Svoboda makes way for Madzar

Sliema Wanderers have a new foreigner - Aleksandar Madzar. The 28-year-old Montenegrin striker will take the place of Czech Zdenek Svoboda who yesterday sorted out terms with Sliema over the early termination of his contract.

Madzar, a Red Star product, has never played here before but has experienced football outside Serbia following spells with AE Pafos in Cyprus, Poland's Zaglebie Sosnowiec and, lately, with Vaslui in Romania.

Coach Ray Farrugia and his assistant Ronald Vella gave the Sliema hierarchy their go-ahead to engage Madzar after the latter left a good impression during a trial.

A striker has been top of Sliema's shopping list for months after the Blues failed to adequately replace the departed Danilo Doncic.

As Sliema already had three foreigners on their roster, Svoboda, Italian Mauro Di Lello and Murphy Akanji, the Nigerian keeper, they couldn't conclude negotiations with Madzar before dissolving the contract of one of their foreign trio.

Discussions with Svoboda ended with the latter reluctantly agreeing to rescind his contract but with the consolation of taking on a role with Sliema's coaching staff.

"Aleksandar Madzar will replace Zdenek Svoboda as one of our three foreign players," Robert Arrigo, the Sliema Wanderers president, said yesterday.

"Svoboda will join our coaching staff. He will be assisting in the training sessions of the first squad besides being involved in our youth set-up. We're confident he can help our youngsters."

The decision to replace Svoboda was not taken lightly.

"It was a very difficult decision because Zdenek is such a nice person and a valid player," Arrigo added. "That said, Svoboda also recognised the fact that the team badly needed to sign a striker.

"As our efforts to engage the services of a Maltese striker were unsuccessful, the only option we had was to try and change one of our foreign players."

Etienne Barbara, of Birkirkara, was widely reported to be Sliema's main target but Arrigo revealed that they made attempts to sign other Maltese forwards.

"We asked for various strikers but their clubs were unwilling to do business," Arrigo said. "We made enquiries about Terrence Scerri and Andrew Cohen, both of Hibs, and also approached Birkirkara over Barbara, Michael Galea and Matthew Calascione.

"Now, we've signed Madzar on the recommendation of our coaches. We think that with players like Stefan Giglio, Claude Mattocks and Noel Turner set to regain full fitness, Sliema will be well-served in midfield."

Barring complications with his documentation, Madzar could make his debut in Sliema's league match against Valletta today week.

Madzar is one of three players from the former Yugoslavia who have joined Maltese clubs so far this month.

Bojan Spasojevic, the 26-year-old striker who signed a five-month deal with Floriana this week, knows Madzar as the two played together for FC Vozdovac in Serbia last season.

Nebojsa Stajic, who had a short spell with Valletta in 2003-2004, has signed for Division One club San Gwann. He fills the void left by player/coach Doncic who retired from football.

Bogdanovic ends trial

Daniel Bogdanovic, 26, was due back in Malta last night after a four-day trial with English Premier League club Watford.

Sources have told The Times that Bogdanovic did well during his trial but Watford have yet to decide whether to offer him a contract.

English media reported this week that Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd has also taken former Inter and Bolton player Khalilou Fadiga on trial.

Czech David Strihavka and Austrian Markus Berger also had trials with the Londoners this month.