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Richard Buhagar (second from left) who will sign with Sliema early this week

Transfer season kicks-off
Richard Buhagiar joins Sliema
Blue’s considering major overhaul as sell-out is imminent

By Ray Abdilla
Floriana and Malta anchorman Richard Buhagiar has agreed to join Sliema Wanderers for a year while Dybrill Sylla who last season was loaned from Gozo to Sliema has now joined Birkirkara.

Sliema Wanderers Football Club insiders have confirmed rumours that the side may chop some of its players. Officials from the Sliema camp told SportToday that the club would do some reshuffling for the good of the team.

Richard Buhagiar is expected to sign for the Blues next Tuesday as both parties have agreed. It also looks very likely that Buhagiar’s teammate Brian Said will also join Sliema Wanderers.
Meanwhile Sandro Zammit Fava, who recently lost his place in the Sliema Wanderers line-up, is expected to join Pieta, although Floriana are still very much interested in the midfielder. Andy Eminyan who also could not find a regular place with the Sliema side is interesting his ex-club Birkirkara.

"It is true that we may sell many some of our players," the said Sliema official added, "and it is also true that President Robert Arrigo was in the brink of resigning."

"The salary scale and system will be changed. No longer there would be salaries of Lm500, Lm600 and Lm800 a month. In fact there will be no salaries to the players but a bonus system. This is going to be worked out according to the opponent.

"A win against Valletta and Birkirkara will mean a net income of Lm500 to all the players who take part in the game with the reserves getting a half. A win against the likes of Floriana and Hibernians will net the Sliema clan around Lm400 while a win against a lowe side will mean a bonus of around Lm200."

Robert Arrigo was heard saying, "Some of the players’ performances were intentionally to disturb my side. Although the Blues started well in the league they had fallen by the wayside at the end of the season.

The players who are likely to go are; Sandro Zammit Fava, Carmel Busuttil, Orosco Anonam, Joe Camilleri, Reuben Debono, Dybrill Sylla, Andy Eminyan and foreigners Antic and Anonam.

Reserve goalkeeper Debono has rejoined Naxxar Lions while Orosco Anonam may suffer the same fate as the Blues seem reluctant to keep him. Yugoslav defender Zoran Antic may go to Spain as last year he married a Spaniard.

Carmel Busutill and Joe Camilleri are also toying with the idea of retiring from the game.

Meanwhile Kevin Sammut (Viper) and Joe Farrugia who were loaned to Hamrun and Pietà respectively are expected to join the Blues who are also expected to bring over two Italian foreigners.

Meanwhile some may think that today’s Super Cup match between Valletta and Sliema may be not that important for Sliema but it will surely be for some players.

It looks likely that Ernest Barry, Ian Ciantar and Noel Turner will be their day of reckoning.