Hamish Bidwell
Not to be left out, Napier City Rovers have gone for a bit of an international flavour themselves ahead of tomorrow's Central Soccer League match away to Gisborne City.
With the home side boasting players from South Africa, Cameroon, England, the Czech Republic and the Pacific Islands, Napier announced their
own signing this week - Brazilian Lleandro Souza.
The 23-year old has some pedigree and has already set the training paddock at Bluewater Stadium alight with his amazing ball skills.
Souza has played with Brazilian clubs International, Avai FC and Fiquerenza FC, while also having a stint at one of Wynton Rufer's old Swiss stamping grounds at Grasshoppers. Napier coach Roy Stanger says he is delighted to have a player of Souza's calibre at the club.
"He is some talent and will cause any defender problems," he said.
"His sheer skill, flair and pace will create chances in front of goal and we need to make sure we convert those chances."
A bit of creativity in front of goal would be a welcome relief for Napier, who struggled to create much in and around the 18-yard box in their 1-0 win over Wellington United last week.
Meanwhile, out at Guthrie Park, Dean Buckman and his Havelock North Wanderers welcomed their own international contingent this week, with the arrival of Slovakian brothers Vladimir and Frantsek Mudrik.
Both have extensive experience playing in the Czech Republic where one, although Buckman isn't sure which, played with Liverpool star Milan Baros.
Buckman is still waiting on clearance to play the pair in this week's match at home against Redsox Manawatu, but he is itching to unleash them on the league, having seen them strut their stuff at practice.
He expects their combination with Czech player Jakob Sinkora to do wonders for his team, who he is still predicting to be real battlers in the league this winter, despite their first-up draw against Olympic.
