Victor Sciriha, the president of Valletta, has explained the circumstances surrounding Doding Priso's delayed departure from Malta ahead of the first leg of the Europa league second qualifying round match against Ireland's St Patrick at Richmond Park this evening (kick-off 8.45 p.m.).

Sciriha told www.timesofmalta.com that Valletta had originally been told that the Camerooonian winger didn't need a visa to enter Ireland but when the squad gathered at the Malta International Airport on Tuesday morning, Priso was informed by Air Malta personnel that he could not travel to Dublin without a valid visa.

Priso, who has scored in both the home and away legs of Valletta's 5-2 aggregate win over Iceland's Keflavik in the first qualifying round, joined the Valletta squad in Dublin yesterday after club officials, led by vice-president David Xuereb, got the authorities' go-ahead for the player to fly to Ireland.

On this evening's encounter with St Patrick's, Sciriha warned that the Irish Premier League side are stronger than Keflavik but he's cautiously optimistic that if the Valletta players follow the tactical instructions of coach Ton Caanen, they will boost their chances of going through.

Gilbert Agius, the Valletta captain, anticipates a stiff challenge from St Patrick's this evening but he believes that the Citizens can do well in this Europa League if they reproduce their bold performances against Keflavik.

See also http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090716/sport/agius-re-energised- by-citys-bright-start

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