Birkirkara are expecting a tough match against Apoel of Cyprus this evening at Ta’ Qali but they will not be throwing in the towel.

Coach Stephen Azzopardi confirmed yesterday that some players will have to miss this match, among them George Mallia and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza. Moreover, striker Michael Galea and midfielder Antoine Zahra had to undergo fitness tests yesterday evening.

This is not to mention the fact that the Stripes have a new look because of the several departures during the summer. Lucian Dronca and Haruna Doda have sought pastures new while goalkeeper Justin Haber and midfielder Chucks Nwoko have not yet signed a new contract.

However, on the credit side, the team now has a new goalkeeper in the form of David Simon from the Czech Republic, a new central defender, Emil Yantchev from Bulgaria, while Nigerian midfielder Precious Monye has signed a new two-year deal.

Although Yantchev has already played in the Euro Cup matches against Sliema and Hibernians, for Monye this will be his first match this season and Simon will be making his debut for the Stripes tonight.

Azzopardi is well aware of the Cypriot threat. “We have seen a video of our opponents and they have matched our expectations. They are a strong side. They have very good foreigners and, above all, they are also a professional club which makes all the difference. In fact, I believe that after watching Valletta’s and Sliema’s opponents recently, we must admit that we are always the underdogs in such matches. Today will be no exception,” he said.

Azzopardi added: “We are all aware of our limitations and we have to do our best to minimise this problem. Despite everything, we will not be throwing in the towel. We hope to give them a good run for their money, play with caution at the start and then hope to be more adventurous as the game goes along.”

Azzopardi said the team was still in its early stages of preparations. “We have not yet settled down but despite the two defeats last week against Sliema and Hibs, we were not disappointed with the performances. If we can concentrate on the element of teamwork, we might be able to get a positive result this evening,” he said.

Asked about the formation, Azzopardi said he was not yet in a position to make any announcement. “Although it will not be much different from those used in the Euro Cup matches, however, I will have Simon in goal and Monye definitely back in the starting line-up while I still have to see whether Michael Galea and Antoine Zahra can be recovered in time,” he added.