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A-League clubs need to broaden recruitment nets

28th January, 2009
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Roar Guru
28th January, 2009
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1859 Reads

Mashal's Viktor Klishin, 20, and Al Ain's Humaid Majeed, 25, fight for the ball during an Asian Champions League Group B match between Mashal, Uzbekistan, and Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, in Qarshi, 500 km (310 miles) southwest of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Wednesday, March 22, 2006. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. AP Photo

The discovery of gold in Australia in 1851 attracted thousands of Asians to our shores in search of their fortunes. More than 150 years later, the roles have been reversed in Asian football’s own version of the gold rush.

The effects of the 3+1 rule – brought in in October last year – are beginning to be seen.

Cashed-up Asian clubs from the likes of Korea, Japan and China obviously view our domestic clubs as a rich source of affordable players, hence the likes of Jade North, Sasa Ognenovski, Joel Griffiths and potentially Mark Milligan departing the A-League.

Perhaps the only way to turn the tables, under the current financial restraints, is for A-League clubs to begin to broaden their own recruiting nets.

International fixtures such as last night’s game with Indonesia are a fine opportunity for A-League coaches to do a bit of recruiting.

Even those at budget-minded clubs could have pulled up a pew to watch Fox Sports’ coverage.

With Indonesian players such as renowned striker Bambang Pamungkas (who has trialled with European clubs and has been prolific in stints in Malaysia and at home) they would have been stupid not to.

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On January 21, China defeated Vietnam 6-1 while Malaysia was thumped by the UAE 5-0. Singapore took on Jordan while Thailand played Iran last night.

Is it inconceivable that none of those four matches would have involved players that could be both affordable and up to the standard of the A-League?

A further look at some of Asia’s best will be the Asian Champions League, where the Newcastle Jets and the Central Coast Mariners face teams from Japan, China and the Korean Republic.

There is always some sort of risk to signing players, particularly those from different cultures. A-League clubs have been burnt by forays into Asia in the past.

Queensland had its fingers charred by China’s Yuning Zhang, while Gao LeiLei’s second stint in New Zealand ended with his Wellington Phoenix contract being cancelled.

But the same could be said for the league’s Brazilian obsession. For every Fred, there has been a Claudinho.

The panache of Jin-Hyung Song has added flair to the Newcastle squad despite its struggles. But his real value may yet be seen with his know-how of Asian club football as the Jets begin their ACL campaign.

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Nor do the players actually have to be Asian. Melbourne Victory signed striker Ney Fabiano from Thai side Chonburi, while Perth Glory took Argentinian Adrian Trinidad from Malaysian club football.

Still, those outgoing are beginning to far outnumber those coming in, and Football Federation Australia must be concerned with the exodus of quality.

It is a far different scenario to players departing for Europe.

Instead of leaving to improve themselves as footballers or to thrust themselves into Pim Verkeek’s plans, Ognenovski, North and co. have been lured by lucrative contracts.

Here’s hoping moves are already afoot by the FFA to plug the leak.

In the meantime, it’s up to the A-League clubs to replace the quality they are losing.

This week, Wellington Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata said the days were gone of signing players from DVD or YouTube footage.

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Maybe the answer is just on our doorstep.

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