Late arrival throws spanner into works
A JAPANESE central defender will make an eleventhhour bid to claim a place on the FNQ Heat 2017 roster today in a move that could cause headaches for coach Tim Campbell.
Shigeki Ono, 22, will arrive today on the recommendation of the same management company of 2016 Heat visa player Shimon Watanabe, who now has a professional contract in the J3 League.
The budding import is, according to his management, every bit the player of his Japanese counterpart and would walk into Campbell’s squad if he proved to be of the same class straight off the plane in a trial tonight at Edge Hill FC.
The Heat will announce their 2017 NPL Queensland roster on Monday but if Ono shakes off the jet lag and performs on the pitch, the coach will be forced to cut two additional preseason trialists to fit him under the NPL’s Player Points System cap.
The cap rewards clubs for development, loyalty and youth players but punishes those who have switched clubs or use visa players.
Clubs are not rewarded for promoting players who have come through the local regional feeder system.
But if Michael Thwaite, who was released from his Chinese club Liaoning Whowin last week, wanted to play NPL, he would come under the competition’s marquee player allowance.
A-League clubs are unable to jostle for his signature due to the league’s transfer window being closed, but Thwaite could command a contract elsewhere in Asia.
The Socceroos defender intends to spend time with family on the Gold Coast before deciding his next career move.
FNQ Heat director of football Perry Krakowczyk once coached Thwaite but said while the 33-year-old was a huge supporter of his hometown state league club, he had plenty to give to another professional team before any thought of appearing on the pitch for the Heat.
The star player attended a game last season and said he was eager to continue supporting the club in any way and potentially run junior coaching clinics in the region next time he returned to the Far North.