BOV Premier League champions Valletta and FA Trophy winners Sliema Wanderers will be among five teams from the top flight who will be competing in the Evolution Gaming 2016 Summer Cup at the Luxol Stadium this summer.

The pre-season tournament, starting next Monday, will be organised and hosted by St Andrew’s with the other teams in competition being Mosta and Pembroke Athleta, from the top flight, and Division One newcomers Sirens.

Jason Falzon, the St Andrew’s FC president, told a news conference yesterday that the tournament helps the teams prepare for the upcoming season and attracts a lot of interest with coaches handed an opportunity to try out new players, both local and foreign.

“The Summer Cup comes at the right moment for the six teams in competition to trial new players as they step up preparations for the new season,” Falzon said.

“The tournament rules are tailor-made so that coaches can make all the experiments they feel they need to. In fact, there are no limits on foreign players and substitutions.

“The competition is being played a few weeks before the start of the new Premier League season so we think that the Summer Cup will turn out to be a valuable exercise.”

The participating teams were drawn into two sections with Valletta, St Andrew’s and Mosta in Group A and Pembroke, Sliema and Sirens in Group B.

The top two from each group progress to the semi-finals while the two third-placed sides will feature in a positional play-off for fifth and sixth places on August 6.

The tournament kicks off on Monday when St Andrew’s face Mosta at 6.15pm.

The curtain-raiser will be followed by the Group B match bet-ween Pembroke and Sliema.

The two semi-finals are scheduled for July 31 and the final pencilled for August 7.

Evolution Gaming are the tournament sponsors.

“We are grateful to Evolution Gaming for their assistance in organising this tournament,” Falzon said.

“Maltese football is in dire need of financial assistance from the private sector and we hope that this collaboration with Evolution Gaming will continue for many years.”

Group fixtures
Monday: 6.15pm St Andrew’s vs Mosta; 8.30pm Pembroke vs Sliema.
Wednesday: 6.15pm Sirens vs Pembroke; 8.30pm Valletta vs St Andrew’s.
Friday, July 29: 6.15pm Mosta vs Valletta; 8.30pm Sliema vs Sirens.

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