Birkirkara FC present new signings

by Ayrton Galea - 7th September 2016

Birkirkara FC presented their new signings, and explained their ambitions for Season 2016-2017 in a press conference held today at the Clubhouse.

The Stripes were one of the most active teams during the Summer Transfer Market. After confirming coach Drazen Besek and the rest of his technical staff for another season, they signed no less than eight players.

The new Maltese players are Andreas Vella, James Brincat, Shaun Bajada and Steven Bonnici while Predrag Jovic, Srdjan Dimitrov and Dejan Djordjevic are the foreigners. Matteo Desira Buttigieg and Rowen Muscat have returned from their loan with St. Andrew's and Pavia respectively.

Club President, Dr Adrian Delia, opened by thanking all sections of the Club starting from the sub-committee to the club's committee members who endured a very busy summer with the Club's commitments in UEFA and the busy transfer market.

He said, "we played three rounds for the first time ever in European competitions. We eliminated NK Siroki Brijegi and held Hearts in a goal-less draw at home, which was the starting point for a new chapter. Playing against a much more quoted team with much more resources, we emerged as winners in front of 14,000 spectators."

"We lost with a 3-0 and a 3-1 score against Krasnodar in the third round. The score might give the impression that there was a lot of difference but whoever saw the matches knows that we were at par for most of the time. This gives us the desired courage to prepare and hope for even better campaigns in the next seasons. We are aware of the fact when playing these type of matches we are not only representing our Club, but we are also representing our country."

The Club's president also remarked that following the new signings, there was the departure of players on loan, namely Edison Bilbao to Ghajnsielem, Ryan Camenzuli to Floriana and Emerson Marcelina, Philip Schranz, Daniel Zerafa and Kurt Zammit to Tarxien Rainbows. Zammit signed a five-year contract before moving to Tarxien to confirm the Club's policy of investing in its Youth Academy products.

For the first time in many years, this year's Premier League will not have the points halved after two rounds, a decision which was strongly supported by the Club. This decision however led to a change of approach and plans as now all points remains valid from the first match of the season.

The Stripes have won the opening two games with an identical 4-0 score but Dr. Delia did not get carried away when asking about this year's targets. Instead, the Club's President answered by saying that the Club is investing in its infrastructure, with the intention of continuing to transform into a more professional club.

He went on by explaining that the technical staff, which includes the Coach, Assistant Coach & Physical and the goalkeepers' coach, are on a full-time bases alongside with a number of players who are now training 7 to 9 times a week instead of 4 to 5 times. Dr. Delia also confirmed that the Club is working on having a full-time administrator.

Coach Drazen Besek said "We started this season very early but we can be happy for what we achieved in UEFA Europa League and the opening two matches of the Premier League. Following the last season, we changed a number of players as some left while others came but I can say I am very happy with the new players."

"I hope that we built a good team, which is of course not finished yet because football is all about improving your selection, but we must work hard until the end of December. We will now work and see what results we can achieve. If in December, if we will need more changes, we will do them."

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