For a man famously not at ease in front of a microphone Tarxien Rainbows president Anthony Cassar yesterday fashioned a simple and eloquent message: “Our outside aim is to get into Europe. We’ve got the squad to get over the next hurdle and improve on last season’s position.”
Another active summer in the transfer market has once again elevated expectations at Tarxien.
Coach Noel Coleiro has signed no fewer than eight players who were yesterday introduced to the media.
The coach has now greater resources as they have signed three Brazilians, Rodrigo Andreis Galvao, Roberto Fagundes and Caio Garcia Suguino, together with Stefan Giglio (ex-Qormi), Adrian Carabott and Nicky Vella (from Valletta), Karl Pulo (Birkirkara) and Karl Sammut (Vittoriosa).
“We’ve added these players to give us a bit more strength in depth given the new premier league format,” Coleiro explained.
“This will allow me to keep a strong bench – including two foreigners – who can step in at any time and change the face of the game.
“Moreover, I am in a better position to pick up my side according to the opponents given a wider selection of players.”
The fans’ expectations are much higher this time around and, although president Cassar insists there is no pressure on Coleiro, great things are expected of this Tarxien team.
Coleiro has spent four seasons working miracles at Tarxien. Now he has to make sure he’s still got one or two aces in his pack to challenge for a European football berth this season.
During the press conference, some fans insisted that this time round, they could prevent Valletta from running away with the title. Although he shares the fans’ sentiments when he insisted that the Rainbows should aim for a place in Europe this season, Coleiro is astute and realistic enough to acknowledge it’s going to be tough.
“There is no doubt that Valletta and Birkirkara have already shown to be a cut above the rest.
“We know there will be hard times for us. But let’s hope we continue to surprise people,” he said.
Coleiro remains confident Tarxien will not see any repeat of that five-week slump at the start of the Championship Pool which ruined last season despite consolidating their position as one of the top teams in Malta.
He feels that the squad has not only improved since last year in terms of experience but they have learned from that experience and will not suffer something similar this time.