90 MINUTES: Armiento wanted by City as they snap up more SA boys; Change the grand final system; Croydon star to Denmark
An Adelaide United young gun is on Melbourne City’s wishlist, while another Reds talent eyes a cross-border sibling clash and Brazilian great Cassio is sounded out for a local coaching job, all in our 90 Minutes soccer column.
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Exciting Adelaide United talent Carlo Armiento is on Melbourne City’s wishlist.
The club is believed to have made a formal request to the Reds to speak to the dead ball specialist winger but they’re not the only club chasing him.
He could have been the sixth young South Australian to head east this year but it appears Adelaide won’t release the youngster.
The nation’s richest soccer club wanted the 20-year-old to join City before the new A-League season starts.
Armiento is also a point of interest for two more cashed-up A-League clubs in the east.
Adelaide earlier this pre-season tried to land City’s former Reds holding midfielder Rostyn Griffiths in a similar agreement Melbourne City rejected.
City this month signed 16-year-old Croydon Kings defender Kerrin Stokes.
The son of ex-Adelaide striker Cristiano, Rafa dos Santos also signed for City.
Yaya Dukuly, 16, who is in line to represent the Joeys at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil this year, also signed for City.
Adelaide City goalkeeper Joe Gauci is another on City’s books, according to sources, after he had a stint with Central Coast Mariners.
City recently looked at Reds NPL player Gideon Arok and Kings keeper Sebastian Matosevic.
However after returning from a mandatory six-week break after playing with the Reds NPL side this year, Armiento doesn’t appears to be in coach Gertjan Verbeek’s plans.
Armiento is on a scholarship deal and off-contract at the end of the season.
Other clubs are able to speak Armiento from December on a free deal.
Armiento featured in five A-League clashes last season and was involved in a thriller in February.
He provided a 97th-minute assist for Nikola Mileusnic to head the ball home in a 4-3 win over Brisbane Roar at Hindmarsh prompting wild celebrations.
Melbourne City’s fascination for SA doesn’t end with playing talent.
Young MC Leo James who hosted the entire grand final day at Hindmarsh Stadium last weekend is also on their radar as their resident MC at home games.
James, 18, is flying to Melbourne next month for an MC test.
FORMER Croydon Kings Hosine Bility is close to securing a five-year deal with Awer Mabil’s Danish club FC Midtjylland.
It’s understood Midtjylland officials have met Kings officials in a bid to finalise the details of the deal after Bility, now 19, impressed the Danish club during trials two years ago.
Sibling rivalry
ADELAIDE United young gun Pacifique Niyongabire has two targets this A-League season: more game-time and a cross-border clash with his older brother.
The winger made his first team debut against Sydney FC early last year and had featured twice for the Reds in their march to this campaign’s FFA Cup semi-finals.
Now Niyongabire was eyeing more regular involvement under new coach Gertjan Verbeek and he had already circled the November 23 home meeting with Melbourne Victory.
The Tanzanian-born talent’s sibling Elvis Kamsoba joined United’s traditional rival last summer and was set to return home for the hotly-anticipated Hindmarsh encounter.
“I’d love to play against him,” Niyongabire, 19, said.
“He’s always been my role model, watching him as a kid.
“I’d hopefully score and do a backflip next to him to celebrate.
“But everyone in our family is very excited and hoping we can both make the most of it.”
The brothers, who grew up in a refugee camp before moving to Australia in 2008, are both renowned for their spectacular somersault goal celebrations.
WORD is that Campbelltown’s impressive attackers Marc Marino and Luigi Di Troia are being hotly chased by rivals.
Di Troia is, according to sources, on cashed-up NPL club Sydney Olympic’s wishlist.
Marino, the ex-Melbourne City and Adelaide United attacker has plenty of 2020 options.
He has again piqued the interest of A-League clubs and has NPL clubs in SA and Victoria knocking his door down.
ADELAIDE United Brazilian legend Cassio has been sounded out as White City’s new senior coach.
A club official confirmed Cassio was a front runner for the proud State League 1 outfit.
An announcement is expected to be made next month.
Cassio is currently White City’s technical director.
He is reportedly overseas with his son Bernardo Oliveira.
Bernardo is representing the Joeys at the 2020 AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers in Vietnam and scored in a 2-1 win over Mongolia on Monday.
History celebrated
A TREASURE trove of local soccer memories have now found a home on social media.
The South Australian Football History Facebook page launched last month in a bid to collate recollections from the game’s rich past in across state.
Devised by local football expert Dimitri Peppas, the page has attracted more than 500 members and a fascinating range of newspaper clippings, pictures and videos from yesteryear.
Recent gems include a match report on the inaugural first division game in 1903 and a series of stories on West Adelaide’s 1978 National Soccer League title win.
An article on legendary referee Donald Campbell’s last game, photos from the state team’s Pacific Island tour and an Adelaide City John ‘Dixie’ Deans trading card also feature.
The collection is extensive, growing daily and well worth a look for fans.
NOW the grand finals are over here is a suggestion to make the men’s clubs’ big day much more significant for State League 1 and 2 and the NPL.
First the NPL.
Scrap the current top six format.
Saturday’s grand finalists Campbelltown City and Comets played each other three times in four weeks — a tad over the top.
The A-League’s finals format for the NPL is perfect.
The top two sides have a week off.
As it stands the premier is rewarded with a spot in the Australian NPL series.
The A-League’s finals system is easy and much more exciting.
All their games are knockout — 3 v 6; 4 v 5. The lowest-ranked winner from week 1 faces the premier the following game and the other faces the second positioned team.
As for State League 1 and 2 make the grand final a promotional showdown.
And reward the promoted premiers of each division with a proper cash prize.
According to 2016 FFSA regulations State League 1 gets just $5000 for winning the premiership and State League 2 $3000.
A pittance.
And give premier State League 1 and 2 clubs a holiday — there’s no need for them to play in remaining spot for promotion as proven this year.
Both State League grand finals were dead rubbers — all four clubs Modbury Jets and Cumberland United from State League 1 and Adelaide Hills and Vipers — won promotion before the grand final.
SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE WEEK
Former Adelaide United W-League captains Melissa Barbieri and Emma Checker.
Checker posted on social media that she had quit the Reds.
Reports now claim Checker has signed a deal with Melbourne City — Barbieri’s ex-club.
The ex-Matildas captain is also running goalkeeping sessions with Melbourne City Football School.
SA PLAYERS ABROAD
Brandon Borrello — Freiburg (Bundesliga): Unused substitute in a 3-0 away win over Hoffenheim
Alex Chidiac — Atletico Madrid (women’s Spanish Primera Division): Unused substitute in a 3-2 UEFA Champions League away win over Spartak Subotica (Serbia) on Friday. Came on in the 87th minute in a 3-0 La Liga home win over Sevilla.
Ben Garuccio — Hearts (Scottish Premier League): Recovering from an ACL injury
Meni Haralampopoulos — Acharnaikos (Greek Gamma Ethniki): Season yet to start
Awer Mabil — Midtylland (Danish Super League): Scored and played 90 minutes on his birthday in a 3-0 away win over Lyngby
Craig Goodwin — Al-Wehda (Saudi Arabia Pro League): Played 90 minutes in a 2-1 away win over Al- Ahli
Andrew Marveggio — Mavca Sabac (Serbian Super League): Not in the match day squad in a 0-0 away draw with FK TSC Backa Topola.