Watch: Melita FC hopeful new Premier League format will help them on top-flight return

Premier League newcomers Melita FC hope the new format will provide them with a better opportunity to avoid relegation from the top flight this season.

This season, the Premier League will be adopting a new format with all 12 teams competing in the opening and closing rounds, with the final verdicts being decided in the second part of the championship, thus giving newly-promoted Melita time to settle in their new reality.

After an absence of 12 years, Melita are back to give the Premier League another crack, this time under the astute guidance of experienced coach Clive Mizzi.

Melita have high hopes that their off-season endeavour to ensure the best possible build-up for their new campaign will reap the desired dividends in the 2024-25 season, by beating the drop and avoid another quick return to the Challenge League.

The optimism in their camp was palpable on Thursday as the Amateurs kicked off their season with the squad presentation during an event held at Maria Rosa Wine Estate in Attard.

“We began to plan for the new season soon after our last league game,” club president Matthew Naudi said.

“We all know the challenges that lie ahead. For a small club like Melita, this is no mean feat to compete in the Premier League.

“Last season was exceptional for us. After winning promotion, we started discussing how we could improve the squad for this season. All the new signings were discussed and fully agreed with our coach. I am happy with the squad and administrative work done so far.”  

Mizzi has not made wholesale changes to his squad but has tweaked the side that stormed their way through the Challenge league last season, bringing in three local players who have already tasted the delights of the Premier League and a host of new foreign players.

David Xuereb from Marsa, Kurt Bondin of Żebbuġ, and Ensell Attard of Mosta have joined the club along with Polish goalkeeper Aleksander Lubik, Colombian defender Aldair Simanca, Spanish centre-back Marc Van de Bovenkamp and striker Jose’, who are all eager to leave their mark in the league.

“We’ve got a very talented young squad who are eager to prove their qualities at the highest level,” Naudi explained.

“We have the majority of players who have played a lot together last season, and got to know each other and gel well together. Yet, the gap between the Challenge League and the Premier league is enormous,” he added.

That yawning chasm could open up in front of them immediately as Melita are in for a testing start as the draw for the 2024/25 league season thrust them in a series of initial tough clashes against Floriana, Marsaxlokk and Ħamrun Spartans in that order.

For this reason, Mizzi is expecting his side to lurk in the bottom half of the standings in the opening round.

“We just need to have the mentality of taking it one game at a time,” Mizzi said.

“There is something we’ve taken on board from last year, we were scoring goals, with our matches finishing with a high-scoring scoreline. I see no reason why we need to change that because we are in the Premier League.”