The winter transfer window in Malta produced some unexpected last-minute deals yesterday with Frank Temile leaving Qormi to join fellow Premier League strugglers Naxxar Lions.
Leaders Hibernians also registered two new foreign strikers, Sliema Wanderers pulled the plug on a deal to sign Argentine striker Julio Alcorse and brought in Brazilian forward Matteus, formerly of Mosta, while veteran goalkeeper Mario Muscat is set to return to competitive football with Qormi.
The major transfer of the day was Temile’s move from Qormi to Naxxar.
Temile was told he could find a new club after turning down an offer to extend his contract with Qormi.
Naxxar Lions and Żebbuġ Rangers both showed interest in Temile but it was the Lions who clinched his signature in the final hours of the mid-season transfer window. The former Valletta and Birkirkara winger has signed a contract until the end of the season.
Veteran goalkeeper Muscat made a surprise move to Qormi FC.
Muscat, who had announced his retirement at the start of the season after playing his last game for Hibernians, yesterday reached an agreement with Qormi president Redeno Apap that will see the former Malta custodian join the club’s technical staff as well as provide competition to first-choice goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.
The Yellow-Blacks, who are still searching for a new coach following the resignation of Josef Mansueto, also registered Japan forward Go Nagawoka yesterday.
Leaders Hibernians bolstered their forward line with the acquisition of Serbian striker Marco Rajic and Brazilian forward Andre Luiz dos Santos De Lima.
Rajic and Andre Luiz are expected to increase competition in Branko Nisevic’s squad besides providing cover in attack should Luis Edison, the Premier League’s leading scorer, leave Hibs to join a South Korean club next month.
Sliema Wanderers were forced to revise their transfer plans after Alcorse’s proposed move to the Blues collapsed.
Reports suggest that the Argentine striker is ineligible to play football after a collective ban was imposed on all the players of his former club in Indonesia over match-fixing allegations.
The Wanderers have brought in Brazilian striker Matteus who started the season with Mosta.
The Blues have parted ways with goalkeeper Daniel Balzan, who has joined Pembroke Athleta, but secured the loan signing of Luxol goalkeeper Sam Bartolo as understudy to Glenn Zammit.
Tarxien engaged the services of a new foreign striker with Senegalese Souly Mohammed becoming the fourth forward to join the Rainbows this month following the arrivals of Spanish duo Jorge Yepes and Edu Vallecillo and Nigerian forward Obinna Darlington.
Mosta signed Gambian defender Ousman Koli.
Koli, who last played for Slovenian club Ankaran Hrvatini, has represented his country at U-17, U-20 and U-23 level.