St. Andrews present new signings, new sponsor

St. Andrews FC announced a three-year partnership with Evolution Gaming – a leading provider of video-streamed live casino solutions. This was announced in a press conference at the Luxol Sports Club during which the club’s new signings were also presented.

The Saints failed to collect any points from the first nineteen matches but bounced back in the final three matches of second round with a draw with champions Hibernians, a win over Naxxar Lions and another draw against Tarxien Rainbows. They will start the third round on three points, two behind Qormi and four behind Naxxar. The club has also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy after eliminating First Division leaders Gzira United.

St. Andrews FC and Talent 11 CEO Denis Guerra admitted that the choice of players in summer could have been better as most of the players in the squad were too young and inexperienced. The club had to change direction and opt for more experienced foreigners and this brought the desired change and results obtained over the past few weeks were definitely much better.

Off the field of play, the club also had to deal with the loss of David Bianchi who passed away last month.After signing Eloy Edu Nkene in December, the club secured the services of Spanish duo Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre and Jonatan Perez Cuesta, Korean defender Bong Won Che, Romanian Sorin Oproiescu, Nigerians Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo and Lucky Victor Oseghale and Michael Wisdom Salomon from Benin.

However the club is still focussed on young talent. Guerra said that there are still seven youth players in the senior team. He said all the club’s youth teams are doing well with the Under-19 team currently second in Section A, the Under-17s leading Section B and the Under-15s second in Section A. He thanked the coaches for doing a sterling job.

The club aims at avoiding relegation, putting the tenth place – and hence a place in the play-off – as a realistic objective. Denis Guerra said that there is not a big difference between them, Naxxar Lions and Qormi but their morale is now higher after a series of three positive results. He stressed that the club will continue fighting in order to retain Premier League status.

As regards the new sponsor, the St. Andrews and Talent 11 CEO explained that the club was not only looking for money but also for a partner which could help the club’s players in other ways, even with the possibility of offering jobs.

Evolution Gaming Head of Operations Andres Rengifo said the club matches the company’s motivations as both have a mutual desire for excellence. He explained that Evolution Gaming employs almost two thousand people worldwide, including four hundred in Malta. He said the company hopes to increase the number of Maltese employees in its Malta-base.

Justin Paul Anastasi, HR & Talent Acquisition Executive at Evolution Gaming, said the company truly believes in talent in Malta and this was the main reason for wanting to continue to invest in the community.