City president upbeat on club’s success

Valletta president Victor Sciriha was upbeat on his club’s championship success and recognised the team’s big feat of claiming this season’s title without defeat.

“That, plus the fact that all other teams make that extra effort when playing against us, makes Valletta’s achievement more important,” said Sciriha, who also confirmed that he has no intention to make new signings of Maltese players for next year.

“Maybe we will change some of our foreign players,” said the president.

Asked by The Malta Independent on Sunday to pinpoint the most important factor that has brought success to Valletta this season, Sciriha was quick to point that he always knew that a club like Valletta needed a Valletta-bred coach who knows the capital’s mentality and that came with the appointment of Jesmond Zerafa as well as Leonard ‘Nardu’ Farrugia.

The fact that Valletta made some new signings to strengthen all departments was also a reason why Valletta became champions after missing the boat in the previous two years.

Sciriha said that the sharing of problems with the whole of Valletta’s administration has improved matters and it gives him more courage to keep his investment in Valletta and Maltese football.

Coach Jesmond Zerafa admitted that winning the championship is already difficult but staying unbeaten is even harder.

Zerafa gave credit to the hard work done by the Valletta committee and players at the start of the season and attributes Valletta’s superiority in this year’s campaign due to the collective efforts that were made.

“All players fighting for a regular place made competition healthy and kept everyone on his toes,” said the Valletta coach, whose aim to make the team more successful is to win the FA Trophy next.

Valletta skipper and flag bearer Gilbert Agius also expressed his satisfaction for the league title win and said that although he has won a lot with Valletta over the years, this championship means a lot to him as he is nearing the end of his football career.

“It is unfair though to compare this side with the previous strong Valletta sides who won five and six honours in one season” said Gilbert.

But he hopes that in ten years’ time this Valletta side would have won more and more honours.

At 37, Gilbert Agius has signed another one-year extension with Valletta. President Victor Sciriha revealed that Agius will be working, together with former player Charlie Williams, in the club’s Nursery in search of new talent as his replacement, although hard to come by.