By TERRY MADDAFORD
The Football Kingz' Chilean connection will be back to two with this weekend's arrival of defender Mauro Donoso.
But it might be a month or more before the 31-year-old will be cleared to play. In their first season, the Kingz had Chileans David Moya and Aaron Silva on their books.
Speaking from Australia yesterday, Kingz chief executive Chris Turner said that although Donoso was a "free agent" after coming off contract with Chilean premier club Audax Italiano, the club might have to wait until the transfer window opened next month before he was free to play.
"We will apply to Soccer Australia to get his clearance, but we might have to wait," Turner said.
The club have been looking for a defender to replace Paul Dempsey, who quit last month after failing to get much game time.
Coach Ken Dugdale said he had seen the left-sided player on video and had also been guided by their striker, Patricio Almendra, who had played in the same team as Donoso.
The off-field Chilean influence will be there for all to see when the Kingz meet third-placed Newcastle United at Ericsson Stadium tonight.
Chasing a historic third consecutive win, the Kingz are on a roll, but one which Dugdale is in no hurry to dwell on.
"We haven't talked about it," Dugdale said.
"I guess if it happens it will be a big feat for the club. We want to get into a winning rather than losing habit."
Apart from minor injuries which have sidelined James Pritchett and Harry Ngata, Dugdale had a full-strength squad from which he named his starting XI yesterday.
Kingz: Michael Utting, Jonathan Perry, Hiroshi Miyazawa, Jonathon Taylor, Mark Burton, Chris Jackson (capt), Raf de Gregorio, Mark Atkinson, Andy Vlahos, Patricio Almendra, Paul Urlovic. Substitutes: James Bannatyne, Mark Beldham, Steven Turner, Jeff Campbell. Kick-off: 7.30pm.
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