Valletta present Latvian striker

Valletta presented Latvian striker Aleksandars Cekulajevs during a press conference at Le Meridien St. Julian’s on Sunday.

Valletta president Victor Sciriha thanked director general Antonio Esposito as he was instrumental in signing the player who is also being sponsored by him.

Aleksandrs ?ekulajevs has an impressive goal-scoring record scoring 46 goals in 35 matches for FC Narva Trans in Estonia last year. In 2007, he scored 51 goals in 30 matches for FK Auda Riga in Latvia.

The 26-year old striker started his career with FK Riga before moving to FK Auda. He then played for FK-Nachod Destne in the Czech Republic, FK Jurmala in Latvia and FC Víkingur Ólafsvík in Iceland.

?ekulajevs said he opted to join Valletta as it is one of the top clubs in Malta. He said that in his opinion, football in Malta compares well with that in other countries where he has played before.?

Director General Antonio Esposito said that before coming to Malta, he only knew something about local football through the national team and that the level of the game was not that bad although it could not be compared to the top European countries. Now that he is following closely the local game, Esposito said it was clear that Valletta had something more than the rest of the clubs, even by considering the number of national team players in squad. He said that the level of the team could be compared to that of Italian Serie A clubs who are struggling to avoid relegation.

He said the rapport between him and the club is getting stronger and revealed that if necessary, the team would be strengthened further before the club’s European commitments in consultation with the club’s technical staff.

Valletta vice-president Alexander Fenech said the appointment of Antonio Esposito helped the club adopt a more professional approach. The club has now engaged a physical trainer and this was another important step in strengthening the club’s structure.

Victor Sciriha said that although Esposito was coming from a Serie D club, Valletta still had a lot to learn from him as Citta di Marino had an excellent set-up which local clubs would envy. He said his vast experience would help the club achieve its objectives.

As regards the project of a stadium for Valletta in ?al-Farru?, the Valletta president revealed that the club will be meeting top MFA officials early in March to discuss what help could the association give Valletta FC.

Victor Sciriha concluded by saying that that it was of utmost importance that everyone at the club kept their feet on the ground as they had to continue to work harder so that the club could finally achieve its objectives and their dream comes true.