Valletta women’s team announce squad arrivals, Swieqi make staff changes

San Ġwann hand new contracts to two key players

The Valletta women’s team have started to assemble their squad ahead of their debut season after announcing the signature of seven players.

Six of the seven players were on the books of Raiders Lija and have now decided to join the new Valletta project, with Julia Buhagiar being the club’s new face after joining from Birkirkara.

Former Raiders Lija captain Monique Sultana is one of the players that has put pen to paper on a contract with the Citizens.

Highly-rated youngsters Sarah Vella Barbieri, former Żebbuġ Rangers player Francesca Bartolo and Ylenia Grech, who joined last year from Swieqi United, have also signed for Valletta.

The other arrivals at Valletta are Sarah Bonello Ghio and Megan La Rosa.

Meanwhile, Swieqi have announced more additions to their women’s staff including the arrival of Matthew Dowling as assistant coach.

Dowling spent over a decade working in youth football in England before heading to Estonia where he was at the helm of fifth-tier side Rumori Calcio.

He is joined by former Qrendi, Mġarr United, St Patricks and Żurrieq FC player James Borg who takes over as the new goalkeepers’ coach

At youth level, the Owls appointed club captain Dorianne Theuma as their new U-19’s coach with Mandy Debono, also a senior team player, to be tasked with the assistant coach role.

Another women’s league side has started to form the squad for the 2023-2024 season in San Ġwann.

Led by Raymond Sant, San Ġwann confirmed that promising players Rhea Borg and Nicole Camenzuli will continue their career at the club.