Summer transfers spice up Campbelltown City v Adelaide Blue Eagles season opener

SUMMER transfers between Campbelltown City and Adelaide Blues Eagles have added extra spice to tomorrow’s season-opening grand final rematch.

SUMMER transfers between Campbelltown City and Adelaide Blues Eagles have added extra spice to their rivalry ahead of the clubs’ season-opening grand final rematch tomorrow.

The Red Devils edged Blue Eagles 2-1 in the SA Premier League’s decider at Hindmarsh Stadium in September to claim their first top-flight title since 1986.

Since then striker Calvin Mbarga, who scored 15 goals last season, has moved from Campbelltown City to ABE and Luigi DiTroia has headed in the other direction.

Red Devils coach Joe Mullen said the club wished Mbarga well but “could not meet his financial requirements”.

“We’ll miss Calvin,” Mullen said.

“But we’ll draw a line in the sand and work with what we’ve got.

“It’s a good pick-up for them and will create a bit more intensity in those games.”

Mullen expected the league would get tighter this season but was confident he had a squad capable of winning back-to-back titles.

Veteran goalkeeper Ben Moore (Para Hills), midfielder Tony Hatzis (MetroStars) and forward Rhys Townsend (Para Hills) have arrived.

Retired duo Les Pogliacomi and Michael Menechella are the club’s key losses, along with four youngsters to Adelaide United’s youth program.

“We’ve got a squad that’s capable of doing good things but we haven’t got the depth that we had last year,” Mullen said.

“I’ve got full faith that the players we’ve recruited and the ones we have from last year can do good things again.”

Blue Eagles coach Zoran Karadzic said his club and Campbelltown City had a “healthy rivalry” and were both passionate about playing well.

“It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the new squads,” Karadzic said.

Karadzic said his squad had enough quality to make the finals and have a strong Federation Cup run.

Mbarga, Fortunato Filletti (long-term injury) and Milos Tosic (White City) are the club’s key ins, while Chad Bugeja (White City), Damien Di Mella (retired), Liam Molesworth (West Adelaide) and Jace Cummins (West Adelaide) headline the departures.