Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit is gauging the qualities of a Brazilian forward who began a trial with the Maltese champions yesterday.

Juninho Balbino looks to have the right credentials to make the grade as the 21-year-old was signed by Slovakian club Kosice as a teenager before returning to Brazil to join Coritiba where he spent four seasons.

Balbino, who can play as striker or in an advanced midfield role, was expected to sign for a Slovenian club this summer but negotiations broke down at the last minute.

Sources have told Times of Malta that Balbino came to Birkirkara’s attention following a recommendation by his agent who also represents Jonathan Maciel, the Brazilian defender who signed a one-year deal with the Stripes earlier this month.

Birkirkara are in the market for a new foreign player after releasing Ricardo Jimenez.

The Spanish defender was signed on a short-term deal a few weeks ago but Zammit decided that Jimenez was surplus to requirements after re-assessing his squad following Birkirkara’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Slovenian side NK Maribor.

Zammit has adequate cover in defence, moreso after Malta U-21 captain Zach Muscat inked a new deal with Birkirkara.

The other two first-choice centre-halves are Alejandro Mendoza and Nikola Vukanac with the latter currently in talks over a contract extension.

Maciel is also challenging for a regular place in the Stripes’ defence.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Rodrigo Pereira is no longer part of Birkirkara’s squad.

The Brazilian was hoping to earn a lucrative contract with a Chinese club but with his future still uncertain, Pereira is repor-tedly eyeing a return to Maltese football.

Balzan have declared an interest in Pereira but they want to analyse the performances of their five foreign players in the AME Cup before deciding whether to offer a contract to the former Birkirkara defender.

Qormi are set to give a trial to Nelly Yoa, an Australian striker.

Regarded as a promising player in his teens, Yoa, 24, had a trial with Chelsea a few years back but his progress was disrupted by a savage machete attack in 2011 that left him fighting for his life.

At the time, Yoa was on the brink of signing a contract with Melbourne Victory but the horrific attack by a 20-strong mob ruined his dreams.

Yoa has spent much of the past three years trying to rebuild his career but his attempts to secure a permanent deal with an esta-blished club have proved unsuc-cessful.

The striker is now hoping to pass the test at Qormi as he looks to revive his career.

Yoa is following in the footsteps of Enoch Barwuah Balotelli, the brother of Milan and Italy stalwart Mario Balotelli, who last week joined Qormi on a one-year deal.

Qormi coach Tommasi Volpi indicated that Enoch Balotelli may be loaned out to Division One side Gudja United.

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