Champions Marsaxlokk are looking forward towards defending their title successfully this season.

New club president Robert Micallef said yesterday that despite the important departures of players of the calibre of Andre Schembri, Daniel Bogdanovic and Luke Dimech, the same atmosphere as that of last season still prevails at the club.

He said the club is still working hard to replace the above mentioned trio with Andre Da Silva returning from his loan term with Hibernians and with Renato Conceicao joining the club, to become the third Brazilian among their ranks. The other will be Wendell Gomes, with whom the club has already agreed personal terms. But he still has to arrive as he is finding some difficulty to acquire a visa.

Micallef said the club was glad to have secured captain Carlo Mamo and Jamie Pace to new contracts, but he promised more signings before the 31 August deadline.

The president said he was convinced the club would be among the title challengers once again this season. “We have to show and confirm that we deserved to win the league last season,” he said.

He also announced that despite being his first year in the presidency of the club, there would be a change in the facilities. He explained that this would consist of an artificial turf surface to their present football pitch which still has a sandy surface. Moreover, a clubhouse is also planned to be built close to the football ground.

He said he hoped works will start during this season. These will be given the go-ahead when the official MEPA permits are issued.

Micallef also announced that Konica Minolta will be the main sponsors of the club. Konica had sponsored Valletta for three seasons. “We just hope that the success they had provided the citizens, will now turn in Marsaxlokk’s favour,” he said.

On their part, Minolta are also happy to be associated with the Maltese champions. The Managing Director of their office group in Malta, Anthony Micallef, said the local company was honoured that Konica had accepted to sponsor Marsaxlokk FC. The agreement is over two years, but hopefully it will be extended, especially if the team remains successful.

Talbot says his players are prepared to compete again

Marsaxlokk’s English coach Brian Talbot is also expecting his side to be very competitive this season.

He said the departure of three key players was a blow to the side, but he was sure that their replacements would fit in nicely in their new surroundings.

Marsaxlokk have signed William Camenzuli and Renato Conceicao, while they are awaiting the arrival of Wendell Gomes. Apart from that, another Brazilian, midfielder Andre Da Silva, is also back to the fold after his loan term at Hibernians last season.

Talbot said Marsaxlokk would still remain a small club, but he was sure the players are determined to do well once again this season. “The team spirit is not lacking. Although the squad is still incomplete we will be stronger before the transfer deadline day. We hope to have one or two more by then.

“For the newcomers, it will be a new challenge as they have to take the place of three key players from last season. Some hard work still has to be done, but we are ready for it,” he said.

Asked whether it was possible that Daniel Bogdanovic will be back in their fold if he does not get an offer from a foreign or local club, Talbot said the player was still a Marsaxlokk player. “If a local club wants his services, they have to pay Lm20,000 to the club to get his services. What we are certain of is that Bogdanovic, who scored 31 goals last season, definitely wants to play. Next week he is again going abroad for another trial. We’ll see what happens after that,” he added.

Asked what was his opinion on the fact that he will have six national team players missing training with the club because of the national team's training camp in the Czech Republic, Talbot said he was obviously concerned. “They will only be arriving a few days before our first League match. As a coach, I would love to have all my players available at all times, but on the other hand, I must concede that this is a situation which I and all other coaches have to accept.

“After all, I know that I have six of Malta’s best players in my squad. And in that sense, I would say I wish I had more! The main concern is that these national team players are not getting enough rest. Their bodies are being put under tremendous stress, as for the first three days of the week they are at Ta’ Qali, then for the rest, they are training or playing for the club.”