Valletta president shows Midas touch

Now the first president to win consecutive Maltese titles with different sides, Victor Scriha told uefa.com how he found the winning touch with Valletta FC.

Professional work
A title winner in 2006/07 with Marsaxlokk FC, Scriha moved to Valletta last summer and was rewarded with another success in 2007/08, albeit one which ended on a sour note with a 4-0 defeat against his old side on Saturday. "To win two successive titles with two different clubs is by no means a simple feat," he said. "You have got to have a professional set-up around you. You have got to work in a very professional manner."

No comparison
Winning the title with unfashionable Marsaxlokk was the conclusion of eight years of work for Scriha, and the modest seaside club stand in stark contrast to Valletta, who have now won 19 titles. "You cannot compare Marsaxlokk and Valletta," said Scriha. "Valletta have the most vociferous support on the island. Valletta is their fans' other religion!"

Seven-year itch
However, while winning the title with Marsaxlokk is a bigger achievement on paper, Scriha is very proud to have helped Valletta end a seven-year wait for the crown. "Valletta is a glorious club in Maltese football," Scriha said. "The feeling was different because the last time that the club lifted the title was seven years ago, and I managed to do so in my first year as president."

No let-up
League success has earned Valletta a place in the first qualifying round of the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League, and plans for the new season are already under way. "The team will only be having a ten-day break, then they will be back to training," Scriha said. "Two new foreign players will be joining our squad at the beginning of next month to start training with the rest of the team."

Long-term target
European success and another Maltese title remain important targets for Scriha, but his biggest challenge is to make Valletta into a professional club. "We already have eight professional players," he said, adding: "With a professional set-up and the right training facilities, I am sure Valletta have very bright prospects. What I wish is that when I finally leave, Valletta will be a financially healthy and stable club."