'We are proving many people wrong'

Love them or hate them, you have to admit that Maltese football is not the same without Valletta in the forefront of the race for honours.

The Citizens, winners of a record haul of six domestic cups three short years ago, have lately been overshadowed by Sliema and Birkirkara.

After more than a decade of success, the outlook for the Citizens was very bleak when the extent of their debt became public knowledge a few years ago.

It was in these circumstances that Charles Camilleri accepted to take over the presidency of the club.

Following in the footsteps of the popular Joe Caruana Curran was always going to be hard for Camilleri but the former treasurer refused to be intimidated by the challenge awaiting him.

Resisting the temptation of turning a blind eye on the club's financial plight to gun for more glory, Camilleri devoted his energies towards tackling the club's financial crisis which even raised question marks about Valletta's ability to stay afloat in the longer term.

Players' wages were cut drastically while a host of stalwarts from the trophy-laden era, the likes of Jeffrey Chetcuti, Ivan Zammit and Darren Debono, sought pastures new.

A disappointing 2003-2004 season in which Valletta suffered the embarrassment of playing in the Relegation Pool did not help to lift the fans' diminishing optimism in their club's hierarchy but there have been encouraging signs in the first few months of the new trek to suggest a happier year for the men in white.

Bracketed among the Relegation Pool candidates on the back of another low-key transfer campaign, Valletta have been the surprise of the season so far, collecting 15 points from seven matches to climb up to second spot in the table.

"We are proving many people wrong," Camilleri told The Times, his morale distinctly raised by the emphatic 3-1 defeat of Marsaxlokk.

"People have expressed big doubts about Valletta's prospects of making the top six but I can assure everyone that we have been going about our business in a serious manner.

"Gilbert Agius and Sean Sullivan aside, our squad does not boast big-name players. Circumstances left us with no option but to make a general overhaul of our squad in order to lay the foundations for the future. Our goal is that, in two or three years' time, Valletta will have a team to stake a serious claim for the honours.

"A number of established players who formed the core of our successful team in the last decade were transferred because we could no longer afford to pay them.

"However, young players were introduced and there is a new spirit. Playing for Valletta FC is still a source of pride to many."

The squad inherited by J.J. Aquilina this season is a blend of seasoned campaigners and homegrown talent who have yet to prove themselves in the top flight.

Camilleri's cost-cutting measures preclude the signing of high-profile players but he insists that, regardless of the club's financial state, the emphasis on home talent should not change.

"Young players are clearly being given a chance to earn their spurs at the top level this year," Camilleri said. "I believe that our approach vis-á-vis young players should not be dictated by the club's financial position. We have our nursery and it is our duty to try out our young ones before looking elsewhere."

Reflecting on his early days in the hot seat, Camilleri remarked: "I knew I was stepping into enormous boots when I was appointed president. The need to make some drastic changes had long been felt but this was no easy task.

"Suddenly, the honours dried up and there was a lot of speculation going around but I did not shy away from making bold decisions. Perhaps, the people out there did not appreciate our efforts but slowly we are winning them over. The most important thing is that we have a very united committee, one that is determined to carry out all pre-set priorities."

According to the rumour-mill, Valletta's debt up to two seasons ago approached the Lm400,000-mark.

Camilleri would not be drawn into revealing figures but claims that the club's finances are on the mend.

"I would say that the debt of Valletta FC has been trimmed by a good 35 per cent," Camilleri said. "I'm optimistic that in a few years' time, we will show a clean bill of health."

Their presence among the top three after seven games may have led to suggestions that Valletta may turn out to be the dark horses for the Premiership title but Camilleri refuses to get carried away.

"Our target from the start of the season has been to make up for the disappointment of last year by avoiding the Relegation Pool," he said.

"We are doing the best we can to help the team gain a place in the Championship Pool. To bolster our chances of reaching this goal, we knew that we had to gain as many points as possible from our early encounters and we have managed to do that so far.

"I must also say that the tactics employed by our coach Aquilina have befitted the team and the players are clearly adapting to them. According to our calculations, 26 points should be more than sufficient to secure us a place in the Championship Pool and from our first seven games, we have already got 15. The tallies of our direct rivals are significantly lower than they were at this stage last year and this is an added bonus for us."

It is a measure of Valletta's resolve to banish the ugly memories of last season's predicament that they imposed their physical and tactical qualities on a glamorous but misfiring Marsaxlokk, beating them 3-1.

"I was delighted with our victory against Marsaxlokk because the team's performance on the day showed the resilience of our players," Camilleri said.

"The three points meant another small step forward towards our target. Beating Marsaxlokk also helped to silence a few people who have turned their back on our club."

Clubs aiming for a top six berth are widely expected to use the January transfer window to strengthen their squads. According to Camilleri, Valletta will most likely seek to sign a central defender in January.

"It's still a bit early but we will evaluate the situation when the transfer window re-opens. At the moment, we are short of defensive options, so if we had to go in the market in January it will probably be for a central defender."

The atmosphere among the City fans during Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Marsaxlokk was a welcome breather for the local game so desperately in need of some enthusiasm.

"My appeal is for the fans to continue to back us in their inimitable way," the Valletta president.

"We are working hard to ensure a better future but this is a difficult process. I hope that our supporters remain close to the team even when we endure difficult times."