Saddlers Sign Striker

By Admin@SwiftHalf.net
December 28 2004

SADDLERS SIGN INTERNATIONAL STRIKER! We’ve heard this before, of course - remember David Zdrillic?! Toni Nhleko, we hope, will be different… The 24 year old signed an 18 month contract at Bescot yesterday and could make his debut on New Years Day - if he is granted a work permit in time.

Standing at six feet tall, the South African international (9 caps) featured in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has UEFA Cup experience with SK Brann in Norway (Tore Andre Flo’s former club) and was formerly at South Africa’s biggest club – Bafana Bafana. The same club, incidentally, that produced Charlton Athletic’s Shaun Bartlett.

Nicknamed ‘The African Lion’, Nhleko is described by his agents as “An incredibly strong, fast and exciting forward who tends to beat up on the opposing defenders with his physical style of play. A very good target players with great speed and good skills.” Of course, they’re going to want to ‘talk him up’ but Mr Merson seems impressed too.

“He is quick and strong and can score a goal. He wants the ball over the top and that’s really all he is interested in. But that’s what we’ve been looking for and he will give us that something different that we’ve been needing.” said the Merse.
Nhleko added “I really look forward to this. I have always dreamed of playing in England and this is the perfect stepping stone for me.”

He clearly doesn’t intend to stick around – anyone remember Junior?! – but if he has at least half the impact that the aforementioned Brazilian striker had at Bescot, Nhleko won’t be a bad bit of business.

Nhleko, Marvellous Marvin and an England under 19 international striker in Matty Fryatt - Walsall haven’t had this much competition for strikers since our last promotion back in 2001.