Gzira United presented the squad for the forthcoming BOV Premier League campaign during an event at the Movida Beach Lido in Sliema on Sunday.

The Maroons placed third last season and after two successive third placings, the club aims to challenge for the Premier League title. Gzira kick-off their Premier League campaign against Hamrun Spartans at the National Stadium on Friday, kick-off at 18:30.

This summer, Giovanni Tedesco was appointed as their new coach and the squad has been strengthened with the arrival of Arthur Henrique Oyama Ricciardi, Hamed Koné and Jefferson Mateus de Assis Estacio who already played an important role in the club’s campaign in the UEFA Europa League where they defied all odds and eliminated Hajduk Split of Croatia although they were then eliminated by FK Ventspils of Latvia.

Arthur Henrique joins the club from Floriana while Jefferson had spells with Sliema Wanderers and Nadur Youngsters. On the other hand, Koné joins the club from KF Feronikeli of Kosovo.

The Maroons remained active in the transfer market, signing young Japanese goalkeeper Ryoto Yokokawa, Martin Davis who had spent the last two years with St. Andrews and nineteen year old Romario Camilleri. A Malta Under-17 and Under-19 international, Camilleri spent the last three years playing in Italy. In fact, he left Birkirkara to join Frosinone. The following season, he moved to Gubbio while last year, he spent the first part of the season with Como before returning to Gubbio in the January transfer window.

Experienced players like Justin Haber, Fernando Barbosa, Rodolfo Soares, Gianmarco Conti, Andrew Cohen and Amadou Samb continue to form the backbone of the squad along with now established young players like Juan Corbalan, Nikolai Muscat and Zach Scerri. The club can also rely on the experience of other players like Sacha Borg and Clifford Gatt Baldacchino. Goalkeeper Jurgen Borg, Christian Sammut and Luca Brincat are back with the club after being loaned out last season.

Those present watched a feature on the club’s rise to glory under the leadership of president Sharlon Pace who took the club back to the Premier League after an absence of thirty five years and back to European football after forty five years.

During this same event, former presidents of the club were presented with a memento. Representatives of Gzira clubs and organisations were also presented with mementoes.