Chetcuti signs five-year deal with Sliema

Malta international defender Jeffrey Chetcuti has completed his much-publicised move to Sliema Wanderers when he put pen to paper on a new five-year contract.

The 28-year-old Chetcuti, a pillar in the Valletta defence for the past eight seasons, is Sliema's second major signing in the space of a few weeks after their capture of Malta midfielder Joe Brincat from Birkirkara.

Although Sliema have now tied up the loose ends of the Chetcuti deal following protracted negotiations involving the player and his former club, they still have to wait before they can file his registration papers at the MFA as Valletta are still hit by a transfer ban.

A Valletta spokesman said that they expect the ban to be lifted sooner rather than later and Sliema are hoping to get the all-clear to register Chetcuti by tomorrow.

Chetcuti is expected to report for his first training session with his new club this evening.

The Blues, now under the charge of former City coach Edward Aquilina, are currently preparing for their UEFA Cup clashes with Polonia Warsaw.

Edoardo Do Nascimento, better known as Bizu, has also signed for the Blues but his move hit a snag when Floriana, his former club, objected to his transfer.

A Sliema official yesterday said that the club has now received the Malta FA council's go-ahead to complete Bizu's signing.

Floriana are asking for compensation for Bizu's transfer and their claim will be looked into by the Malta FA Board of Arbitration in the near future.

Bizu's registration papers and those of another Brazilian player, Renato Garcia Conceicao, were expected to be filed at the MFA offices yesterday.

Conceicao has been training with the Wanderers for the past few days and has convinced Aquilina to sign him for their UEFA Cup commitments.

Sliema, winners of the Lowenbrau Cup for the second year running, have also agreed to loan Pierre Grima to Marsaxlokk. At Marsaxlokk, Grima will team up with fellow Sliema youngsters Trevor Templeman, Brandon Zammit and Joseph Farrugia.

Massimo Grima was also a target for Marsaxlokk but the former Malta U-21 skipper is engaged in talks with Sliema over the signing of a new contract.

Meanwhile, Sliema will be organising a series of activities on August 15 in their bid to pep up interest in their UEFA Cup first leg match against Polonia Warsaw at Ta' Qali.

Sliema fans are invited to visit the club on August 15, from 4.30 p.m. onwards, to see a newly-established history room and the trophy hall.

The club will also be organising transport to and from Ta' Qali for the UEFA Cup match against Polonia Warsaw at no extra cost... Sliema fans can benefit from free transport as long as they go to watch the UEFA Cup clash. Bookings can be made at the Miramare Hotel, Balluta.