EB/Streymur gunning for silverware

With the new season in the Faroe Islands commencing on Friday, uefa.com assesses the threats to EB/Streymur's ambitions of retaining their crown and the prospects of the league's two newcomers.

Case for the defence
Cup winners last term, EB/Streymur won their maiden title in 2008 with a game to spare and coach Sigfrídur Clementsen is aiming for a repeat as well as progress in Europe. "The goal is to win everything we compete in," said Clementsen. "We know that everything has to go our way if this is to happen but we think we have a squad that can compete for the league title and the cup as well as making progress in Europe."

Few would argue with Clementsen's objectives given the club's recruitment drive during the close season. EB/Streymur added to an already strong squad by signing four players from other local sides including Gudmund Nielsen − who earned his first cap for the national team during the 2-1 defeat of Iceland on 22 March − from B71 Sandoy. Also arriving are Pauli G. Hansen and Paetur Dam Jacobsen from Skála Ítróttarfelag and Brazilian Alex dos Santos from B36 Tórshavn, now coached by Mikkjal Thomassen.

Title rivals: HB and NSÍ
The 2008 runners-up HB Tórshavn and 2007 champions NSÍ Runavík are likely to provide the main opposition to Clementsen's team. Vikingur, in their second season since being formed with the merger of GÍ Gøta and Leirvík ÍF, could also pose a challenge. "Finishing in the top three is our main goal for the season," said Jógvan Martin Olsen, the Vikingur and former Faroe Islands coach. B36, third-place finishers last year, are likely to be weakened by the loss of three of their back four.

Home made: KÍ
KÍ Klaksvík battled relegation last season before finishing one place and five points above the bottom two. Hit hard by the global economic slowdown, the club are likely to find the going tough once more having lost three of their foreign players and Rógvi Jacobsen, the Faroe Islands record scorer. Thus KÍ have focused almost solely on nurturing local talent and have set their sights accordingly. "If we stay in the division we will be satisfied – all victories are welcome," said chairman Tummas Lervig.

Hopeful newcomers: 07 Vestur and AB
• Representing the westerly Vagar island, 07 Vestur are making their top-flight debut. "It would maybe be a bit too optimistic for me to say that we are going to be among the top four teams but, let me say this, we certainly don't intend being relegated," said chairman Eivin Jacobsen.

• Fellow newcomers AB Argir have a similar outlook, keen to avoid their fate of 2007 when they finished second bottom. "We're going to set small targets and try to get as many points as possible immediately and if we can reach a mid-table position that would be excellent," said coach John Petersen. "First of all, though, we must avoid going down to the second division again."