Watch: Ħamrun Spartans contingent finally arrive at Faroe Islands, to face Runavik on Thursday night

Ħamrun Spartans have finally arrived in the Faroe Islands after almost three days of travel and will now prepare for Thursday’s UEFA Conference League tie against NS Runavik (kick-off: 8.45pm).

The Spartans were left stranded in Norway overnight as the poor weather conditions in the Faroe Islands made it impossible for their flight to land safely at their destination.

Ħamrun Spartans made another attempt to fly to the Faroes on Thursday morning and they finally touched down at noon local time.

“We finally managed to land in the Faroe Islands after three days trying to reach our destination due to bad weather and fog,” club official Eric Saliba told Times of Malta.

“Now we will go to the hotel so our players can rest before the match because they are exhausted.

“Today, before departure, some of our players were too scared to board the plane, and we had to convince them to board the plane. But thankfully everything went well, and we now look forward to the match.”

The Spartans will soon have a major task on their hands, as the travel complications that have hit their preparations over the past two days haven’t helped, and the team will not be able to play the match under the best possible conditions.

NS Runavik are likely to be very tough opponents for Ħamrun Spartans as they are midway through their domestic season and are currently top of the Faroes championship, having played 16 matches so far.

Coach Stefano Sanderra had told Times of Malta on Tuesday morning that the Spartans need to take the ground running in Thursday’s tie if they are to bring home a positive result.

“It’s going to be a very difficult match against a very physical Runavik side,” the Italian coach said.

“They are a very physical side who are very dangerous in set-pieces situations. It will be important that the players are switched on right from the first whistle as Runavik will surely go out with all guns blazing.

“I am quite encouraged with the way the players have adapted to my playing system and hopefully we can enjoy a very positive match.”

Sanderra has only been in charge of Ħamrun Spartans for two weeks after he replaced Giacomo Modica who resigned a fortnight ago.

“It’s not the best scenario to take over the team two weeks into pre-season,” the former Hibernians coach said.

“But the players have responded very well and have given me a very warm welcome. Obviously, it will take some time for me to transmit my philosophy of football so for this tie it is likely that we will persist with a 4-3-3 formation.

“I have a very strong squad at my disposal and I’m sure that we have the potential to do very well.”