Jets Miss Target As Dadi Decides To Stay With Glory
Newcastle Herald
Thursday January 15, 2009
PERTH Glory have trumped the Newcastle Jets for the signature of in-form striker Eugene Dadi.
A former Ivory Coast international, Dadi has been a revelation since joining Perth this season, netting 10 goals in 16 games and forming a successful strike partnership with speedster Nikita Rukavytsya. The Jets have already lured defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley from the west for next season and were hoping to add the veteran marksman.Dadi, 35, confirmed yesterday that he was close to joining the Jets but opted to stay in Perth after the Glory agreed to loan him to Swiss Super League club Vaduz in the off-season.The decision by Dadi is another blow for the Jets, who have until the end of the month to add some much-needed strike power to the squad for the Asian Champions League campaign.Dadi leaves for Vaduz tomorrow, meaning he will miss the clash with the Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday. The Glory will also be without Rukavytsya after the 21-year-old headed to the Netherlands for a trial with FC Twente. Jamie Harnwell and Dutch import Victor Sikora will lead the Glory attack.Jets fans are unlikely to get an early look at Topor-Stanley, who is expected to make way for David Tarka. Meanwhile, former Jets midfielder James Holland made his debut for AZ Alkmaar, playing a full game in the reserve team's 3-all draw with AGOVV Apeldoorn yesterday. Holland, 19, signed with the Dutch powerhouse on Saturday in a deal that netted the Jets $650,000."It is a great feeling to be at AZ," Holland told an AZ fan website. "The club is doing very well in the Dutch league and Louis van Gaal is a great coach."I'm going to work extremely hard and hopefully towards the end of this season or the beginning of next season I will have played at least a few minutes in the first team."In other news, Wellington and former Jets striker Vaughan Coveny is expected to announce his retirement today.Coveny, 37, has made only nine appearances for Wellington this season, the most recent in a 2-1 loss to Sydney in round 11.
© 2009 Newcastle Herald
