South Melbourne’s Ajak Riak makes move overseas as Hellas welcomes star striker home

South Melbourne has welcomed back a premiership-winning gun but will be without striker Ajak Riak after he joined an Indonesian club.

Ajak Riak in action for South Melbourne. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Indonesian club PSS Sleman has pounced on South Melbourne striker Ajak Riak.

The tall forward made his Liga 1 debut on Sunday, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win over Barito Putera.

Riak scored 10 goals in 24 matches leading the Hellas line this season but missed the club’s NPL Victoria grand final due to international duties with South Sudan.

The 22-year-old arrived at Lakeside Stadium this season after a year at Bentleigh Greens.

He’ll join fellow former NPL Victoria graduate and ex-Melbourne Victory forward Elvis Kamsoba at the Indonesia club.

Almost scores a goal on his debut for Super Elja!

Made a brilliant effort, but denied by the post 🥅

Next week we will try again, Ajak!âš½#PSS#MoveForwardpic.twitter.com/kLXa0Ydpjr

— PSS (@PSSleman) November 27, 2023

“I think the club brought me here to score goals and we have been struggling recently,” he told the club website.

“I hope to get my goal soon and finish the season as well as possible.

“I know I’m still young and people question that but in my opinion this league is a competitive league and this club is a big and good club in Indonesia.

“I can’t wait to meet the fans and give them something to celebrate.”

Riak also recently made two international appearances for South Sudan, starting in both World Cup qualifiers against Senegal and Mauritania.

His departure follows Harrison Sawyer’s return to South Melbourne.

The gun striker arrives from Finnish outfit VPS, where he scored three goals in 12 outings this year.

Sawyer has scored 24 times in just 41 appearances for South Melbourne, leading the club to the 2022 NPL Victoria premiership and winning the Golden Boot with 17 goals.

Harrison Sawyer in action for Gold Coast Knights. Picture: Patrick Leigh Perspectives

He’ll form a deadly combination in attack with fellow recruits Cian Cuba (Altona Magic), Nahuel Bonada (Green Gully) and Max Mikkola.

Cuba crosses to Lakeside Stadium after six goals and 15 assists in a stunning NPL Victoria debut season after moving south from Queensland.

Meanwhile, Argentine midfielder Nahuel Bonada joins his countryman, coach Estaban Quintas, switching from Green Gully.

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Bonada also found the back of the net six times this season.

Experienced defender Ross Archibald has also been announced by South, joining from Port Melbourne.

Hellas great Brad Norton headlines the club’s departures, joining VPL2 club Essendon Royals.

Defender Ben Djiba, Perry Lambropoulos, Josh Wallen, Lirim Elmazi, Patrick Langlois and Alun Webb have also left.