Valletta eager to raise Maltese stakes
Monday, August 1, 2011
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UEFA.com goes behind the scenes at Valletta FC and finds the Maltese titleholders eager to raise the stakes at home and break new ground in the UEFA Champions League.
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UEFA.com's spotlight on the first qualifying round sees San Marino's SP Tre Fiori head for Malta, where Valletta FC are striving to break new ground in the UEFA Champions League.
Striker Gilbert Agius, 37, told our camera crew the Citizens were eager "to change the amateur mentality here in Malta", where most players are still semi-professional. Taking a 3-0 lead into the home leg, it looked like it would be plain sailing for Valletta, but, as Nigerien forward Alfred Effiong, noted: "In football there are a lot of surprises."
Watch our film to see if there is a blockbuster ending.
