Sammut strives for Maltese perfection

Kevin Sammut hopes the new season will vindicate his decision to stay with 2006/07 champions Marsaxlokk FC as they look to reclaim the title from Valletta FC.

Maltese proverb
The 27-year-old midfielder was named as Malta's Player of the Year despite his side losing the title to Valletta, though with offers to move elsewhere he opted to stay with the club, signing a four-year contract. He told uefa.com: "The Maltese proverb goes: 'It's better to know where you are than to know where you are going as you don't know what you'll find when you get there.' I always want to be with a club who are challenging for the Premier League title," he added. "If I cannot be with a title-chasing club I will retire! President Robert Micallef promised me he would create a squad capable of challenging for the title this season and that helped persuade me to sign again – that and the fact that I love this club."

Marsaxlokk stronger
While Marsaxlokk have seen star players Jamie Pace and Cleavon Frendo leave for Valletta, English coach Brian Talbot has strengthened his ranks by bringing in Brazilian Marcelo Pereira, Argentinian Julio Alcorsé, Christian Cassar, Malta defender Brian Said and goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin, while Mark Barbara has been loaned from Valletta. The holders remain narrow favourites, however. In addition to Pace and Frendo, the Citizens have signed Malta stars Luke Dimech and Edmond Agius, Cameroonian Njongo Priso and Brazilian striker Marcelo Peabirú is set to sign soon. They should soften the blow of losing Frank Temile to FC Dynamo Kyiv and Omar Sebastián Monesterolo to AEK Larnaca FC.

No disgrace
Valletta coach Paul Zammit told uefa.com "I am pleased with our pre-season form, especially in both legs of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against [Slovakian champions FC] Artmedia Petržalka."
That match ended in a 3-0 aggregate defeat, but the Maltese side certainly did not disgrace themselves, and Sammut acknowledges it is not a level playing field. "You cannot have the majority of players not being full professionals," he said. "This is the main reason why Maltese football is lagging behind other nations, especially at club level.

Dream move
"I believe that there are quite a number of Maltese players who could make the grade abroad," he added. "The fact that we come from a minnow nation makes it even harder for us to be taken on by foreign clubs." The new season in Malta starts on Saturday, and Sammut will be hoping success on the island could still lead to that dream move away.