I-League: Australia U-23 international Matthew Foschini joins Salgaocar

Matthew Foschini

I-League leaders Salgaocar have completed the signing of Australia under-23 defender Matthew Foschini, Sportskeeda can reveal.

Having released Japanese midfielder Seiji Saito earlier in the campaign, Salgaocar had been playing with three foreigners but now have completed their foreign quota by recruiting former Melbourne Victory player Foschini, who will be their Asian foreigner.

Foschini was released by Australia’s A-League outfit Melbourne Victory back in August after four seasons there and his versatility will be a welcome addition to Derrick Pereira’s squad as the 23-year-old can operate at right back, central defence and also function as a defensive midfielder.

He is a former Melbourne Victory teammate of ex-United SC attacking midfielder Carlos Hernandez and represented Australia at the 2012 Olympic qualifiers. While at Melbourne Victory, Foschini also played in the Asian Champions League and becomes the sixth Australian in this season’s I-League.

More Afghans at Mumbai FC

Mumbai FC’s Afghan quartet: From left – Amiri, Hatifie, Ahmadi and Barakzai

Mumbai FC already had Afghanistan skipper Zohib Islam Amiri and striker Sandjar Ahmadi in their squad and now they have signed two more Afghan internationals in midfielder Ahmad Arash Hatifie and forward Hashmatullah Barakzai.

The Mumbai club are set to release Nigerian Orok Essien and register the newly-signed Afghan duo for the I-League. Like Amiri and Ahmadi, Hatifie and Barakzai were also part of Afghanistan’s SAFF 2013 Championship winning squad.

While 27-year-old Barakzai was previously plying his trade in the Afghanistan domestic league, 26-year-old Hatifie was playing in USA’s National Premier Soccer League, which is considered to be the fourth tier.