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FISTF Transfers 2005

Devils could cause mischief in Austria

Europa Cup holders Mattersburg face competition on a couple of fronts to retain even their domestic crown this season, after the emergence of two new teams in Austria.

The most significant challenge will come from the D.E.V.I.L.S., who domestically have recruited the likes of Robert Lenz and Manfred Pawlica from Mattersburg and Mödling respectively, in addition to world number one, Dutchman Eric Verhagen, who joins from top Italian side Perugia.

Former TSC Royal 78 pair Thomas Wittmann and Günter Bamberzky and Mödling's Wolfgang Hucek are also in the team, but the star-studded line-up is as yet unsure of a place in this year's Europa Cup in Murcia, since first choice will go to those who competed at the Austrian team championships.

The D.E.V.I.L.S. are joined by a second new Austrian team, TFC Wiener Neustadt, also made up of players from the Mattersburg and Mödling clubs, as well as Traiskirchen.  Largely consisting of youth players from the Karnthaler and Lizar families, Christian Blümel and David Busch are also part of the team, further diminishing the Mödling line-up.

Eric Verhagen’s old team Perugia are weakened further by the losses of Kostas Triantafillou to Falcons of his native Greece and Joseph Mifsud to the Belgians of AS Hennuyer, where he joins regular travelling companion Hansel Mallia. The departures are offset in part by the acquisition of Diego Venegas from Spanish side Catalunya.

The two biggest single moves see Sergio Loureiro go from Portuguese side GD Dias Ferreira to Bologna, whilst Massimo Cremona, formerly of Temploux, becomes the first foreign player to play for Italian team Reggiana.

As ever the Italian domestic market is busy. There are also a number of movements within Belgium – most prominently Laurent Goor and David Fraikin joining AS Hennuyer, from Rochefort and Stembert respectively – Malta and Greece.

In addition to recruiting from a number of Greek teams, Atlas also acquire the services of several English-based players with Shorab, despite his decision to stop playing, Adrian Ritoridis, Panos Stemitsiotis and Mark Reid all joining from UK clubs.

Meanwhile FISA World Cup 1990 winner Angelos Tsakiris officially becomes a free agent after leaving Atlas.

A new club has been formed in Lisbon region of Portugal, led by Jaime Silva and Miguel Faria. UFC Os Pastilhas will also include other former SL Campolide members such as Sérgio Ramos and young prodigy Ruben Português.

Two players have changed their nationality for table football, with American-based Mike Ewer reverting to his native English and one-time Colombian international Andrea Lampis – who becomes a free agent for team events – being reclassified as Italian.

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Capital losses

Shorab's decision to transfer from the English Premier League to Putney last summer was met with derision by some within the elite team. Now the EPL are recruiting players from the London club.

David Russell makes the move, to replace English international captain Phil Redman, who joins German side Hitdorf. After several key departures from the EPL last summer, the squad will be augmented further when American Zach Walker returns to London for another temporary stay in January.

The transfer situation in the UK breaks down into three components - the breaking up of Putney SC, Atlas acquiring the services of several English-based players for the new season and London TFC seeing a number of members leave.

As well as Russell's departure from Putney, Rob O'Hare moves to the Yorkshire club, where he will compete with Trevor Cummings and Erza Aripin for one of the two "foreign" places available in the Phoenix A team, whilst Malc Dickson joins the East Midland Alliance, who have also added Johan Lourdon, from Belgian club Flanders, to their ranks.

Dickson and Lourdon replace Adrian Ritoridis and Mark Reid who have both transferred their team affiliation to Greek club Atlas, along with Panos Stemitsiotis of Wiltshire and Putney's Shorab.

Several London TFC players, including Barry Ryder, Nick McLaughlin and Les Commons, were to form a new non-geographical team called Wanderers TFC, but all have now decided to keep their options open by becoming free agents.

And with Simon Gale and Victor Jones - the only two other players bound to Putney - also opting for free agent status, the creation of a new London-based team remains a possibility.

Cardiff Bluebirds make two additions to the squad that they built up last summer as Phil Neill and American Mike Benkart switch from Spartak Kendal and Connecticut TSC respectively, the latter of whom is set to play for the Welsh side at the Knighton Grand Prix team event.

(Current world ranking in brackets - the 20 highest ranked players are listed)

CARDIFF BLUEBIRDS

IN: Mike Benkart (Connecticut, USA), Phil Neill (Spartak Kendal)

EAST MIDLANDS ALLIANCE (EMA)

IN: Malcolm Dickson (Putney SC), Johan Lourdon (SC Flanders, BEL)

OUT: Mark Reid, Adrian Ritoridis (both Atlas, GRE)

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE (EPL)

IN: David Russell (Putney SC)

OUT: Phil Redman (Hitdorf, GER)

LONDON TFC

OUT: Elliott Bellafontaine, Martin Bellafontaine, Les Commons, Nick McLaughlin, Barry Ryder (all free agents)

PUTNEY SC

OUT: Malcolm Dickson (EMA), Simon Gale (free agent) Shorab Jadunandan (Atlas, GRE), Victor Jones (free agent), Rob O'Hare (Yorkshire Phoenix), David Russell (EPL)

SPARTAK KENDAL

OUT: Phil Neill (Cardiff Bluebirds)

WILTSHIRE

OUT: Panos Stemitsiotis (Atlas, GRE)

YORKSHIRE PHOENIX

IN: Rob O'Hare (Putney SC)

BECOMING FREE AGENTS

Elliott Bellafontaine, Martin Bellafontaine, Les Commons, Nick McLaughlin, Barry Ryder (all formerly London TFC), Simon Gale, Victor Jones (both formerly Putney SC)

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