Stuttering Sliema strive to rediscover winning form

The start of season 2003-2004 has finally provided some much-needed good publicity for Maltese football.
Surprising results and a glut of goals marked the first two rounds of Premier League matches, heightening expectations of a competitive race for the honours.

Malta's 2-2 draw against Israel in their last EURO 2004 Group One qualifier on Wednesday will also have helped to enhance this renewed optimism as local football continues its drive to repair its tarnished image.

After the break for international matches, the Premier League resumes between today and Monday with five matches.

Stuttering champions Sliema Wanderers badly need to rediscover their winning touch after they gained only one point from their first two matches. Their 4-1 defeat to Msida St Joseph has increased the heat on the champions who must start to deliver the goods in order to dispel the growing criticism.

Sliema's woeful start to their title defence has been blamed on complacency and over-confidence.

Tomorrow, the Blues will be expected to show that they have cast off their early-season jitters when they meet Premier League newcomers Balzan Youths at the National Stadium (kick-off 4 p.m.).

Edward Aquilina is likely to ring the changes after his team's debacle against Msida. Jamie Pace and Dybrill Sylla could earn a starting berth as Aquilina seeks to give his team a few positive jolts.

Massimo Grima is still serving a suspension for doping and Lee Lombardi is sidelined by a knee injury. Carlo Mamo may also not start the game as he has to sit for an academic exam tomorrow.

Life among the big boys has been tough for Balzan who lost their opening two league games. Jimmy Briffa must make do without defender Sergio Cappitta who was handed a one-match suspension after his red card in the 2-1 defeat to Hibernians.

Goalkeeper Ernest Barry will face his former club which he was on the verge of rejoining before opting to sign for Balzan Youths.

Veteran player Jeffrey Farrugia would have found himself in a very unusual and confusing situation had he stayed at Balzan Youths.

Farrugia, 34, is a Sliema Wanderers committee member and played for Balzan last season.

The out-of-contract Farrugia has now joined Gzira United, who play in the Second Division League.

Like Sliema Wanderers, Marsa-xlokk have only collected one point from their first two games but their performances were far better than Sliema's.

The ambitious southerners will have high hopes of recording their first victory of the season when they take on Hamrun today at 4 p.m.

David Camilleri and Malcolm Licari are the two main injury doubts for Marsaxlokk due to hamstring problems. The two players pulled out of the Maltese squad for last Wednesday's qualifier against Israel.

Johann Zammit also sustained a slight injury during training but is expected to be fit for this afternoon's encounter.

Robert Kelly, the Marsaxlokk coach, will have been delighted with the news that three of his players did well in the midweek qualifiers. Skipper David Carabott and Etienne Barbara were among Malta's best players in the 2-2 draw with Israel and their new foreign import Donatas Vencevicius was among the scorers in Lithuania's 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands.

Hamrun Spartans will be looking to break their duck after two defeats in their opening two matches. Central defender Graham Bencini is out with a knee problem but otherwise, coach Patrick Curmi should have a full squad at his disposal.

Striker Gaetan Spiteri has trained regularly over the past few weeks and is expected to be available to play today.

An interesting clash on today's card (6 p.m.) is that between Birkirkara and Msida St Joseph, arguably the two most in-form teams in the league.

The Stripes boast a 100 per cent record after identical 3-2 wins over Pietà Hotspurs and Marsaxlokk.

Msida have been the surprise team of the league so far, especially after their 4-1 victory over the Wanderers.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Birkirkara coach, is without the suspended Sunday Eboh and midfielder George Mallia, who broke his forearm during training with the Malta squad last week.

Msida St Joseph must make do without Charles Sciberras. He is suspended.

Valletta, held to a 1-1 draw by arch-rivals Floriana in their last outing, face Pietà Hotspurs tomorrow at 6.

The Citizens, who are set to unveil a new sponsor in the coming days, are boosted by the return of Renie Forace and Sharlon Pace from suspension but Marinov is troubled by fitness worries over skipper Gilbert Agius and Ivan Tonchev.

Pace will be gunning against his former team after he spent last season on loan with Pietà.

Suspension deprives Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia, the Pietà mentor, of Pierre Aquilina who was expelled in his team's 3-0 victory over Hamrun.

Cameroon striker Fransis Omam is also struggling to shake off a leg injury.

Hibs-Floriana on Monday

The last two teams in action are Floriana and Hibernians who square up on Monday at 7.30 p.m.

Both teams have enjoyed a positive start to the Premier League.

The Paolites have maximum points from their first two games against Msida and Balzan respectively while Floriana have four after beating Balzan and drawing against Valletta.

Ziya Yildiz, the Floriana coach, has a full squad as his international players emerged unhurt from this week's European qualifiers.

Yildiz may make a few changes to his line-up with Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza set to start after his positive impact in the second half of his side's clash with Valletta.

Hibernians coach Robert Gatt has no particular injury troubles and will have been heartened by the vintage display of goalkeeper Mario Muscat in Malta's 2-2 draw with Israel.

Peter Pullicino is recovering from injury but is likely to be fit for Monday's clash.

Defender Ryan Mintoff is also injured.