Valletta’s dream of having their own football stadium and complex has moved closer to reality after the Premier League champions were awarded a piece of land in Ħal-Farruġ, limits of Mqabba, on a 49-year lease.

Clyde Puli, the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, presented the lease agreement to Valletta president Victor Sciriha during the club’s annual general meeting yesterday.

Although the government has acceded to Valletta’s request to build a sports complex in Ħal-Farruġ, the decision has yet to be approved by the parliament.

Meanwhile, no vote was required to elect the Valletta FC committee for season 2011-12 as the number of candidates matched the number of available seats – 13.

There are no notable changes in the City committee as top officials like Sciriha, Giovanni Cappitta, David Xuereb, Paul Spiteri, Joe Attard and Michael Palmier have been confirmed.

Long-time official Sergio Zampa didn’t seek re-election while former Central Bank governor Francis Vassallo, who held an advisory role within the Valletta committee last season, and George Tabone are the two new faces in the club’s administration.

The other members of the Valletta committee are Joe Agius, Joe Calleja, Sunny Fenech, Kevin Gauci and Ottavio Suda.

Sciriha told the numerous Valletta members at the St Albert College hall that the club are still working to strengthen the squad ahead of their Champions League commitments.

William Barbosa da Silva, a Brazilian striker who holds an Italian passport, is due to arrive in Malta today to join Valletta for a trial. The 33-year-old forward last played for Italian Serie D club Virtus Casarano.

The Citizens have already signed two new foreign strikers for next season, namely Ousseni Zongo, of Burkina Faso, and Serbian Miodrag Andjelkovic.

The Valletta president also announced that up-and-coming goalkeeper Jenz Cini will be Andrew Hogg’s understudy next season as Nicky Vella is keen to move on in search of regular football.

Sciriha also announced that Valletta have secured a sponsor-ship deal with a French company for their Champions League campaign.

The Citizens have also added another sponsor for next season as the Gram Collections logo will be displayed on the back of Valletta’s shirts.

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