Qormi aim at retaining Premier League status

Retaining Premier League status will be Qormi FC’s main objective for season 2010/11 but on reaching this objective the club will aim higher according to Qormi FC president Redeno Apap who was speaking in a press conference, at the Kia Motors premises in Qormi, during which the club’s new signings were presented.

Redeno Apap, who replaced Matthew Fenech as president a few weeks ago, said the committee had to work hard to achieve its targets. However he believes that the team has enough potential to reach the club’s objectives.

Apap said that the past two years were two years of hard work during which the club started to prepare the base for the future. He said that the club felt that it was no longer viable to sign more than ten players each year, mostly on loan, and then having these players leave the club at the end of the season.

During the close season, Qormi have decided to appoint a new technical staff which includes coach Stephen Azzopardi, assistant coach Charles Scerri, goalkeepers’ coach Mark Tabone, team manager Michael Spiteri and James Azzopardi.

The squad was also strengthened with the signing of Stefan Giglio and Jonathan Bondin from Valletta, Luke Sciberras from St. Patrick, Matthew Bartolo from Sliema, George Mallia from Birkirkara and Matthew Camilleri together with Cleavon Frendo and Ben Camilleri on loan from Valletta and Hibernians respectively.

In the game against Hamrun Spartans, three new foreigners were making their debut, namely Belgian defender Jason Lee Vandelanoitte, Korean striker Hojung Kang and Serbian Kosta Bjedov. These will be joined by Nigerian striker Abubakar Bello-Osagie. The 22-year old striker was unable to travel earlier to Malta due to the fact that the player was yet to obtain the visa in due time because of new procedures which were put into effect by the Foreign Ministry with regards to non-EU citizens willing to work in Malta.

Brazilian Vinicio Da Silva will become the club’s fifth foreigner in the coming days.

The Qormi president said that with these signings, the club believes the team has what it takes to reach their objectives.

Redeno Apap said the club is working hard towards strengthening the club’s structure starting from the nursery. Products from the club’s nursery will be given due importance as unfortunately last season, although there were a few club products in the squad, they only played a minor role in the team.

Apap launched an appeal to Qormi fans to have patience and allow the committee and technical staff do their work, considering the several changes the team went through this summer. He said that without unnecessary pressure, the club will eventually achieve success in the near future, after going so close last season.

Redeno Apap thanked the sponsors, namely Oracle Casino Pasta & Grill, Kia Motors, Express Trailers, Jesper’s Danish Bakery, Teamsport, Powerade and Ta’ Dernis Properties, and those who are investing in the club and mentioned the project thanks to which the club will finally have an 11-a-side artificial turf pitch. This is made possible thanks to the Minister Tonio Fenech, Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli and the Malta Football Association.

New Qormi coach Stephen Azzopardi thanked the Qormi committee for having faith in him and his technical staff. He said the technical staff will not only be responsible for the senior side but also for the youths and the development at the club’s nursery.

Azzopardi aims at having more club products in his squad which already boasts a rather low average age. He said his objective for the team is a comfortable mid-table position.

The Qormi coach admitted that due to the fact that several players joined the squad only recently, the team’s best could only be witnessed in a few weeks’ time, hopefully following the short break due to the national team’s commitments in October.