Deals Done for Dynamic Duo

Perth Glory Head Coach Alistair Edwards has bolstered the club’s attacking options ahead of the 2013-2014 Hyundai A-League season by securing the services of both Sidnei Sciola Moraes and Ryan Edwards.

Perth Glory Head Coach Alistair Edwards has bolstered the club’s attacking options ahead of the 2013-2014 Hyundai A-League season by securing the services of both Sidnei Sciola Moraes and Ryan Edwards.

Brazilian Sidnei has been rewarded with a one-year deal having impressed during a week-long trial period with the club, while Edwards’ son Ryan has arrived on a season-long loan from English Championship side Reading and joins brother Cameron in the Glory ranks.

“Sidnei has come along and trained with us for the week and done some very good things,” said Edwards senior.
“I’d heard some really good things about him before he came to the club, but I wanted to see what he was like off the field, how he would fit into the culture of the group.
“His footballing ability was unquestionable and now we’ve found out what he’s like as a person and he most definitely fits into our culture.
“He’s a brilliant guy.
“I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but he’ll bring some Brazilian flair to the side, that’s for sure.
“He’s very exciting, he plays on the left-hand side as a number 11, but he can also play on the right and as a central striker.
“He brings a bit of sparkle and if I wasn’t the coach of the team, I’d be buying a membership to come and watch him play.”

Edwards was equally delighted to welcome 19-year-old Ryan back to the club he represented at junior level and believes that the versatile attacker’s arrival is another indication of Glory’s commitment to giving talented young WA players a chance to prosper in their home state.

“We’ve had a philosophy within the group to try and entice WA players back here,” he said, “and luckily Reading have agreed to let him stay here for the entire season and that’s great for him.
“Ryan has been playing with the Under-20 national team for the last four years and was a part of the recent World Cup campaign as well.
“He’s a very dynamic kind of player.
“He’s attacking and brings a lot of energy to the team and he’s grown up in an environment where he fits into our philosophy 100%.
“He’s come along now after two years in England, so he’s come back a lot more experienced and it’s great that we’ve got another WA player back playing for Perth Glory.
“Ryan will be able to develop in our environment which is better for us, for him and for the game in general.”

Ryan himself, meanwhile, is similarly thrilled to have returned to the Glory fold.

“I’m very excited to be back,” he said.
“I’ve still got two years on my deal at Reading, so it would be good to get a full season of first-team football here and then rejoin them next year for pre-season and see what happens then.
“I’ve been in the Reading Under-21s, but I’m 19 now so I should be playing first team football and I think this is a good move for me to get that experience and hopefully bring it back to Reading next season.
“Originally they didn’t want me to go, but it’s great that they agreed and that it happened so quickly so I can join the team in heading to South Africa at the weekend. “They (Reading) are all positive about it and it’s good to have their support.”

In other positive news for the club, Michael Thwaite has been included in the provisional Socceroos squad set to tackle China, Japan and hosts Korea Republic in the upcoming EAFF East Asian Cup.
The 30-year-old defender has spent the last month in camp with the national side and is likely to feature in Saturday’s opening game against Korea Republic.

Gareth Morgan