Qormi FC are pinning their hopes of sidestepping relegation on a young, homegrown coach who donned the club shirt for 15 years after Johann Scicluna signed a three-year contract to replace Jesmond Zerafa.

Scicluna, who began the season as assistant coach, took charge of the team on an interim basis after Zerafa’s resignation last week but his dedication and passion for the club allied with the confirmation that he had successfully completed the UEFA A coaching course prompted the Qormi FC hierarchy to appoint him on a permanent deal.

Jesmond Aquilina, the newly-appointed Qormi FC president, described Scicluna as the “ideal person” to lead their senior team.

“Johann Scicluna had served as assistant to Jesmond Zerafa since the start of pre-season,” Aquilina told a news conference yesterday.

“He secured his UEFA A coaching badge this week. In our opinion, Johann is the ideal person to coach the team in line with our vision for the future of the club.

“Johann grew up here and played for this club for many years. Unlike most of the coaches, he is not what I call a migratory bird because his heart is with Qormi FC.

After nine years in the Premier League, Qormi FC must make a leap in quality

“People from Qormi are now running our first team and this will surely go down well with the fans.”

On Zerafa’s resignation, Aquilina said that, although his decision shocked the club, it was not entirely unexpected as the former Valletta coach had expressed his wish to relinquish his duties on two previous occasions.

Scicluna, who had a successful three-year spell at the helm of the Birkirkara women’s team, is determined to repay the faith of the Qormi committee.

“When my contract with Birkirkara ended last season, I decided to return to my natural home,” Scicluna said.

“My heart is always with Qormi.

“I initially worked as technical advisor for the nursery and also served as first-team assistant coach.

“After obtaining my UEFA A licence, I agreed to become first-team coach on a three-year contract. We are working on a plan and we’ve already agreed what our targets should be.

“From a coaching perspective, it makes no sense to sign a one-year deal because players come and go.

“As the president said, our aim is that, in a few years’ time, half of the senior squad will be made up of players from our nursery.”

Scicluna will be assisted by Franco Scicluna, Karl Farrugia and Matthew Psaila while the club are awaiting a reply from coach Jesmond Zammit who has been offered the role of technical advisor.

Going by their current position in the table, Qormi face a tough fight to retain their top-flight status as they are third bottom with four points from eight games.

Their travails were to be expected after the club offloaded a host of established players, including Alfred Effiong, Jonathan Bondin, Leighton Grech and goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia, to ease their financial difficulties but Scicluna is optimistic that Qormi have what it takes to avoid the drop.

Scicluna said: “The players understand the situation but our job is to focus on training and games. The determination to succeed is there and I believe that Qormi’s future is bright.”

For a short time last summer, Qormi were without a president as they struggled to find a replacement for Redeno Apap who resigned in July before Aquilina heeded the club’s call to take over the presidency last month.

“A month has passed since I took up the president’s role. It was not an easy decision but I felt I had to step in because the club was passing through a very difficult period,” Aquilina said.

“We couldn’t continue like that. My intention on becoming club president was to look forward and upward because this club deserves better.

“After nine years in the Premier League, Qormi FC must make a leap in quality.

“We need a strong nursery as our target is to have at least six homegrown players in the first team in three years’ time.”

Scicluna, who is willing to strengthen his squad in January, is facing a baptism of fire as Qormi coach as his side take on high-flying Valletta this afternoon.

Team news

Goalkeeper Andreas Vella is out for another two weeks after suffering an injury in the 2-1 defeat to Hibernians while long-term injury absentee Roderick Sammut is still sidelined.

As for Valletta, coach Paul Zammit is concerned about the fitness of a host of first-team players as striker Jhonnattann is still struggling with a wrist injury while Federico Falcone (ankle), Ryan Camilleri (hamstring), Ian Azzopardi (hamstring) and goalkeeper Henry Bonello (quad) are ranked as doubtful.

Valletta captain Jonathan Caruana is still unavailable as he is still recuperating from a hamstring problem.