THE Africa Cup of Nations showed some of the best, most exciting football on the planet, but will any of the players be coming to the A-League?
With a host of transfers already completed, most of the action has been shuffling players among the current eight clubs.
Yet despite the varied success of last season’s imports, there seems no willingness to venture to new shores.
Already teams have tried there hand in bringing in Brazilians, Colombians, Costa Ricans, Americans, Europeans and a smattering of Asian talent, but no team has been brave enough to head for Africa.
Last month’s African cup was a feast of exciting football, and despite limited coverage here, it should have given a bolt for scouts at all eight clubs here.
Ghana’s Junior Agogo was one of a host of lesser known players to impress on the big stage, a welcome relief from the trials of League one football with Nottingham Forest.
Remember that’s the same Junior Agogo that equalised against the Socceroos in a friendly last year – you would think Australian coaches would be familiar with him.
While there were too many sterling points to highlight, (particularly by the emerging Angola and obvious over-achieving Pharoahs) A-League coaches need to be wise to what’s on offer.
It might not quite yield a Michael Essien or Samuel E’too, but we could help bring to the next level the next batch of African talent.
The French league in particular has forged a strong relationship with the continent, that has seen some of the world’s best emerge in Ligue 1.
Instead, the idea that our clubs should be focused on retaining fading former international stars is just ridiculous.
The only possible benefit of persisting with players like Juninho are limited. At best they will prop up a squad for a year, before moving on to the their next short-term pay cheque.
The prospect of younger exciting talents entering the league, who might actually bring a transfer windfall down the track is surely the way to go.
With a host of transfers already completed, most of the action has been shuffling players among the current eight clubs.
Yet despite the varied success of last season’s imports, there seems no willingness to venture to new shores.
Already teams have tried there hand in bringing in Brazilians, Colombians, Costa Ricans, Americans, Europeans and a smattering of Asian talent, but no team has been brave enough to head for Africa.
Last month’s African cup was a feast of exciting football, and despite limited coverage here, it should have given a bolt for scouts at all eight clubs here.
Ghana’s Junior Agogo was one of a host of lesser known players to impress on the big stage, a welcome relief from the trials of League one football with Nottingham Forest.
Remember that’s the same Junior Agogo that equalised against the Socceroos in a friendly last year – you would think Australian coaches would be familiar with him.
While there were too many sterling points to highlight, (particularly by the emerging Angola and obvious over-achieving Pharoahs) A-League coaches need to be wise to what’s on offer.
It might not quite yield a Michael Essien or Samuel E’too, but we could help bring to the next level the next batch of African talent.
The French league in particular has forged a strong relationship with the continent, that has seen some of the world’s best emerge in Ligue 1.
Instead, the idea that our clubs should be focused on retaining fading former international stars is just ridiculous.
The only possible benefit of persisting with players like Juninho are limited. At best they will prop up a squad for a year, before moving on to the their next short-term pay cheque.
The prospect of younger exciting talents entering the league, who might actually bring a transfer windfall down the track is surely the way to go.
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