Birkirkara FC club president Dr Adrian Delia today said that the club was working on a schedule which should see the club turning to full professionalism over a span of at least five years.
He was speaking during the official presentation of the club's eight new signings during the summer transfer market.
Delia said turning to full professionalism is no joke. “Some of our players have started training twice a day – mornings and evenings - on several occasions already. We wish every player in the squad to be involved only in football every day.
But that is not enough. We need to have a fully committed and full time administrator, we need to have the much needed facilities and a professional technical set-up,” he said.
Dr Delia went on to reveal that the Stripes will be receiving euro 675,000 for their participation in the Europa League (three matches), but that did not even amount to half the club needed to go through a Premier League season. “It is thanks to the sterling work of the committee and the support of our sponsors that the cluib can go on successfully,” he added.
He thanked all sectors of the club starting from the hard working vice president Frank Zarb, committee members, Supporters Committee, the members (now in their hundreds) and the fans for the huge amount of work done during the hectic summer. He also thanked the club’s sponsors, which include McDonald’s, Eurosport and Adidas, Powerade, Scotts, MSV Life and Remedy Swiss, not to mention several others.
Delia added that it had been a great honour for the club to have reached the third round of the Europa League. “Not only was it a first for a Maltese club, but it also saw our club registering a fifth consecutive positive result after the victory against Hearts in Scotland.”
As is already known, the Stripes have passed through a very busy Summer Transfer Market. After confirming coach Drazen Besek and the rest of his technical staff for another season, they signed no less than eight players.
These are Maltese players are Andreas Vella, James Brincat, Shaun Bajada and Steven Bonnici while Predrag Jovic, Srdjan Dimitrov and Dejan Djordjevic are the foreigners. Matteo Desira Buttigieg and Rowen Muscat have returned from their loan with St. Andrew's and Pavia respectively.
Delia also mentioned the departure of players – albeit on loan - namely Edison Bilbao to Ghajnsielem, Ryan Camenzuli to Floriana and Philip Schranz, Daniel Zerafa and Kurt Zammit to Tarxien Rainbows.
Coach Drazen Besek also addressed the press. He said: “We started this season very early but we can be happy for what we achieved in the UEFA Europa League and the opening two matches of the Premier League. Following the last season, we changed a number of players as some left while others came but I can say I am very happy with the new players.
“I hope that we have built a good team, which is of course not finished yet because football is all about improving your selection, but we must work hard until the end of December. We will now work and see what results we can achieve. If by December we would need more changes, we will take the necessary remedial action in the January transfer window.”
Photos Domenic Aquilina