Persebaya hunts for a new striker

Persebaya Surabaya's striker Jacksen F. Tiago has officially left the club to play for a club in Singaporean League. Since the club only has two experienced strikers, Reinold Pietersz and Andy Kopouw, the management feels that they need an additional striker as a backup.

Persebaya's technical advisor, Hartono Purnomosidi, said, "We have some players in our shortlist. For sure, the new striker is a foreigner. You just wait until everything is final."

He also said that the new striker will most likely come from Brazil, and there are at least two of them coming this week to be tested. Those players are under the management of Lidio Nascimento, Brazilian players' broker/agent in the league.

According to Persebaya's Brazilian midfielder Jaldecir Jesus dos Santos, who is also a close friend of Lidio, one of the players is named Vitor Hugo. Vitor is still currently playing for a First Division outfit, Bonsucesco, in Brazilian league. The other player he knows nothing about.

The addition of a new player to the team, according to Persebaya's head coach Rudy W. Keltjes, is a must. Even though his pair up front - Pietersz and Kopouw - keeps getting better and better, Rudy thinks that it'll be difficult to depend on just the two of them.

"With the current crop of strikers, we may still be able to do well in the league. But to become champions, very hard," said Rudy.

Asked what type of striker he wants, Rudy said, "For sure he has to be better than Jacksen."

Jacksen F. Tiago, though was the league top-scorer back in 1995, couldn't even score a goal this season. The 35-year-old striker missed way too many easy chances for his team, and his place in the starting eleven was subsequently replaced by Reinold Pietersz, whom had a glistening form so far.

Hartono Purnomosidi said that the club expects the signing of the new player will be before April 4, the deadline for all clubs to register players this season.

from: Jawa Pos Online