Valletta FC present Michael Mifsud

Malta international striker Michael Mifsud aims at winning the three trophies at stake after joining Valletta FC on a three-month contract. Mifsud was speaking during a presentation which was held at the club premises and for which a large number of supporters were present.

Addressing the media, Valletta FC president Victor Sciriha said this was not the club’s first attempt to sign Mifsud. The first approach was made in summer and then the player was approached by the club once again in December. Sciriha said that during the weekend, the club came to know that Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara were seriously interested in signing Mifsud while Hibernians were also interested in securing his services, depending on the result on the game against Valletta which was played on Saturday.

The Valletta president said that he phoned Mifsud and following discussions, the player expressed his willingness to join the club. The Valletta committee unanimously agreed on the decision to sign him during a meeting which was held on Monday and later in the evening, Sciriha met Mifsud and the two parties reached an agreement.

Victor Sciriha said Michael Mifsud will be joining the club for three months and if in summer, he fails to move to a foreign club, most probably, the former Sliema Wanderers, Kaiserslautern, Lillestrom, Coventry and Barnsley striker will stay with the club.

The Valletta president said the other players in the squad welcomed him and the harmony in the squad was evident when he watched the first training session for Michael Mifsud with the rest of his new team mates on Tuesday. He said Mifsud’s signing continues to strengthen what was already a strong squad.

Michael Mifsud said he was glad to join Valletta and explained that the main reason for choosing Valletta was the desire to win major honours and the club’s support. He said he is looking forward to win the three honours at stake – the BOV Premier League championship, the U*BET FA Trophy and the National League 100 Anniversary Cup.

Victor Sciriha said he regretted comments he had made when he was still the president of Marsaxlokk that Mifsud would never play for his club after the Malta international striker had opted to join Sliema mid-way through season 2003/04. He said everyone knew about Mifsud’s potential and he was proud to have beaten the challenge offered by other clubs who were also interested in signing the 28-year old forward, saying this was the “icing on the cake” after the club signed players like Terence Scerri, Roderick Briffa, Kevin Sammut and Steve Borg, among others, over the past twelve months.

Mifsud will probably be unable to make his debut for the Citizens in Saturday’s BOV Premier League clash against Sliema Wanderers as the MFA Executive Committee needs to give the go-ahead for the club to sign a player outside the transfer window, although he is out-of-contract. Mifsud’s contract with Coventry, in fact, expired at the end of last season.

The Valletta president concluded with an appeal towards supporters, urging them to help the club by paying their membership as this was necessary in helping the club in achieving its targets and projects, including the building of a stadium in the near future.