Four more matches will be payed the BOV Premier League over the weekend, with Hibernians and Valletta increasing their chances of maintaining their perfect start and catching up with leaders Birkirkara as they play Melita and Qormi respectively.
Both Hibernians’ and Birkirkara’s opponents need improve considerably if they are to take some point from difficult encounters at this initial league stage before the international break.
Hibernians play Melita in the first match at Ta’ Qali National Stadium (kick off 6.30pm) and hope to continue with their goal scoring spree, having struck the opponents’ net seven times in two matches already. Melita meanwhile have conceded the same number of goals in as many matches, three of them against other newly promoted side Rabat Ajax.
Valletta go into action after them, bolstered by a handsome win and improved performance against Mosta last week. Qormi, who have still to show more ruthlessness in front of goal, will most probably rely on the scoring prowess of Gaetan Spiteri, as both their new foreigners, Vincenzo Pisani and Sebastian Siritto disappointed against Hibernians.
Qormi are badly missing the creativity of the departed Joseph Farrugia and a schemer is urgently required, although talks with Floriana about the possible acquisition of defender Owen Bugeja might suggest that Qormi want to tighten their defence as a priority.
The first match tomorrow, alos at Ta’ Qali National Stadium is between two teams still looking for their first win.
The Spartans, without the suspended central defender Roderick Fenech, were twice in front, but failed to hold to a win against both Balzan and Floriana.
Worse still, Tarxien Rainbows, winless and pointless so far, were two up against Sliema Wanderers last week and still succumbed to defaet after conceding three goals, following the dismissal of their sharpest Brazilian scorer Danilo Meira Santos. He is therefore unavailable for tomorrow’s match against the Spartans.
That may have prompted Danilo Doncic to leave the club as Tarxien coach, in the first casualty of the season. Tomorrow, newly appointed Clive Mizzi will be in charge.
The last match of the weekend should be an evenly balanced one between Balzan FC and Floriana, who are also looking after a first win. The Greens have two points so far after draws against Sliema Wanderers and Hamrun Spartans. Their English coach Mark Wright expressed his diappointment at his team’s results and performances so far despite the addition of English defender Aaron Brown, left back Carl Tremarco from Wolverhampton and the Leicester born of Indian origin, Anam Verma.He insisted that the side should have won both matches but failed.
Waisu is also expected to make his return for Floriana, just in time to play tomorrow.
Balzan also fancy their chances of picking their first league win of the season tomorrow. They have only a point so far and have shown that they desperately need a poacher in front of goal to finish the job, since Brazilian Elton Da Silva, who does a lot of mocement arount the box, is not that lethal when it comes to scoring, and Balzan rely mostly on their Brazilan mentor Pedro Calcado.
Meanwhile, Christian Caruana, who has parted ways with Floriana, has signed for Balzan and might be included in theire squad foir tomorrow’s match.