Hamrun Spartans embark on three-year project under new management
Premier club Hamrun Spartans yesterday announced the start of a new era - a three-year project with the club now being under a new management.
In fact, the Spartans have a new president. He is Nunzio Antignoni, of Italy, who is also a director of the Genova International Sports management. He is taking the place of Gaetano Debattista, who occupied the past last season.
Addressing the press for the first time yesterday, the new Spartans president said this three-year deal with the local club is intended to bring back glory to the Spartans who have not won a trophy for almost 30 years.
He said he was very pleased to have reached this agreement with the Spartans who he considered as one of the top clubs in Malta.
He assured everyone that the foreigners to be recruited by the club will certainly be of a good level, while the local players who have already signed for the club, are also of a high standard.
Asked whether the club had any target for the coming season, Mr Antignoli said it was still very early, but added it was obviously any team’s dream to play in Europe.
New coach Giovanni Tedesco, formerly with Floriana and Birkirkara in Malta as well as Palermo in Italy, said it was an honour for him to be given the opportunity to train another Maltese club, this time Hamrun Spartans.
“My primary aim is to get back the enthusiasm to this glorious club. At this early stage – we commenced training on Wednesday – we cannot have any expectations. What I can assure everyone at this moment is that I am sure we will be giving our 100 per cent.
“If we – coach, players, committee and fans - work together hand in hand, then we will be able to gain the respect of all our rivals,” he said.
There were around 24 players – 16 of them foreigners on trial – at the first training session. “We will now assess all of them before taking decisions. We will also be playing a few friendly matches before the start of the league campaign,” said Tedesco.
Tedesco revealed that his team includes athletic preparator Antonio Romagnolo as well as medical adviser Michele Pelletteri, formerly with Lazio of Italy.
He also announced that a Maltese goalkeeper’s coach is also to be recruited, probably today.
Among the players present yesterday for the news conference were newcomers Conor Borg and Triston Caruana as well as Marco Criaco, who has been retained from last season.
Secretary Stephen Saliba also addressed those present saying that this was the start of a new era for the Spartans.
He also said that the club is embarking on a drive to get more fans becoming members of the club.