Birkirkara, Floriana look to lift fans' flailing confidence

Thirteen points separate third-placed Birkirkara from bottom-of-the-class Floriana but both have plenty to prove going into their direct Premier League encounter this evening at the National Stadium (kick-off 7 p.m.).

Champions of Malta for the first and only time in their history in season 1999-2000, Birkirkara have, in subsequent years, been highly fancied to return to the pinnacle of Maltese football but they failed to deliver on their promise.

This season, Birkirkara were again bracketed among the top contenders for the title but they have struggled to live up to their status. The Stripes still have time to make up for lost ground on pace-setters Sliema Wanderers but their performances of late have hardly helped to improve optimism about their ability to end their six-year wait for the championship.

On Saturday, Birkirkara only succeeded in attracting further criticism after a disjointed second-half performance in their 3-2 defeat of Mosta.

Floriana's problems are of a more serious nature than those of their immediate opponents. The once-mighty Greens have had a disastrous start to the 2005-2006 season as their position at the foot of the Premier League table amply shows.

Both teams will surely look at today's game, their last of the first round, as an opportunity to lift their fans' flailing confidence.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Birkirkara coach, has regained licence to guide his team from the touchline after his sending-off in the 5-2 loss to Hibernians resulted in a two-match suspension.

His return and that of skipper Antoine Zahra, who was banned for the Mosta game, should boost Birki-rkara but not all is rosy in their clan as far as the health of their key personnel is concerned.

William Camenzuli is out of the picture after suffering a knee injury last weekend and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza is ranked doubtful after picking up a knock during training.

Although Azzopardi acknowledges the need for his team to raise their performance, he prefers to look on the positive side of their season so far.

"It's important that we improve our performance," Azzopardi said. "We are coming from low-key victories over Hamrun Spartans and Mosta but there's no doubt that we have done well to gain maximum points from both games. My team came in for some criticism for our display against Hamrun but in their next game, the latter beat Valletta.

"I find it rather strange that this season, we are being criticised for taking the points without providing entertainment. Birkirkara are alw-ays expected to play spectacular football but at the end of the day, it's results that count. I also feel compelled to say that Birkirkara have more points than we had at the same stage last season."

Birkirkara have 16 points after their first eight matches produced five victories, one draw and two losses. Last year, they had 15 points after four wins, three draws and one defeat.

Azzopardi is clearly willing to make a case for his team's progress so far but he also admits that Birkirkara will have to be at their best to overcome Floriana.

"We have to play better than we did against Mosta to beat Floriana," Azzopardi said. "Floriana are improving and will be determined to get something from this match."

The Greens are the only team in the Premier League not to have tasted victory this season but their stout performance in the 1-0 defeat to Old Firm foes Sliema last weekend ought to have injected some confidence in their clan.

Jan Artz, their stand-in Dutch coach, feels that the Floriana players are working in the right direction.

"I think that the players are adapting to my coaching style," Artz told The Times. "Our performance against Sliema underlined the desire and enthusiasm of Floriana to get our league campaign on track.

"Potential-wise, Sliema are the best team in Malta but I expect an even harder challenge from Birkirkara because they need the points more than us."

Adrian Mifsud's red card against Sliema and subsequent one-match ban has scuppered Artz's plans to retain the same formation for today's game. The indications are that Nicolò Baldacchino, back in the frame after serving his one-match suspension, will replace Mifsud in attack.

With fellows-in-distress Mosta, Valletta, Pietà and Hamrun Spartans all involved in needle matches this weekend, Floriana know that a victory today would provide an immeasurable boost.

Artz defiant

Artz and his allies are desperate to end their drought but the Dutch mentor has set his team a daunting 12-point target from their opening five matches of the second round to pull themselves out of the mire.

"We are obviously determined to gain something from this match but I'm a realistic person," Artz said.

"One or three points from games against the likes of Birkirkara or Sliema would be a bonus for us. Crucial to our season will be the first five matches of the second round. We need to take 12 points from those games to ease our troubles. I'm confident that my team will put things right in the second round.

"Floriana are a big club in Maltese football and that is why many people delight in our struggles but we're not going to get relegated."