Luke Dimech... another season at Valletta FC.Luke Dimech will be wearing the white shirt of Valletta for another season as yesterday the veteran defender agreed to sign a new one-year contract with the Premier League champions.
The 37-year-old had been on the books of Valletta for the past 18 months after he joining in December 2012 from Mosta.
Dimech played a key role in helping Valletta win a double in 2013-14. It was the first combined league and cup success in one season in Dimech’s career.
This summer there were various reports in the local media that linked Dimech with retirement and a move away from the country but the former AEK Larnaca centre-half quashed the rumours on his future by agreeing to extend his stay with the Citizens.
The news will be greeted with enthusiasm by new Valletta coach Gilbert Agius who is looking to assemble a competitive squad for the new season, starting with this month’s Champions League second qualifying round clash against Qarabag, of Azerbaijan.
Valletta have already secured the services of Ryan Camilleri from Hibs, adding to Agius’s defensive options in view of the impending departure of Steve Borg, currently undergoing a trial with a South African club.
Sources told Times of Malta yesterday that Borg has been ap-proached by former Valletta coach Andre Paus. The Dutchman wants to lure the Malta international to his new club Anorthosis Famagusta, of Cyprus.
The Citizens have also signed UAE defender Hakem Alkamali, who put pen to paper on a one-year contract. Moreover, they finalised the acquisition of Portuguese midfielder Hugo Faria who played for Enosis Neon Paralimni in the Cypriot league last season.
Meanwhile, following the departure of Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza to newly-promoted Żebbuġ Ran-gers, Valletta are seeking to bolster their forward line and young German Kevin Holz, who came through the youth ranks of Borussia Dortmund, could join their ranks.
Last season, Holz, 20, played for FC Lucerne, in Switzerland.
Elsewhere, the much-travelled Jeffrey Farrugia was yesterday named as the new team manager of Hibernians.
“The Hibernians FC executive committee has just reached an agreement with Jeffrey Farrugia who will be assuming the role of team manager at the club,” the Paolites said in a statement.
Farrugia, a former Hibernians player, is an experienced administrator and has worked with several top-flight clubs in the past, most notably Floriana and Mosta.
Tarxien Rainbows have strengthened their rearguard with the acquisition of wing-back Manwel Scerri from Gozitan side Xagħra United.
The Rainbows lured Scerri to their fold as a replacement for Luca Martinelli who returned to his club Sliema Wanderers.
Naxxar Lions are also stepping up their efforts to finalise their foreign line-up for the upcoming season.
Brazilian Gilmar, Argentine duo Pablo Doffo and David Reano, and Nigerian defender Ibok Edet have already signed contracts at Naxxar while coach Winston Muscat is currently running the rule on three other South Americans who have just started a trial with the club.