Several Birkirkara players have not yet started training in preparation for the forthcoming season as they are still receiving treatment for injuries suffered during the past season.

Coach Stephen Azzopardi said yesterday that Michael Galea, Adrian Ciantar, Antoine Zahra, Etienne Barbara, Mark Anthony Bonnici, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Roderick Briffa had all been sidelined through injury and were all still undergoing therapy to get them back in shape for the start of the season, including the Champions League matches in three weeks’ time.

Azzopardi said that only some of them will be available with Galea, Barbara, Bonnici and Mifsud Triganza having the best chances of a full recovery. He also said that Roderick Briffa was showing a lot of improvement but was still uncertain whether he would be available.

Azzopardi confirmed the club was expecting the arrival of their new foreigners this week. In his own words, there could possibly be five of them to choose from. He also said that two of them, if not all, will be Italians, one of them a goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Azzopardi said it was true that some other clubs had been showing interest in some of their players, especially striker Etienne Barbara and defender William Camenzuli. “Of course, we are not happy that they are being tempted to join other clubs. We want them to stay as they have become part of our set-up. But if they go, I will assure the Stripes fans that they will be replaced by better players,” he said without mentioning any names.

It is reliably understood that Sliema Wanderers are interested in the services of Etienne Barbara, while Marsaxlokk have shown interest in Camenzuli since the end of last year when a January move had seemed possible before the defender committed himself to stay with the Stripes.