With so many new faces (foreigners) taking part in this season’s competition which starts today, an exciting and attractive Premier League is expected.

It is not only the question of the larger number of foreigners taking part in our major competition this season, but the quality of at least some of them should guarantee a spectacle.

From what we have seen so far, especially the clubs taking part in the European competitions, it is evident that Hibernians have been the most impressive, even going on to beat Birkirkara to lift the Super Cup – the first major honour of the new season.

But from today, the points will count and it is obvious that the teams will be doing their utmost to win as much points as possible for various reasons.

Both Hibernians and Birkirkara have had a somewhat impressive start despite being at such an early stage of the season. But they will not be alone in the hunt for the honours.

Valletta FC will also be in contention as usual, while Sliema and Floriana – the two old glorious clubs of Maltese football - have registered quite a number of new faces in an effort to get back to where they should belong.

It is still to be seen whether the standard of all the new foreigners will be enough to add spice to our national competition. We have seen others moving from one club to another in the hope of faring better, but the other clubs have also been strengthened with some new faces.

For Qormi, however, it seems as if it will be an uphill struggle. Even before the start of the competition, there has been a very big setback to their hopes of having a good season after the resignation of president Redino Apap and the failure to find a suitable replacement. Their new faces will probably be from their youngster strings, including the Under 19s and Under 17s.

Balzan will be expected to be a tough nut to crack as was the case last season when they wrote a golden chapter in their history by qualifying for the first time for the Europa League.

They have also strengthened their ranks for the coming season and they seem to be in a good position to make a repeat performance.

Tarxien and Mosta have also made some new signings with which they will be hoping to be able to avoid relegation comfortably (not like last season). But for newly promoted St Andrews and Pembroke – both rather inexperienced – it will obviously be a tough uphill battle to avoid the Drop.

Programme

Friday

Hibernians Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6.30pm Birkirkara-Naxxar L.; 8.30pm Sliema W.-Tarxien R.

Victor Tedesco Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6.30pm Qormi-Pembroke Ath.; 8.45pm St Andrew’s-Valletta.

Saturday

National Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6.30pm Floriana-Mosta; 8.30pm Balzan-Hibernians