Michael Spiteri handed Birkirkara technical role

Premier League club Birkirkara have turned to their former defensive stalwart Michael Spiteri to assume a technical advisory role with their first team.

Spiteri, a prominent member of the Birkirkara side that won the club's first and so far only Premier League title in season 1999-2000, has accepted the Stripes' overtures to join their technical board.

Victor Zammit, the Birkirkara chairman, confirmed that Spiteri has been added to their technical team. "Spiteri has been appointed to our technical board with immediate effect," Zammit said.

"The club felt the need to strengthen the technical sector and our sights turned to Spiteri. Spiteri's appointment as technical advisor will benefit Birkirkara not only because of his football knowledge and experience but above all, because he goes about his work in a very professional manner."

Birkirkara's technical board is composed of head coach Stephen Azzopardi, team manager Joe Abela, goalkeepers' coach Roger Camilleri and now Spiteri. Club chairman Zammit and Mario Gatt are also involved in this board. Spiteri has been co-opted to the club committee and is expected to be one of the club officials manning the Birkirkara dug-out during matches involving their first team.

Birkirkara yesterday called a players' meeting to officially announce Spiteri's appointment.

Spiteri, who turns 36 a week from today, is well known in local football circles on the back of a successful career during which he was widely regarded as one of the strongest players around. Capped 24 times by Malta, Spiteri spent the best part of his career with Hibs before moving to Birkirkara in 1999.

It remains to be seen whether Spiteri's co-option to the Birkirkara committee is ratified by the Malta FA in time for him to make his first appearance in his new capacity as technical advisor in the team's first Championship Pool match against Hibs tomorrow at the National Stadium.