All the news from around the grounds in 90 Minutes with Val Migliaccio and Rob Greenwood
Orphan Jok and the good Samaritan; Yongbin Chen has nowhere to play; Young Reds lose two more guns; All in this week’s edition of 90 Minutes.
Local Soccer SA
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A good Samaritan from AUMC saved a situation which was totally lacking empathy.
Jok Akuien is all too familiar with the “Lost Boys of Sudan”, a name given to about 20,000 mainly orphaned males forced to flee southern Sudan since the 1987 civil war.
The 16-year-old soccer talent – from the Dinka tribe – was also orphaned before his older sister Theresa Aker Barach became his guardian ahead of a move to Australia in 2007.
The game is his saving grace but owing about $240 to Football SA almost cost him a chance to be registered for the current NPL season.
Croydon Kings boss Angelo Costanzo said he is grooming Jok for NPL action.
He featured in some trial matches but two days before the registration deadline last week Jok was devastated.
“I was really hurt, I had nowhere to go, my brother-in-law who looks after the money was in Africa and we couldn’t get the money,’’ Jok said.
“I was on a payment plan with NTC, it cost I think about $1180 for the season and I was short.
“I’m so grateful that Sandra Griffin from AUMC paid the federation off and now I can concentrate on what I really love.”
Now it surely is time for Football South Australia to issue scholarships for disadvantaged children in their national training centre program.
Yongbin Chen’s only hope of getting a game during his A-League contract until May appears to be done and dusted.
One option – via a loophole – was slammed shut on Adelaide United’s A-League visa player.
The prospect of Chen having an illegal dual registration according to FIFA rules was also averted.
Chinese whispers doing the rounds claimed Chen was about to be signed by Football SA’s NTC team so he could play for the Reds NPL reserves team.
“Adelaide United FC are required to submit to Football SA prior to the commencement of each season a player roster as outlined in the Football SA senior men’s operating regulations,’’ said an FSA spokesman.
“Adelaide United FC’s final squad roster does not include Yongbin Chen.
“Only players listed in the submitted squad roster are able to participate in the senior men’s competitions.
“Yongbin Chen was registered to Adelaide United FC on the national registration system for the purpose of the Bushfire Charity Match.
“Yongbin Chen is not registered to the SA NTC squad.”
FFA rules state visa players aren’t allowed to play for A-League clubs that have teams in the NPL.
Before Chen, Spanish-born Guille Amor – son of Barcelona legend and Adelaide United’s 2016 championship and premiership winning coach Guillermo Amor – also played for the Reds reserves.
He was allowed to play after he was registered with Football SA’s NTC squad.
The 19-year-old recently signed for Spain’s Getafe after he was on the books of England’s Leeds United.
Former Adelaide United midfielder Jacob Melling held dual registration in 2013 when he was registered for the Reds and Para Hills Knights where he played eight games that season.
Former Adelaide United youth team/NPL goalkeeper Luca Meggetto has joined the exodus of young Reds players heading to A-League clubs in the eastern states.
Cameroon Cook, 18, is also on the way out and about to pen a deal with Perth Glory.
Meggetto, 18, appeared to be on the verge of playing NPL for Adelaide Olympic after the Reds released more than 16 young players last season.
However the young keeper impressed Central Coast Mariners boss Alen Stajcic during a trial and the club locked him in.
Cook from Alice Springs has impressed all Glory scouts looking out for him after he first trialled for AUMC’s Mic Cup tournament side before winning a Reds youth contract.
He was last year named in the Young Socceroos squad that travelled to face Chinese Taipei in Group H qualification matches for the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship.
Meanwhile Former Adelaide City defender Tomas Maricic has penned a contract with Thailand’s division 2 club Lampang.
And another ex Adelaide City player Andrew Marveggio has just signed a deal for FK Bokelj in the Montenegrin Second League on a free transfer.
Adelaide City’s 2020 WNPL squad was presented at its Oakden headquarters but five of the club’s key players were missing not because of their own doing last week.
An Adelaide City official told 90 MINUTES the women are now representing Adelaide United’s W-League side.
He said Reds officials wouldn’t allow the girls to be on show even though they originally came from Adelaide City before signing for the W-League side.
Go figure.
Football SA has raised $22,892 for the SA Bushfire Appeal after Adelaide United played the Football SA All-Stars in the charity match at Marden last week in front of 1478 fans.
An online auction where a framed Matildas 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup squad jersey, a framed Socceroos 2018 FIFA World Cup squad jersey and two signed jerseys from the SA Bushfire Relief Match are available online in a bid to raise more funds. http://auctions.footballsa.com.au/
There was also a very strongly worded email sent out to clubs before the fundraiser.
Here’s the copy.
“Dear All
As per the email below.
A reminder to all clubs & Associations of the Bushfire Relief Game – SA Allstars v AUXI
We have been made aware that some clubs have scheduled training for this evening. Please be aware Football South Australia are not sanctioning any training or games tonight to allow for the whole Football Community to support the cause. If training / games still go ahead please be aware that the players / clubs will not be covered under insurance or the federation.
Football South Australia encourage all the football community, from MiniRoos to Senior players, volunteers to Club officials to come our (sic) tonight and stand together for a great cause.
Kind regards.”
SA PLAYERS ABROAD
Brandon Borrello – Freiburg (Bundesliga): Unused substitute in a 1-1 away draw to Augsburg
Alex Chidiac – Atletico Madrid (women’s Spanish Primera Division): Not in the match day squad in a 4-1 win over Levante at home
Ben Garuccio – Hearts (Scottish Premier League): Played 14 minutes off the bench in a 2-2 home draw with Hamilton Academical
Awer Mabil – Midtjylland (Danish Super League): Scored in a 2-0 win over Lingby in 90 minutes at home
Craig Goodwin – Al-Wehda (Saudi Arabia Pro League): Played 90 minutes and was credited with an assist in a 2-0 home win over Al Ahli
Andrew Marveggio – FK Bokelj (Montenegrin Second League): Winter break
Tomas Maricic – Lampang (Thailand T-2): No details in a 2-1 away loss to Khonkaen United