Birkirkara will be looking to hit the ground running when they open their league commitments against Naxxar Lions this evening at the ground in Corradino.
Giovanni Tedesco’s team have been one of the stand-out performers this summer after a couple of eye-catching performances in the early rounds of the UEFA Europa League.
The Stripes first saw off Armenia side FC Ulisses following a 3-1 victory in Yerevan and then went close to upsetting Londoners West Ham who only progressed following a penalty shoot-out victory after the FA Trophy winners had levelled the tie with a 1-0 win at the National Stadium.
Birkirkara will now look to carry their impressive form to league action and a strong performance against the Lions will not only atone for last week’s 2-1 Super Cup defeat to Hibs but would mean an ideal take-off to their title quest.
Birkirkara brought in several reinforcements this summer and Tedesco’s options were further bolstered yesterday when they confirmed the capture of Nigerian Frank Temile.
For the former Valletta striker this will be his second spell at Birkirkara after donning the yellow and red shirt in 2013-14.
Naxxar have far more modest ambitions than Birkirkara this season as the Lions’ main goal should be to avoid the bottom places in the table.
New coach Stefano Grima cannot count on veteran midfielder Victor Bellia who is recovering from cartilage surgery.
Today, the Lions will probably have to do without striker Oussene Sidoine as his transfer documents are yet to be finalised.
Valletta start favourites to beat league newcomers St Andrew’s tonight.
Coach Paul Zammit has effected several changes to his squad this summer, bringing in a new set of overseas players with goalkeeper Henry Bonello the only Maltese signing completed so far.
Zammit, who has a full squad available, is still looking to add another midfielder. Albert Bruce, who played for Qormi and Naxxar last season, is one of the options being considered.
St Andrew’s face the Citizens with a young squad whose average age is 21 years. Today, coach Wayne Attard must do without forward Kieran Nwoko who is down with ankle trouble.
Pembroke Athleta, another newly-promoted side, open their campaign with a match against troubled Qormi.
Pembroke have Winston Muscat coaching the team and he also effected several changes to the squad even though today striker Ariel Laudisi and midfielder Lydon Micallef are both out of the reckoning due to injuries.
Qormi’s troubles
Qormi’s prospects are looking bleak as they are struggling with administrative problems. The financial situation is not rosy as well and the club could be forced to offload their established players to balance the books.
Jacques Scerri will make his debut in charge of a Premier League club tonight when he leads Tarxien Rainbows in the match against Sliema Wanderers.
Scerri continues to follow his philosophy of banking on youth talent and yesterday he completed the signings of defenders Timothy Tabone and Matthew Tabone from Hibs. Midfielder Daniel Zerafa joined from Birkirkara.
Sliema have kept the majority of last season’s squad with very little additions.
Coach Stephen Azzopardi, now employed full-time with the Wanderers, must approach his first match without Aidan Friggieri, Timothy Aquilina, Ped-rinho and Mark Scerri who are all carrying suspensions from the previous season.
The remaining opening-day fixture will be played tomorrow when Mosta face Floriana at the National Stadium.
Both clubs have new coaches on the bench with former Fiorentina striker Luis Oliveira leading Floriana and the much-travelled Ivan Zammit now at Mosta.
Floriana have brought in several new faces in the close season as they look to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish.
Mosta are banking on foreign talent mainly and in the last few weeks they brought in a host of Nigerian players to their fold, the latest being midfielder Ice Cream Guobadia.
Last season, Guobadia was on the books of Balzan.