Local side Floriana FC and English Championship side Sheffield United are both looking forward for tomorrow’s pre-season friendly at the Hibs Ground, Corradino (kick-off 7.30).
The two side’s coaches, newly appointed Irishman Roddy Collins of Floriana and Kevin Blackwell of Sheffield United, yesterday said they thought it was a good opportunity for the two teams to start the season with such a friendly match.
Collins said he had only been here a few days but he could notice a completely different mentality towards football in Malta. Answering questions from reporters, he said that after his experiences in Ireland and in England with Carlisle, it was evident that in Malta, football mentality was laid back, very slow. “I am trying to change that at Floriana and hope to succeed,” he said.
Collins could not confirm that the club was on the brink of signing some new foreigners, including George O’Callaghan of Ireland and Rudolph Bester from Namibia, not to mention Malta’s Ryan Baldacchino who plays in the UK. “There may have been contacts, but so far, nothing is concrete. There may have been some announcements in the foreign press and some Online stories, but I cannot confirm anything at present. We will have to make our normal assessments first.
“I have been here just one week and I am still going through the assessment process. This match against Sheffield United is a good opportunity for my players to show their worth. It will be a great experience for them to play against such top rated players of the England Championship. And it will certainly be good to see what Floriana FC really require before making decisions about new signings. I am certainly looking forward to see my players in action on Friday,” he added.
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell also said he was happy to be back in Malta with the team. “The match against Floriana is perhaps related to Justin Haber’s presence among my squad. He is a former Floriana FC player and he’s doing well at our club. He will have to work harder even if one has to admit that he has improved. But he has to compete and has to be good enough to be in the first team squad,” he said.
Blackwell also said the club and its numerous supporters were obviously disappointed with the team’s failure to win promotion to the English Premier League. He added: “Our defeat in the final was a great disappointment. But after all, that is football. However, not everything is lost. We have to start all over again and we are determined to be successful this season.”
Malta goalie Justin Haber described his first season at Bramall Lane as magnificent. He said: “I am very happy to be with such a fantastic club. The fact that I am still there makes me feel more determined to do better in the coming season. I have to show my manager that I am still good enough to stay there.”
Also attending the news conference were Floriana FC players Ryan Darmanin and Sunday Eboh and Sheffield United’s new players Lee Williamson, Chris Morgan and Gary Naysmith.