Finnish striker Juho Makela is the unlucky player to be left out of Sydney FC’s squad for the Asian Champions League after the club missed out on signing Perth defender Jamie Coyne on Tuesday.
On a drama-filled day for the club that also saw chief executive Edwin Lugt resign and David Williams complete his first training session, Makela became the victim of the ACL’s visa rules.
With three foreign players and one Asian player allowed in each squad, Makela was the hard-luck story for the Sky Blues with coach Vitezslav Lavicka opting to go with Brazilian striker Bruno Cazarine, Northern Ireland’s Terry McFlynn and Swiss defender Stephan Keller.
Japanese midfielder Hiro Moriyasu assumed the Asian position.
It’s believed Keller was the first choice to be stood down by the Sky Blues but Lavicka decided he needed cover in central defence once the club missed out on Coyne, who is in a contract dispute with the Glory.
“It is cruel for the players but that’s football,” Lavicka said on Tuesday.
“I hope the players who are not selected can be professional and understand.”
“We’ve had a tough season in the A-League but I think the last part of it we have improved.”
“We played good quality football, we reached good results but unfortunately it wasn-t enough to reach the finals.”
“Now we have time to focus for the ACL, to bring in new players and settle a bit and we would like to be good ambassadors for Australian football.”
Sydney begins their ACL group stage campaign against Korean club side Suwon at the SFS next Wednesday night.
While the Sky Blues head into the ACL on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run in the A-League and with a bolstered squad, Lavicka admitted he was heading into the first game blind regarding opponents Suwon.
“It has been pretty difficult to pick up information about them,” he said.
“They are in their pre-season; they’ve changed their squad so it’s not easy.”
“The first game is important and I hope we’ll be able to show Australian football fans good quality football.”
Sydney will play one warm up game before their ACL start, against NSW Premier League club Sydney United on Wednesday night.
New signings Williams and Phoenix defender Andrew Durante will both play some part in the match.
