Floriana FC yesterday officially presented their new foreigners (and two new local players) during an official ceremony at the Eurosport outlet in Psaila Street, Birkirkara.
Attending the news conference were Floriana FC officials, including president Joe Cauchi and secretary general Dione Borg and treasurer Alex Cassar, as well as Tony Zahra, representing the club’s new sponsors FEXCO and Ms Christina Peresso, managing Director of Eurosport.
The three foreigners are Serbian Darko Krzsteski, a former Red Star central defender, who is 36 years old, 20-year-old attacking midfielder Zoran Levnaic of Serbia and English 18-year-old striker Yala Bolasie.
Krzsteski is undoubtedly the Greens’ main acquisition. He left a very good impression during the recent training camp held by the club in Serbia and is eager to do well in Malta, considering that he is a very experienced player. Before playing for Red Star, he had also played for Montenegro club Sutjeskar and in Jordan for six months, where he helped his club win the Asian Cup for champions.
Levnaic is looking forward to playing for Floriana in the Maltese league. “The people are great here and I am already in love with this country. I am very happy to be here. Now I am waiting anxiously to make my debut in the Maltese Premier League,” he said.
In Serbia, he played for Partizan Belgrade and in his younger days (though he is still 20 years old), he also figured for the national Under 16 team.
Bolasie, 18, played for the team of Hillington Borough, a semi-professional club outside London, before coming to Malta.
Addressing the press, club president Joe Cauchi said Floriana did not make many changes to last year’s line-up, especially where local players are concerned. “We have brought over these three foreigners who, we hope, will be able to lift the side to better performances than last season.
“We actually wish to do better in the FA Trophy this season after last year’s early elimination. It is one competition which we look forward to as it procures a passport for European football to its winners,” he said.
Cauchi also said that Floriana are hoping to be among the Top Six clubs this season. “Coach Danilo Doncic has worked hard and I could notice the progress of the team in the Serbian training camp. We have kept mainly the same local players we had last season with the addition of the returning Clifton Ciantar and the young and promising Manuel Sevasta, recruited from St George’s. With the talent of our youngsters, we expect our side to be a difficult obstacle for all the top clubs,” he added.
Cauchi ended his speech with an appeal to all Floriana supporters to give their full backing to the side. “We are looking forward to next Monday’s opener - the derby clash with Valletta - with great enthusiasm. So are they. Win or lose, it does not mean the championship is over. The team still needs the fans’ backing throughout the whole season,” he said.
Another speaker was former president Tony Zahra, who was representing FEXCO, the new club sponsors.
He said he was sure Floriana were well prepared for the new season and he was impressed with the efforts of everyone, especially the players, who made a lot of sacrifices to be able to attend the training camp in Serbia.
Ms Christina Peresso, Managing Director of Eurosport, announced that the company will be the Greens’ kit sponsors for the next three seasons, through the brand Legea. “We are proud to have become associated with Floriana FC who have a most illustrious history. We hope that this collaboration will also be extended in future,” she said.