New foreign players for Valletta, Pietà

Premier League clubs Valletta FC and Pietà Hotspurs are expected to sign new foreign players this week.

Yesterday, Valletta had Bulgarian midfielder Rumen Galabov training at the Salinos ground while an Italian player is set to join the Hotspurs ranks this week to replace Australian midfielder Mirko Jurilj.

Edward Schembri, the Hotspurs president, yesterday confirmed the news but could not divulge any information about the player yet not to breach an agreement with the agent involved in the deal.

Galabov, 24, will undergo a medical test today and if he gets the go-ahead, the former FC Beroe Stara Zagora player will make his debut against Marsaxlokk on Saturday.

The Hotspurs already have two Italian players in the squad, defender Mauro Di Lello and striker Giacomo Paniccia. The latter has joined the club a few weeks ago to replace Danial Cummins, another Australian who was also released by the club.

Claude Mattocks is another transfer target for the Hotspurs who have already tabled their offer to Floriana. However, they are facing stiff competition from Marsaxlokk who are also showing interest in Mattocks' team-mate Etienne Barbara. Floriana were expected to discuss the offers in a meeting last night.

Meanwhile, Marsaxlokk have had a change of heart on defender Benneth Njoku who is now set to stay on until the end of the season.

U-17 friendlies

Malta and Turkey U-17 teams will be playing international friendlies this week at the MFA training grounds, Ta' Qali. The two matches are scheduled for today and Thursday with kick-offs at 6.30 p.m.