Excess RP Bidnija will be participating in the preliminary round, Group F, of this year’s edition of the UEFA Futsal Cup, in Skopje, Macedonia between the 18th and 21st August.

After winning the MFA First Division Futsal League for the second consecutive year with a practically unbeaten record, Excess have improved the squad by merging with RP Bidnija. Incidentally, the latter was the only team which managed to inflict the one and only defeat to the Futsal Champions during the league.

While addressing a press conference at Le Meridien St. Julian’s, team manager Mark Borg said the team was unlucky in the draw after being placed in a group with top seed CF Einhoven of the Netherlands, hosts KMF Zelazarek Skopje (Macedonia) and Istanbul Universitesi SK (Turkey).

Following last year’s positive performance in Group B of the UEFA Futsal Cup Preliminary Round, hosted by ZC Excess at the Cottonera Sports Complex, Excess managed to climb up six places in the UEFA Futsal Club Rankings, earning them a place in Position 3 as opposed to Position 4 occupied by Maltese clubs previously. During that tournament, Excess became the first local Futsal Club to win a match in a UEFA competition, ending their commitments on four points.

Borg explained that this merger with RP Bidnija means better administration and a better squad for these commitments in the UEFA Futsal Cup.

Excess RP Bidnija president Mario Vella said that although River Plate Bidnija, who had finished in fourth place this season, were not planning to merge, when the opportunity arose, the club took this opportunity as they felt it was a good move for the future of the club.

Thanks to this merger, core players like Carlos Scicluna, Clint Cope, Brian Baldacchino and MFA Futsal Player of the Year – Florin Anton – who has also been reconfirmed as Club Coach, were joined by more experienced players.

The Excess RP Bidnija squad is now made up of goalkeepers Brian Baldacchino, Adrian Lia, Jake Attard and players Alan Ellul, Jonathan Sammut, Florin Anton, Clint Cope, Carlos Scicluna, Christian Micallef, Vojko Martinovic, Tarek Ibrahim, Darren Aitchison, Alex Ribic, Mark Camilleri and Miguel Francica.

Coach Florin Anton said that with the signing of new players, Excess RP Bidnija will be aiming to do better than last season. He said the squad has potential although the several new players at his disposal need to settle more in the squad.