Pietà Hotspurs will be aiming for promotion to the Premier League after going close but missing out in the past two years.

Addressing a press conference at the club’s premises on Wednesday, president Joe Sammut said this was his third year as president. He said that when he was appointed as president, together with secretary Mario Mallia and treasurer Damien Saliba, they worked hard to revive the club.

Sammut said this was no easy task but in two years, also thanks to sponsors and supporters, they managed to do better than expected. By the end of the season, the club settled its dues and paid all salaries.

The Pietà president felt that this year a number of changes were necessary and Noel Coleiro was appointed as coach, Orosco Anonam as assistant coach, Charles Sciberras as goalkeepers’ coach while Alfred Attard was appointed as coach of the Youth team.

New signings include goalkeeper David Cassar and Ricardo Costa. Matthew Borg who had joined the club in January will be staying with the club. Cleavon Frendo will also play for Pietà along foreigners Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna and Lucien Moutassie.

Sammut said one had to strengthen the team in order to challenge for promotion, stressing that other teams have been strengthened as well. He appealed for more support, saying they have to keep under consideration the committee and players’ sacrifices. The main objectives for the coming season will be that of staying in line with financial fair play regulations and winning promotion to the Premier League.

Joe Sammut finally thanked the sponsors namely, Famalco Ltd, 389 Ltd, Moog and Teamsport.

New Pietà coach Noel Coleiro said he was happy with the players at his disposal. The fact that there are a number of Under-21 and Under-19 internationals is a guarantee of quality and the club only needed three or four experienced players.

Coleiro, who had coached Tarxien Rainbows in the Premier League, said that personally it did not make much difference for him coaching in the Premier League or in Division 1 as long as the club has good facilities – both at the Pietà complex and at the artificial turf pitch at the Junior College – and that there are good plans and ambition.

Noel Coleiro said that with Pietà, he aims to achieve what the club went so close but failed to do in the past two years – achieve promotion.