English defender signs with Eddies
FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller may have found his replacement for Adam Eckersley.
On Thursday, FC Edmonton announced it signed English defender Netan Sansara, 27, who played in the Norwegian First Division last season. A natural left-footed player, Sansara is expected to fill the role so effectively occupied by Eckersley last season, who could not come to terms on a deal with Edmonton this year.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” Sansara said prior to boarding a flight to Edmonton. “I’ve had three or four offers to stay in Scandinavia. But as soon as I spoke to Colin, he kind of sold the club to me and he really wanted me to part of his project.”
Born in Darlaston, England, Sansara spend the past three seasons with Fredrikstad of the Norwegian first division. In three years he made 53 appearances, scoring four goals from his left back position. He has also played Scotland, Cypress and Denmark.
Miller has been remaking his team this off-season after guiding them to a North American Soccer League playoff berth last year.
Along with Eckersley, FC Edmonton also lost striker Daryl Fordyce, who accepted an offer to play with Cincinnati of the United Soccer Leagues.
Miller has also re-signed strikers Tomi Ameobi and Jake Keegan along with defenders Karsten Smith, Shawn Nicklaw and Marko Aleksic. Midfielders Ben Fisk and Nik Ledgerwood are also back in the fold this season.
“I know about the league. I had a chance to go to the USL a couple of years ago and I didn’t take the opportunity. But I know about it and the NASL,” Sansara said
“I have family in Calgary ... That’s my mom’s side ... and my mom’s been to Canada a lot. I obviously haven’t travelled as much on that side of the world due to football and stuff, but I’ve researched the league and I know there are some good players there and I can’t wait to get going and test myself against the good players.”