Mifsud now linked with Qormi

The Michael Mifsud transfer saga continued to take unexpected turns yesterday as The Times can confirm that the Malta striker is now on the verge of joining Qormi in the Premier League.

Mifsud has been without a club since May last year when he scored one of Valletta’s goals in a 2-1 win over Qormi in the FA Trophy final.

He was linked with a move abroad in summer and according to Valletta FC president Victor Sciriha this week, the former Coventry City player had turned down a lucrative contract to re-sign for the Citizens late last year.

Protracted talks to join Floriana also came to nothing in January but Qormi ‘took their chances’ yesterday and now the two parties are close to reaching an agreement.

“We never talked to Michael Mifsud before but when we saw other local clubs failing to secure his signature we said ‘why don’t we try ourselves’?” Redino Apap, the Qormi FC president, told The Times.

“We took our chances and it seems we took them well because it did not take us long to explain to each other what our expectations were. So far, he has not signed on the dotted line but I can say that it’s more yes than no at this stage.”

Qormi FC will be holding a rally at the town’s Local Council offices this evening. If the deal goes through, Mifsud will be presented to the supporters and he could make his debut in tomorrow’s match against Birkirkara as the Yellow-Blacks continue with their strive to finish among the top six teams in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, Birkirkara continued to strengthen their attacking department with the signing of free agent Olalekan Babatunde, the former striker of Msida St Joseph.

Last month, the Stripes added forward Rodolfo ‘Alemao’ Kumbrevicius to their squad along with other mid-winter transfer window signing Andrei Agius.

Babatunde, 26, has signed for Birkirkara until the end of the season. He already has a taste of Maltese football after his stint with Msida in season 2006-07.

The Nigerian speedster scored 18 goals in that campaign, helping the Saints preserve their status in the top flight before opting for pastures new. He signed for Danish outfit Horsens AC after lengthy trials with top clubs in Turkey.

If Birkirkara receive the transfer certificate in time, Babatunde could make his debut for the Stripes against Qormi, tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Sliema Wanderers yesterday announced that they had agreed a deal for a new sponsorship with electrical engineering firm Enelux.

“We are glad to have struck a contract with Enelux. We’re the most decorated team in the country and that, perhaps, explains why our list of official partners is always on the increase,” club president Steve Abela was reported as saying.

The Wanderers, league winners a record 26 times, have just changed coach after a very poor showing by the club’s own standards in the Premier League.

Danilo Doncic replaced Mark Marlow earlier this week and his first assignment will be a league match against Floriana at the Hibs Stadium on Sunday.

Sliema are also likely to parade new signing Etienne Barbara this weekend.

“Our performance in the league was poor to say the least so a change in the coaching department be-came inevitable,” Abela added.

Barbara has joined the Wanderers on a short-term transfer as he is still on the books of Carolina Railhawks. The forward is expected to return to the US in spring.

Crucial meeting

Floriana FC will be holding a crucial extraordinary general meeting this evening.

The main item on the agenda will be the resignation of Johann Said from the club’s presidency and the reasons that led to his shock decision.

The club did not comment on the matter but in midweek issued a statement saying they had accepted Said’s resignation. Club members are still hopeful Said will reverse his decision, probably brought about after an unsuccessful bid to sign Mifsud.

In the meantime Matthew Paris was appointed acting president to see that the running of the club continues smoothly.