Despite the signing of a host of new players, Mosta FC are keeping their feet on the ground putting a place in the Championship Pool as their first objective.
The Blues signed three Malta international players – Justin Haber, Luke Dimech and Daniel Bogdanovic – who were on the books of Kerkyra in Greece, AEK Larnaca in Cyprus and Blackpool in England. They secured the services of Under-21 international Ferdinando Apap, Manolito Micallef from Floriana, Steve Bezzina and Ryan Grech who played for Sliema Wanderers last season, Adrian Farrugia from Pietà Hotspurs and foreigners Daniel Mitev – formerly of Sliema, Brazilian midfielder Carlos Campagnoli and Nigerian midfielder Emmanuel Okafor Ezeth. Firas Aboulezz will be staying for another year with Mosta while goalkeeper Noel Attard and Mark Brincat are back with the club.
Talks with former Valletta midfielder Ousseni Zongo are at an advanced stage while Obinna Obiefule could stay with the club although he has just returned from a trial in Russia.
While addressing a press conference at The George Hotel, St. Julian’s, president George Galea immediately pointed out that after securing their Premier League status last season, this year, they aimed at a top-six finish. He said that with the help of a number of sponsors, the club invested heavily in top-level local players as last season, they spent lots of money on several foreign players who failed to deliver what was expected from them.
Galea said that the new players were all willing to join the club and others who were just chasing money were turned down. Most players signed two or three-year contracts.
The Mosta president concluded by saying that the club believed they could make it to the Championship Pool and appealed for supporters to back the team throughout the season.
Mosta coach Steve D’Amato said that the committee worked hard to improve the level of the team and said that now, his job, together with assistant coach Pio Vassallo and goalkeepers’ coach Mark Vella, is to amalgamate the players in the squad. He said that so far, he was satisfied with the players’ commitment and is looking forward to having his best season as a coach in the Premier League.
D’Amato thanked the committee for having faith in him and said he was honoured to work with Mosta and with the players at his disposal.
Technical director Jeffrey Farrugia, on the other hand, thanked president George Galea for keeping his promise of strengthening the team after the club managed to avoid relegation last season. He said the new players who joined the club were the best possible players. He said the club will be aiming for a top six finish in order to secure their Premier League status and then eventually consider other objectives.
The club thanked the sponsors namely Noel Co Ltd, 4 Homes, Tas-Sold Construction, Gap, Ta’ Gorg Trattoria and Rainbow Mix. The club also thanked the nursery, namely CEO Pierre Camilleri and head coach Mark Marlow.