The Melbourne Victory are expecting to have work visas approved in time to unleash the club’s new signings – Thai international striker Sutee Suksomkit and Costa Rican midfielder Marvin Angulo – against Adelaide United at Etihad Stadium on Saturday week.
Signed for nine games only as a guest player to replace Danny Allsopp, Suksomkit, a veteran of 60 internationals for Thailand, is hoping to cement a longer-term deal when the next transfer window opens in January, while 22-year-old Angulo will remain with the Victory through to the end of the club’s Asian Champions League campaign next June.
The pair trained with their new team-mates at Olympic Park on Wednesday and Angulo underwent his medical which the club’s football operations manager Gary Cole described as a mere formality.
Cole said that Angulo, signed as an injury replacement for Billy Celeski, should be judged differently from his new team-mate, countryman and fan-favourite Carlos Hernandez.
“I’ve seen more fat on a butcher’s pencil,” said Cole of Angulo.
“He’s a lightweight young man who plays totally differently (from Hernandez).”
“Players with pace base their games around that, so he’s a lot quicker, but they’re both one-on-one players, they just beat people differently.”
“The end result is that they both love to score goals as well and that’s why we’re excited.”
“Marvin’s very quick, technically good, he’s another free-kick man so he’s already told me he’s trying to get Carlos off the free kicks.”
“They’re both quick, they’re both exciting players and I think our fans are going to really enjoy both of them being here.”
Speaking through an interpreter, the softly-spoken Angulo, who has a couple of international caps to his credit, said his first impressions of the Victory and Melbourne the city were extremely positive.
His long-term goal, he said, was to develop his game, but his immediate aim is help the Victory to defend their Hyundai A-League title.
“I will try to keep a proper attitude to adapt myself to the game,” he said.
“I always have it in my mind to be a team player and to work together with the others and also to score as many goals as possible.”
Cole said the Victory’s developing ties with Costa Rica were a significant side benefit of Angulo’s recruitment.
“A lot of people in Costa Rican football know who the Melbourne Victory are, know where Melbourne is, and where Australia is,” said Cole.
“Marvin is very impressed with the city of Melbourne, loves the weather to death and being here is part of Marvin’s football development.”
“And there’s great advantage for Marvin having Carlos here,” said Cole. “He can offer some great advice to Marvin about how you do settle in.”
