Sport • 5 January 2003

Birkirkara eye Simon Vella

B’Kara - Towering English-born defender Simon Vella, a Maltese international is interesting Birkirkara. Birkirkara's club Chairman Victor Zammit confirmed this with MaltaToday. Vella signed for Airdrie United to play in the Scottish second division.

Vella joined Stenhousemuir last year from Sutton United and played for the Warriors until signing for Clydebank in March. Vella is a powerful central defender and has also played on the left flank. Vella started his footballing career with English club Wimbledon.

The Scottish-based defender had been called for the international friendly match Malta played against a selection from the Ballearic Islands. However, Vella’s club, Airdrie, had an important league match scheduled for the same evening. Vella had not figured in Held's plans since last February’s Rothmans International Tournament and is still desperate to play for Malta. The National team will play host to Kazakhstan, the newest UEFA member association, at the National stadium in a month’s time.

"I was so pleased that the Malta FA recalled me for the match but I could not go because of league commitments, " said Simon Vella.

"I really want to play for Malta," he was reported as saying. The player was pleased to have been recalled by the Malta FA.”This shows that they are still very interested in me donning the Malta jersey," Vella said.

Simon Vella has is very happy with the Scottish club and has an average wage of Lm2,000 a month. Anybody interested in luring the defender would have to match that sum. Given the financial state of Maltese football clubs Simon Vella may remain a Maltese export.

Like many towns across the Country, Airdrie was devastated by the two world wars. Many of its proud men had gone to fight for King & Country and died in their brave attempts to defend what was important to them. The townsfolk had a small glimpse of what their fellow citizens had experienced when German planes dropped bombs across Airdrie. During the summer of 2002 workmen discovered several "live" World War 2 bombs in the town centre. Although the wars had a great impact on the town's employment rate, a saviour was in sight. The Boots pharmaceutical company opened one of the largest cosmetics factory in Scotland in the summer of 1949.

Today Airdrie is a busy commuter town. However, it manages to provide employment for almost 9,000 of its workforce.

Meanwhile, the Maltese transfer market is all a buzz.

Luke Dimech, is also interesting Birkirkara. Dimech plays in the Republic of Ireland for Shamrock Rovers FC. It is rumoured that his girlfriend wants to come back to Malta. M’Xlokk have shown interest in the burly defender who will arrive in Malta on the 24 January. It is believed that the player has already had talks with M’Xlokk president Victor Sciriha.

Birkirkara are not interested in Sliema Wanderers’ striker Eduardo Do Nascimento, better known as Bizu. Bizu could join Marsaxlokk only if Ogbodo leaves the Southseasiders.