Sliema Wanderers will be aiming to be among the main challengers for honours following an intensive transfer campaign aimed at strengthening a squad which did quite well last season despite missing out on qualification for European football.
The Wanderers placed third in the 360Sports Malta Premier Opening Round last season and finished top in the Closing Round. They were the team to collect the second highest number of points throughout the season, behind Floriana, but failed to make it to the Final Four final after conceding a 120th minute goal to Birkirkara.
New signings include two Malta internationals, namely goalkeeper Rashed Al-Tumi and forward Luke Montebello, Croatian midfielder Roko Prsa, French midfielder Boubakary Diarra, two American players defender Andre Lee Cutler and forward Sulahmana Mamadu Bah and three Brazilian players defender Thiaguinho, midfielder Miguel Baggio and forward Fernandinho. Meanwhile nineteen year old Nicholas Strickland signed a first professional contract with the club.
The technical staff was strengthened with the addition of goalkeepers coach Charles Sciberras, strength and conditioning coach Paolo Bertoncini and team manager Dylan Cuschieri Delorenzo.
Addressing the media on Thursday at the Interwetten Offices in Tigné Point, coach Paul Zammit said that after the difficult times the club went through, the Wanderers were starting to bear the fruit.
“The club has gone through difficult situations but in the last three years with a lot of good and other situations from which we were able to learn, the club managed to achieve many positive results including winning three cups – the Challenge League, the Pre Season Summer Cup and the FA Trophy. Many times it all boils down to the honours that you manage to win.
“First came the structure thanks to many people in the administration in particular president Keith Perry and the vice president Walter Arciola from whom I have the total backing. The last season was one of mixed feelings. Despite the difficulties, we kept pushing forward and the team remained consistent but we ended up outside Europe. For me, it was a big blow. If I had not received a phone call that day from these two people, I don’t know what I would have done. It was difficult for me to have a season like that where I saw the players give everything.”
“We started last season with our European adventure where we learned a good lesson. When we came back, we showed our potential. We won the Summer Cup, we came third in the Opening Round, we experienced the Super Cup which although it was a negative result, for the club it was very important to taste a final like this again and I also want the players to taste an experience like that. In the Closing Round, we finished in the top six after the game in Gozo and then the objective was to fight and enter the semi-finals thanks to a group of players, despite not large in number. To be honest we had to challenge with 13-14 players. To get there and be consistent you need quality players.”
“We placed first in the Closing Round after the third place in the Opening Round. If you count the points, we finished second place but then ended up missing out on European football. I was disappointed as the club deserved it. We knew what the regulations of the competition were but that was the reason I was disappointed. If I hadn’t had the support of Keith Perry and Walter Arciola, it would have been difficult for me to accept it.”
Zammit added “As from day 1, after we knew that we wouldn’t participate in Europe, we worked hard and within twenty days we had already started to make our targeted signings. We wanted these types of players because we wanted to increase the quality. I’m sure other teams have also learned from last year and this season, I believe that most clubs will be equipped for this type of championship. We expect another championship where the situation of a big team against a small team no longer exists. Today the structures of the clubs are improving. For our part, we created this squad in a short time and apart from Diarra, all players were present for pre-season training which we started on June 23. We had a very satisfactory pre-season. I am very satisfied with how we acted as technical staff … we tried to increase the quality of the technical staff. I am very happy with the players’ attitude, their availability … players who know exactly what the objectives are. Even in the friendly matches we had, we were satisfied not only with the results since those are not the most important but with the performances. With the players we have, we can adapt to different systems according to what we want and according to the opponents.”
“We are looking forward for this coming season. We know that it will be a very difficult season. We wanted to increase the quality in the squad to be more prepared to maintain consistency. With the format as it is, it is important to maintain consistency but in the end, you need to be prepared for the final decisive matches. Last year, we lost everything in the last five seconds of extra time of the semi final. We know the battlefield and therefore we need to have the material to be able to fight.”
Sliema Wanderers president Keith Perry opened his speech that this was a special year for him since it was the fifth season for this committee.
“Five years ago, we were talking about a plan for a new committee to save the club. That was a promise we made to our members five years ago. I am really proud of the people around me because thanks to them we are here. “
“Last year, despite the positives, we ended the season with a disappointment. At the end of the day, the only thing that satisfies us is winning, participating in Europe and being there for every cup possible. We are the biggest club in Malta and we try to do everything possible so that no one can surpass us. After the last game, when Hibs won the FA Trophy and so we were sure of missing out on Europe, the secretary, the vice president and myself spent a night communicating and discussing the strategy and the way forward for the club. It was either downsize or else continue building to challenge for all honours at stake. We are Sliema Wanderers and had to take the latter way. The following morning, following negotiations he had with Alex Muscat, Luke Montebello came and signed the contract. We drew up the plan how we will meet the Maltese players. It was a crazy day and in the afternoon, we met the coach Paul Zammit. We opted to go all out to challenge for the honours at stake. This is why we signed these players … we went for the best on the market as we have to challenge for all the honours at stake. The message is simple: This has to be our year,” said the Sliema president.
Perry added “I thank all the sponsors who support us. I think the collaboration with Interwetten is fantastic because we have similar principles and we are both winners in what we do. This partnership is getting stronger and will even get stronger in the future. It was very important for our sponsors and collaborators to rally around us especially because of the hundreds of thousands of Euros which we lost after failing to make it to European competitions.”
“The team started pre-season on June 23 and I think we are ready and fully motivated. We are really looking forward for the first match on Saturday and this season. We have a long squad, we improved on last year’s numbers as well but I can assure you that we worked very hard to reach this point,” concluded Perry.
Finally I would like to thank the technical staff and players, the supporters, the journalists and especially the people around me who had the courage five years ago to join this committee and keep the club alive, in particular Alex Muscat and Walter Arciola.
For Interwetten, this is the first time they are collaborating with a local club. Speaking on behalf of the company, Sandro Taliana said they were proud to be supporting a club with a glorious history like Sliema Wanderers. He said that they were planning a number of initiatives as part of this sponsorship deal. He concluded by wishing the club all the best for this season considering how much the club has been working hard to strengthen the squad.
Apart from Interwetten who is the main sponsor, the other sponsors are Eurosport, Fonicom, Ecabs, Cozyrooms, Thomas Smith, Best Gyms, NM Group, Daikin, Sixt Leasing and Zarb Coaches.