It has been a busy week for Tasman United, with the signings of Swedish striker Ermal Hajdari and Australian mid-fielder Scott Gannon for their debut national league football campaign in November.
Tasman United coach Richard Anderson’s worldly contacts helped to pick up 24-year-old Ermal, who he believes will be a goal scoring threat to complement the experience of marquee signing Paul Ifill.
“People will come for Paul but they will stay for Ermal,” Richard says. “He has excellent ball control, pace, and the ability to beat players one-on-one.
“He’s a very exciting signing.”
In England, he scored 16 goals in 22 matches playing against professional teams of the same age group, including AS Roma, Southampton, Burnley and many others.
After trialling with a number of English clubs, he played a season of professional football in Estonia, helping his team FC Infonet into a Europa League qualifying position for the first time in the club’s history.
Scott, who is based in Adelaide, has had a previous stint with Hawke’s Bay United and Southern United. Scott was offered a trial for West Ham in 2005, but turned it down to play international age-group football for Australia, which he did under current Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou. His grandfather was a triallist for Tottenham Hotspur before being called in to the navy.
“To be honest, I thought my days of going overseas to play were behind me, but this opportunity came up and I thought it was something worth going for.
“As [Richard] said when he first came in, the chance to be part of something new is a big motivator to coming on board.”
Scott says he expected to play a defensive midfield role, to stick on the ball and keep possession in tight spaces.
“I’m looking forward to arriving in Nelson and repaying the faith that the club has shown in me.”
Both players are scheduled to arrive on September 6.
