First Division club Luxol St Andrews yesterday said that they had reached a deal on a three-year sponsorship with Canas y Tapas of Paceville.

The outlet, opposite the Bay Street Complex, is owned by brothers Mark and Simon Grima who, after acquiring the franchise, modernised the restaurant and bar which serves mostly Spanish food.

Addressing a news conference at the outlet yesterday afternoon, Jason Falzon, club vice-president, said the club was delighted to have secured this sponsorship.

He went on to thank the Grima brothers for their support, as well as the squad, including head coach Wayne Attard and his staff, including former Sliema player Roger Walker. The coaching staff also includes former goalkeeper Sean Sullivan and former player Anatole Debono.

Falzon also announced that the club had made some new signings to strengthen the squad for this season. He acknowledged that this year, the First Division will be very balanced but the Saints will be taking the campaign game by game, hopefully reaping the desired results at the end of the season.

The new players are Arafa Nakuaa, ex Libyan international, Concalves Alhino Valdo from Portugal, Under 21 international goalkeeper Daniel Balzan from Hibernians, Ryan Previ from Tarxien Rainbows, Thomas Lindberg from Sweden and former, now veteran, national team player Brian Said, from Floriana.

In a short speech, Attard thanked the club’s administrators for their continuous support as well as the players for their hard work during the hot summer months.

Mr Mark Grima, on behalf of the owners of Canas y Tapas, said they were glad to have reached this sponsorship agreement with Luxol St Andrews. He added that Luxol is now a strong community which includes 500 + children at the Academy. “We wanted to be part of it,” he said.