Birkirkara will be the first Maltese team engaged in European competition at club level for season 2007-2008, when today they will host Slovenian side NK Maribor at the Hibernians Ground, Corradino, in a match valid for the first round of the Intertoto Cup (kick-off 4pm).

The Stripes qualified for this continental competition on the strength of their third placing in the BOV Premier League in the season just over.

The team, guided by ex-Malta international John Buttigieg, who also turned out for Sliema W., Floriana and Valletta, started their preparation for this commitment very early after the 2006-2007 season came to an end.

The nucleus of the side which did duty for them until last month will be eligible to play in the Intertoto Cup. However, the Yellow-Reds will not be making use of William Camenzuli, Etienne Barbara, Mark Anthony Bonnici and Clint Micallef. They do no longer form part of Buttigieg’s plans for the coming season.

Besides coming up against very respectable Slovenian opposition, Birkirkara will also have to contend with the stifling heat which is prevalent at this time of the year.

It is also the first time that Birkirkara are taking part in the UEFA Intertoto Cup competition, where, so far, only one team, Floriana, has managed to get through to the second round. They had eliminated Aberystwyth Town of Wales 4-3 on aggregate in 1999.

Maribor are one of Slovenia’s top sides, having won seven straight championship titles in the last eight seasons. It was only this season that they lost the title as they could only finish third, thus earning just a place in the Intertoto Cup.

However, they are eager to get into the UEFA Cup via this competition and will be expected to start as hot favourites against the Stripes.

It is not the first time that Maribor are meeting Maltese opponents. In the early nineties they were drawn to meet Hamrun Spartans in a Cup Winners Cup match and went through 5-2 on aggregate, losing 2-1 at Ta’ Qali and winning 4-0 at home.

The return tie is scheduled for Sunday 30 June in Slovenia. The winner of the tie will be meeting Hajduk Kula of Serbia in the second round which will have to be played by the middle of next month.

Azerbaijan officials will be in control of this match. Fariz Yusifov will be in charge. His assistants are Elman Musaev and Roman Vasilyev.