After winning the Second Division championship last season, Zebbug Rangers continue to aim high as they put promotion to the Premier League as one of their main objective.

The squad has been strengthened with the signing of Thomas Paris from Floriana, Matthew Gauci from Hibernians, Leone Camilleri from Valletta together with goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia on loan from Dingli Swallows and Kenneth Scicluna on loan from Valletta. Alan Tabone will be spending another season with the club after joining Zebbug from Birkirkara last year. New signings include Brazilians Douglas da Silva Silveira, Rodrigo Barros Consani and Anderson Mendes Ribeiro. Douglas Silveira and Rodrigo Consani played for Marsaxlokk and Balzan respectively while Ribeiro played for Tarxien, Hamrun Spartans, Hibernians and Naxxar Lions over the past years.

Addressing a press conference at Bistro 516, The Waterfront, Valletta on Thursday, vice-president Angelo Bantick said the club has been working hard to strengthen the squad despite last season’s success. He said president Joe Pace aimed at taking the club back among the elite of local football. The club wanted to worked hard to improve its set-up and the nursery and also invested in the club’s infrastructure. As regards the technical staff, the club engaged a physiotherapist and physical trainer Kurt Micallef.

Bantick said the club’s first objective will be to establish itself in the First Division and eventually challenge for promotion. He concluded by thanking President Joe Pace and his business partners Ivan Calleja and Noel Zammit, the committee and technical staff, the players and their families and the club’s sponsors, namely Marant, Faceworks Ltd, Attrans, The Convenience Shops, St. Catherine’s Catering, Il-Habbiez Bakery, Misto, L’ Aroma, Bistro 516, Go & Fun, Teamsport, Starbene, among others.

Coach Jesmond Zammit thanked president Joe Pace for working hard towards strengthening the club’s structure. Zammit said Pace deserved most of the credit for what has been achieved so far and was the key factor for which he decided to return with his home-town club as coach.

He said the club laid the basis of the team last year when they managed to lure players from the Premier League and other promising youngsters to the club and now the squad has been strengthened further.

Jesmond Zammit thanked the rest of the technical staff, namely assistant coach Vince Carbonaro, Physio and Physical Trainer Kurt Micallef, Team Manager Bruce Genovese and training assistants.