Dimech says commitment is the key for Sliema

Sliema have made a habit of failing to live up to expectations. They were among the hot favourites to become champions of Malta after a busy transfer campaign in the summer but they faltered when the stakes were high and were eventually pipped to the title by a more consistent and more committed Hibs side.

The Blues have one last chance to restore some of their lost pride when they take on Birkirkara in the Rothmans Trophy final tomorrow, knowing that only a committed performance will enable them to end the season on a positive note.

Luke Dimech, Sliema`s international defender who is set to seek pastures new next season in England, insisted that they can only aspire to lift the trophy if they repeat their 5-2 winning performance against Valletta in the semi-final.

"We are in the final of the Trophy final thanks to the gritty performance we produced in the semi-finals. If we show the same commitment tomorrow against Birkirkara, I`m confident we can win it," Dimech told The Times.

Commitment is the key according to Dimech but the lack of it in crucial league games was identified as the main reason behind Sliema`s failure to win the Premier League title.

The 24-year-old defender would not be drawn into discussing whether complacency was the cause of his team`s downfall in the Premier League.

"It`s very difficult to earmark the reasons for our failure to win the league. The season is long and so many different factors can have a bearing on the final outcome. But now it is no use in crying over spilt milk. Now we have a chance to salvage our season by winning the Trophy and our attention is fully devoted to the final.

"We must also bear in mind that success in this competition would give us the right to contest the Super Cup against the champions and if we win these remaining two honours, Sliema would have taken four out of five domestic titles on offer and that would perhaps assuage the disappointment inflicted by not winning the league title," Dimech said.

Whereas Birkirkara are still derailed by injuries going into the final furlong of the season, Sliema Wanderers` coach Jeff Wood will probably have a full squad at his disposal for tomorrow`s final with the exception of the suspended Carlo Mamo.

Despite Sliema`s greater depth of reserves, Dimech warned against taking Birkirkara lightly.

"Birkirkara have proved time and again this season that they are a very difficult side to play against. Despite the absence of some important players, Birkirkara have still managed to advance to the final and they did it by beating the champions. That should serve as an eye-opener to us ahead of the final.

"There`s no use in saying that team is better on paper because finals are won by the best team on the day," Dimech commented.

Dimech, a fixture in the Malta national team, holds dual citizenship after he spent his teen years living in the UK and he plans to pack his luggage in summer to try his luck in England.

"I`m going back to England in the summer so in all probability this is my last season in a Sliema shirt. I will be a free player at the end of this season if I go to play abroad and that`s what I will try to do. I have already had some trials in England and my future is now in the hands of my agents. Hopefully, something will have been sorted out by the end of next month," Dimech said.

Although Dimech would love to bid farewell to Maltese football - at least for now - with a Rothmans Trophy success under his belt, he insisted that his is not a personal mission.

"I want to win the Trophy and possibly the Super Cup for the club and our fans," he said.