Sabah FA are reportedly looking to sign former Sydney FC forward Joel Chianese to fulfill their final foreign player slot.
The 25 year-old striker, was reportedly spotted during a Sabah FA training earlier this week, and a source has now revealed to us that the management are weighing up the option of snapping him up.
New foreign import Joel Chinese trained with the team yesterday in UMS Stadium.
Pic via FB Alex Thor pic.twitter.com/mICfYLyOoY— SabahRhinos (@sabahrhinos) March 25, 2015
As per FAM regulations, every Malaysian club is allowed a maximum of four foreign players, and one of them has to be from the AFC region. Australia is currently part of the Asian Football Confederation, making Joel Chianese an probable candidate to replace Fazrul Nawaz, who was released earlier this season.
However, it remains to be seen if his eligibility would be preserved, considering that he last played for Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC in the National Premier League NSW, which is certainly not the top tier division of Australian football.
FAM regulations state that any foreign player signed from leagues in Asia, must have last been part of the top division of the particular country’s league, meaning that Chianese would be deemed ineligible.
He first exploded into the scene as a talented youngster with Sydney FC in 2011, but despite having a relatively bright start, his stint with them eventually faded into the background as he struggled to break into the first-team.
More to come…
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