Having finally made it back to the Premier League after having been absent for 33 years, Vittoriosa's main aim is to stave off relegation as they face this new challenge with a mixture of youth and experience, club President Erskine Vella said yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference to introduce the club's new signings and their new kits, secretary Gerald Ellul said that everyone involved in the club was honoured to be playing in the Premier League and that they were looking forward to this experience.
Mr Vella said that the new committee which was formed just after attaining promotion had worked tirelessly throughout the summer to acquire the right type of players as well as the appointment of two new coaches, Winston Muscat and Saviour Darmanin.
He then introduced the club's new signings which are considerable and are the following:
Jeffrey Chetcuti, Beppe Muscat and Henry Bonello (the latter two on loan) from Sliema, Jonathan Xerri, Gary Inguanez, Kurt Formosa and Clayton Micallef on loan from Hibernians, Paul Camilleri from Birzebbugia, Brendan Bonnici from Ghaxaq, Mauro Brincat from Floriana and Elton Vella from Kercem (all on loan)
Vittoriosa also acquired three foreign players who are Henry Isaac from Germany, Nikola Vukanac from Serbia and Martin Hrubsa from the Czech Republic.
Ellul said that the club had a squad of around 21 players with six which were property of the club. He said that all the players are a good squad with just the right mix of youth and experience which would hopefully help them stay up this season. He also thanked the assiduous and hard working committee which always acceded to the club's demands where possible.
Vittoriosa mayor John Boxall also spoke during the press conference highlighting the importance of the allocation and construction of a football ground for the club together with adequate parking facilities. He said that the council was ready to fork out e30,000 for the ground and said that the whole city wanted the local football club to have its own training facilities.
Vittoriosa Stars are in action tomorrowAugust at 5pm when they take on FA Trophy winners Sliema Wanderers at the National Stadium.