A last-gasp bid for Floriana and Malta defender Ian Azzopardi was rejected by Floriana yesterday.

Birkirkara chairman Victor Zammit had admitted interest in the Floriana defender last Friday when he addressed a news conference. Then he said that Floriana had already rejected their first offer.

On Saturday the two sides met again and Birkirkara are reported to have made a better offer which was also rejected.

Yesterday, after having beaten Valletta and therefore retained the chances for this year’s title, the Stripes made a last-gasp bid, but Floriana held firm and resisted the temptation, simply because the Greens think they will be fighting for a place in Europe.

Meanwhile, it is known that Floriana yesterday signed Anthony Eviparker as their replacement for Bizu do Nascimento who moved to Ghajnsielem in Gozo at the start of last month.

Richard Buhagiar

moves to Ghajnsielem

Richard Buhagiar has also moved to Ghajnsielem of Gozo in a late spurt by the Gozitans yesterday.

Until last Saturday’s 3-1 victory over St Patrick, Buhagiar was a regular player in the Marsaxlokk side, although he also missed a good number of matches in the last two months of last year because of injury.

Ghajnsielem had also signed Daniel Bogdanovic and David Carabott from Marsaxlokk in the past few weeks. Under former Valletta player Eddie Vella, who is now their coach, they intend making a strong challenge to win the Gozitan title.