Qormi dancing to Brazilian beat

Qormi FC have defied pre-season expectations in Malta by jointly leading the Premier League after four matches alongside big-spending Valletta FC.

Second hat-trick
The club, which finished just above the relegation play-off spots last term, followed up an opening-draw against Floriana FC with three successive victories, the latest of which, a 3-1 defeat of champions Hibernians FC, was certainly the most eye-catching. Having fallen a goal behind, Qormi recovered to inflict the titleholders' first loss of the campaign thanks to a second successive hat-trick from Brazilian striker Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo.

Collective effort
"I am very happy that Qormi are top of the table," Camilo, who also scored three a week earlier against Msida St Joseph FC, told uefa.com. "I immediately noticed a very good bond in the Qormi squad when I arrived at the beginning of the season, and I immediately felt at home in my new surroundings. I would also like to thank my team-mates for helping me score the goals I have so far. This is a collective effort from all the team and without them I could not have scored seven goals already."

South American influence
Valletta's 100 per cent start to the season was ended in drawing 0-0 with Msida on Saturday, while Birkirkara FC are third, one point behind, after winning their last three matches. Tarxien Rainbows FC have also proven to be something of a surprise package in the formative stages of the season, sitting fourth thanks, in part, to their trio of Brazilians – Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, Everton Antonio Pereira and Denni Rocha Dos Santos – who all scored in the 3-1 victory against Sliema Wanderers FC on Saturday.

No wins
Sliema, cup winners last term, are languishing in seventh in the ten-team table despite also investing heavily during the summer. The reverse at Tarxien leaves the Blues with just three points from four matches, ahead of three clubs – Msida, Hamrun Spartans FC and Dingli Swallows FC – still searching for their first victory of the campaign.