Mosta will be going all out to secure a Championship Pool place this evening when they take on relegation strugglers Melita.

The last few weeks have been rather difficult for Mosta coach Steve D’Amato as the departures of several key players have severely weakened his resources and three successive defeats have put their top-six bid in jeopardy.

Mosta are sharing fifth spot with Sliema on 31 points, four ahead of Qormi. A win today against second-from-bottom Melita would ease Mosta’s anxiety as it would guarantee them a place in the Championship Pool.

This week, D’Amato lost another key player when striker Obinna Obiefule left the club to join Hibernians.

The Mosta committee moved quickly to fill Obiefule’s void by signing three forwards before the transfer deadline yesterday.

Nigerian-born trio Samuel Oginni Kehindi, Ugochukwu Okoro and Chikwado Mbonu, who last played for Finnish team Turun Palloseura, have joined Mosta until the end of the season.

Defenders Alex Cini and Steve Bezzina will miss today’s match as they are still nursing injuries.

Today’s game is equally important for Melita who will be seeking the three points to leapfrog relegation rivals Ħamrun Spartans in the standings.

Patxi Salinas, who will complete his three-match touchline ban this evening, is expected to include new signing Marco Calleja in his squad. The young midfielder has joined the Amateurs on loan from Tarxien Rainbows.

Striker Julian Galea is still sidelined with a hand injury.

In the first round, Mosta trounced Melita 5-0.

In today’s second match, Hibs will be aiming to go top of the standings when they meet Floriana.

The Paolites seem to have put their defeat to champions Valletta behind them as three wins in a row have lifted them within touching distance of the leaders whom they trail by one point.

New signings Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’ and Obiefule must wait to make their Hibs debut as both are injured while Jonathan Pearson is still nursing a knee problem.

This evening, Hibs are set to face two players who turned out for them this season, namely Udo Nwoko and Steve Pisani who completed his loan move to Floriana yesterday.

The Greens, who will be under the charge of new coach Iain Brunskill, are also expected to parade Brazilian striker Rodrigo Branco and English midfielder Harry Agombar.

In the first round, Hibs overcame Floriana 1-0.

Transfers

Meanwhile, the final day of the January transfer window saw Valletta spring up a surprise after they signed Nigerian winger Abubakar Bello-Osagie on loan from Qormi.

The Citizens had been expected to acquire Guy Madjo but the deal was called off as the Cameroonian striker has already played for two clubs this season, namely Aldershot Town and Plymouth Argyle.

FIFA rules stipulate that a player can’t turn out for more than two clubs during the same season.

This unexpected twist led Valletta to reach a last-minute agreement with Qormi for Bello-Osagie who had been linked with Sliema Wanderers earlier this month.

Ħamrun Spartans completed the registration of two midfielders, Italian Giacomo Favero and Spaniard Cesar Catalan.

Balzan sealed the signing of Ivorian striker Elie Moises Akui N’dekre after they received his international transfer certificate.

Sliema Wanderers have signed Dylan Kokavessis who began the season with Għargħur.

Programme
Today: (Tedesco Stadium) 18.00 Mosta vs Melita; 20.15 Floriana vs Hibs.
Tomorrow: (National Stadium) 14.00 Ħamrun Spartans vs Sliema Wanderers; 16.00 Birkirkara vs Qormi.
Sunday: (Hibs Stadium) 14.00 Tarxien Rainbows v Rabat Ajax; 16.00 Balzan vs Valletta.

Current standings