is backing Birkirkara to seal their mission before their last-day encounter with Valletta.

"We're confident," Comvalius said. "We have the qualities to beat our opponents in our next two matches.

"The feeling among the players is that we don't want it (the title race) to go to the last game. Even Valletta can drop points before the final match but we are determined to win the next two games and clinch the title."

Amid the hype surrounding Valletta's flurry of high-profile transfers, few, if anybody, gave Birkirkara a chance of challenging for the title last summer but Comvalius insisted that he immediately realised that his new team had potential.

"I was impressed with the qualities of the team straightaway," Comvalius said. "Birkirkara started the season with a new goalkeeper, two new central defenders... I was also a newcomer to the team. You could say that the backbone was new and it usually takes time for a team to adapt to certain changes but we made quick progress.

"This was mainly thanks to the coach who created the right atmosphere for the players to feel at ease and work hard to improve.

"Consistency is the most important thing in football and Birkirkara have been the most consistent side this season. In Holland, teams like Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV are always considered as the main challengers for the title but Twente look set to win the championship this season.

"Twente have generally kept the same formation and their players know exactly what they have to do on the pitch."

It says all about Comvalius's towering impact on Maltese football that he secured a move to Birkirkara after a four-month spell with Ħamrun Spartans.

"I left Ħamrun after they were relegated from the Premier League," Comvalius said.

"I had the option of staying with Ħamrun (who were later reinstated to the Premier League) but I wanted to play in the top division. I was also talking to other clubs but then Paul Zammit called to tell me that he wanted to sign me. After discussions, I agreed to join Birkirkara."

Comvalius signed a two-year deal with Birkirkara but a few weeks ago, he was on the verge of leaving the club after attracting strong interest from Russian club Spartak Nalchik.

The overtures of Spartak Nalchik turned Comvalius's head as the Dutch winger twice linked up with the Russian team at their pre-season training base in Antalya but despite leaving a very positive impression, the move failed to materialise as Birkirkara decided to hold on to their coveted player.

"Nalchik made an official offer to sign me," Comvalius replied to a question about his flirtation with the Russian club.

"It was a good opportunity for me to play in a better league but if something doesn't come off, you have to move on and that is what I've tried to do. I want to be successful in my career but it's up to me to put myself in the picture. I always do my best to play well, week in week out.

"The possibility of joining Spartak Nalchik in the summer is still there but at this moment in time, I'm only focusing on Birkirkara. My main concern is to help Birkirkara win the league."

Comvalius is quite happy with his level of performance this season. "It's been a tough year," he reflected. "I give my all in every game and I'm always prepared to work hard to help the team.

"My game is not just about scoring, I also try to create opportunities for my team-mates and this season I've also contributed with many goal assists."

Last season, Comvalius's performances failed to rescue Ħamrun from relegation but the 22-year-old hopes that his efforts over the past nine months will earn him the first honour of his fledgling career.

"Signing my first professional contract was the first big achievement of my career but as a player, you want to win prizes," Comvalius said. "The level of Maltese football may not be the highest in Europe but it is still the Premier League and the title is the top prize."