Soccer: Football Kingz new German recruit an early bird

By TERRY MADDAFORD

German striker Dennis Ibrahim caught the Football Kingz by surprise when he turned up in Auckland yesterday, a week earlier than expected.

The 25-year-old, who was first spotted by Kingz player-coach Wynton Rufer when he played in the Werder Bremen youth side, has been a lucky catch for the Auckland-based club.

"He played for Fortuna Koln in the Bundesliga last season and we would not have got him if they had not been relegated," Rufer said. "He was playing in the youth side when I was at Werder Bremen.

"Since then he has played at other Bundesliga clubs, including Fortuna Dusseldorf and Alemannia Aachen.

"He had other offers [from European clubs] but because he knew me and was keen to try something different he has come to us for the season."

Ibrahim has signed a one-year contract rather than playing under a loan agreement.

While the club is remaining tightlipped on any other signings before the squad named in the next week or so, it seems certain Ibrahim will be joined by, among others, strikers Aaron Silva and Paul Urlovic, who has been training with Shane Rufer ahead of this month's Merdeka tournament in Malaysia.

Fred de Jong announced his retirement from NSL football at the end of last season, but the club is keen to have him involved in some way and has not closed the door completely in the hope he might turn out.

Of the Australians who played at the Kingz last season, only Levent Osman is likely to return.

It appears, however, that the club has gone overseas in the search for a second goalkeeper, with a South American at the top of that list.

Wynton Rufer, who was on crutches recovering from major surgery at this time last year, is a month into a fitness programme that includes working with a personal trainer as he prepares to play a bigger onfield role this season.

"Fred has access to the same programme and we are hoping he might be part of the set-up. I saw him play for Central last Sunday. There is no doubt he can still play at this level."

Chris Jackson, one of four players signed last season on a two-year contract, has been given the opportunity to sign with another club, probably overseas.

"We are happy to let him go ... if that is what he wants," Kingz general manager Chris Turner said yesterday.

Four or five players will again be signed on two-year contracts for the new season. The club is expected to make other major announcements within the fortnight.

Chief executive Simon Massey said the club's home ground would be confirmed next week. North Harbour Stadium, Ericsson Stadium and Wellington's WestpacTrust Stadium are in the frame

Massey will make the decision after considering replies to briefs sent to the stadium managements last week.

The draw is also due to be released next week.

"We are planning to play our home games on Friday nights," Massey said.

"While we do not yet know where we will be based, we are not discounting playing some games away from our home ground.

"We are also looking at code-sharing with other sports. Who is to say we might not look at playing a game at the same ground as a Super 12 match?"

The same 16 teams who turned out last season will play again this season. They have a straight home-and-away 30-match schedule. Last season, the Kingz played Adelaide and Wollongong four times, following the late withdrawal of two sides.

The league will be reduced to a minimum of 12 or a maximum of 14 teams for the 2001-2002 season.

The Kingz are guaranteed their place for the next five years provided the Fifa executive tomorrow agrees to an extension beyond the initial two years.

The season kicks off on the weekend of October 13-15, with the grand final scheduled for June 7, 2001.

The Kingz start pre-season training, at a ground yet to be confirmed, on August 14 and have warm-up games planned for Rotorua, Palmerston North and Wanganui against NSL sides.

It is likely they will play Northern Spirit in Rotorua, with a return in Sydney, while Parramatta Power and Marconi have been pencilled in for Wanganui and Palmerston North.