Malta’s Premier League season gets under way today with four matches and tomorrow with the remaining two of the first day’s programme.

This will be the last season with 12 teams in the Premier League. From next season, it will be contested by 14 teams – a somewhat controversial decision which, however, needs to be given a fair chance for everyone to see the outcome.

Valletta FC will be defending the title they won last season and they are expected to face tough opposition not only from the usual Hibernians and Birkirkara, but also from Floriana and Sliema Wanderers who seem to have been strengthened considerably over the past season.

And one also cannot exclude any surprises from teams like Balzan, fourth placed last season and the ambitious newly promoted Gzira United.

The Maroons, in fact, have been one of the most active clubs in the summer transfer market with their major affairs being the appointment of Branko Nisevic as coach and the recent signing former Roma defender Suleymane Diamoutene. They have also re-hired John Nwoba and signed two Brazilian strikers – Robert de Pinho and Joceano da Silva Santos. Moreover, they also strengthened their defence with the arrival from Sliema of international central defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.

All this shows that the United will be making a very serious effort not just to retain their hard won status, but also to achieve something bigger, perhaps even a place in European football.

On the other hand, the other newly promoted club, Hamrun Spartans, have signed five new foreigners in the hope of having a balanced side able to avoid relegation.

The five foreigners are Brazilians Raphael, a defender, Jorge Neto, midfielder, Leandro dos Santos, midfielder, Patrick Maia, striker, and Colombian defender Luis Vergara.

The Spartans have also secured the services of striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza to bolster their attack.

Balzan have kept most, if not all, of last season’s players and I expect them to challenge once again for a European berth at the end of the season. Among the newcomers are former City striker Karim Nafti and Alan da Silva Souza.

Sliema and Floriana are also aiming to return to European football next season and have made a lot of investment with the Greens bringing back coach Giovanni Tedesco and securing the return of international goalkeeper Justin Haber, among other new signings, especially those requested by Tedesco.

 Sliema have also signed a good number of foreigners who should help to give the side a much better image than that of the past seasons.

Birkirkara and Hibernians once again must be considered as strong challengers having acquired a few new faces.

The most notable was the return of Mark Miller at the helm of the Paolites whose challenge will be that of rebuilding the side after changing most of the foreigners.

Tarxien, Mosta, Pembroke and St Andrew’s could be considered as the dark horses in this season’s competition.

They have also worked hard to strengthen their squads though I cannot consider them as challengers for the top places. Their main aim would be to avoid relegation.

This season’s competition will have a new format sort of, that is, because after the first round, there will be no division of the points – something that was abolished by a vote during the recent MFA annual general meeting.

From these columns, I wish the MFA, the clubs, the players, the officials, the fans and all those connected with the game, a good season full of sporting satisfactions.

Full programme

Today

Hibernians Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6.30pm Birkirkara-St Andrews; 8.30pm Hibernians-Hamrun S.

Victor Tedesco Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6.30pm Gzira U.-Tarxien R.; 8.30pm Valletta-Sliema W.

Tomorrow

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