Perth Glory will unveil their latest recruit, Dutch International Victor Sikora, on Boxing Day following approval late this afternoon of his working visa and clearance from Football Federation Australia.
Perth Glory will unveil their latest recruit, Dutch International Victor Sikora, on Boxing Day following approval late this afternoon of his working visa and clearance from Football Federation Australia.
Sikora, who arrived in Perth last Saturday from Amsterdam, trained with his new team mates for the first time today and showed no signs of jet lag in a lively session at Tompkins Park on the banks of the Swan River.
The speedy attacker impressed a large contingent of interested onlookers, his vision and touch on the ball clearly that of a player who has succeeded in Europe-s top leagues.
Sikora will definitely be part of Perth-s 15 man squad but Coach Dave Mitchell is yet to decide if the Dutchman will start the game or make his Hyundai A-League debut as an impact player from the bench when Glory tackle league leaders Adelaide at Members Equity Stadium.
“Victor looked great at training today and we have session on Christmas Day which will give him another chance to learn our systems and the way we like to structure the team,” Mitchell said.
“You can see that he understands the game very well and I have no doubt that he will quickly adapt and gel with the lads.
“We have to win this game and I need to work out if the best chance of doing that will be with him starting or coming off the bench,” said Mitchell.
With the ability to play in a variety or roles, in midfield or up front, Sikora will be more than a handy inclusion for the Glory who sits just three points from a finals spot with five matches remaining.
“I-m happy to be here, the club and the players have been very welcoming,” Sikora said.
“We-re still in a position to get into the playoffs and I want to give 110% to get into the playoffs, that-s a goal for me and then we-ll see what happens after that,” Sikora said.
Perth Glory’s match against Adelaide kick’s off at 8.00pm (AWDT) on Boxing Day (Friday 26 December 2008) with the Youth Team playing beforehand at 5.15pm.
Sikora will wear the number 29 shirt for the Glory.
HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE RD 17
Perth Glory v Adelaide United
Friday 26 December at Members Equity Stadium
Local kick off 8.00pm
Referee. Craig Zetter
To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.au
Match Radio Broadcast on 6PR 882am – click here to listen
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and Sky Sport 1
Perth Glory Squad. 30.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 1.Jason PETKOVIC (gk), 2.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 3.David TARKA, 5.Jamie HARNWELL (c), 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Nick RIZZO, 9.Adrian TRINIDAD, 11.Scott BULLOCH, 13.Nikita RUKAVYTSYA, 14.Eugene DADI, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.James DOWNEY, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 21.Mark LEE, 22.Wayne SRHOJ, 25.Marc ANTHONY, 28.Andrija JUKIC, 29.Victor SIKORA.
* four to be omitted.
In. 6.Dino DJULBIC (promoted), 11.Scott BULLOCH (promoted), 21.Mark LEE (promoted), 29.Victor SIKORA (pending clearance).
Out. Nil.
Unavailable. Josip MAGDIC (ankle – season), AMARAL (hamstring – season), James ROBINSON (abdomen – 1 weeks), Hayden FOXE (leg – test), Jamie COYNE (calf – 2 weeks), Hayden DOYLE (ankle – 2 weeks).
Adelaide United Squad. 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 5.Michael VALKANIS, 6.CASSIO, 8.Kristian SARKIES, 10.CRISTIANO, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Jonas SALLEY, 16.Daniel MULLEN, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 21.Jason SPAGNUOLO, 24.Paul REID, 25.Robert YOUNIS,
*2 to be omitted
In. 4.Angelo COSTANZO (promoted), 5.Michael VALKANIS (promoted), 16.Daniel MULLEN (promoted), 21.Jason SPAGNUOLO (promoted), 25.Robert YOUNIS (promoted).
Out. Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk) (ankle – 6 weeks), Diego (quad – 2 weeks)
Unavailable. Daniel BELTRAME (knee – season), Lucas Pantelis (knee – Indefinite).
