Q-League (The Malay Mail)

THE M-League this year could see some quality foreign players in action
and several of them could come from South America and Africa.
Selangor have started the ball rolling with quality signings in Tony
Cottee and South African international Christopher Zwane Mandla.
Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan are looking into possibilites
of signing on players from Peru, South Africa, Zaire and Argentina.
The players sought are mostly current full or Under-23 internationals
who have played with top clubs.
And the man who is making these players available is former Argentine
international, Rene Houseman.
Houseman, who played 79 matches for Argentina and scored 27 goals, was
the fast winger who was voted Footballer of the Year in 1977 in Argentina
and South America.
He also played in the 1974 World Cup and was in the winning team of the
1978 World Cup.
Houseman manages about 37 players in Europe and has 100 players under
his wing playing all over the world.
But this is the first time Houseman is trying to get some of his clients
to play in these parts of the world with the hope of moving on to Japan.
Selangor's signing, Mandla, is one of Houseman's players. Houseman
discovered Mandla as a schoolboy in Soweto High School in 1993.
Among the players under Houseman's management who could grace the
Malaysian League is 20-year-old Jorge Eduardo Ramirez.
Ramirez, was the target of Sarawak's Alan Vest and is still on his list
although Billy Bond has been said to be their third foreigner.
The reason Vest hesistated to sign on Ramirez is because he could not
fit into his budget.
Vest said although Bond will be in Kuching next month for final trials,
he is still keeping his mind open on Ramirez and hopes to get some
additional funds to secure him.
The players Houseman has to offer may be a little expensive, especially
their transfer or loan fees, but they are quality players.
Ramirez is a Peruian international striker who was voted the Footballer
of the Year for 1995-96 by the press in Peru.
He has already got an offer from Leeds United and several other leading
clubs.
Others players available include Waldir Alejandro Saenz, a 22-year-old
Peruvian striker who has won the Golden Boot award for South America on
three occasions (1993, 1995 and 1996).
He is considered one of the best and fastest wingers in South America
and is a natural left footer.
Left midfielder German Ernesto Pinillos is another Peruian international
with 16 caps and four goals to his credit.
He has also capped nine times with the Under-23 team which he captained.
He was voted the Best Midfielder in the country in 1994.
Another notable player who is a big name in South Africa is Theophilus
Khumalo, whose nickname is The Doctor.
Khumalo, 27, is the star of the South African team and has capped 32
times and scored 11 goals till September 1996.
He was voted to the African Nations Cup XI All Star team last year by
the press.
Khumalo is a well known player on and off the field. He has made over 10
TV commercials and has his own line of shoes with Puma - the Khumalo 16 V.
Bunene Ngaduano is a 23-year-old Zairean international striker who has
played 14 times for his country and scored nine times.
He has also played six times for the Under-23 team and scored eight
goals. He played in South Africa for Qwa Qwa Stars before being loaned to
Ankaraguyu FC in Turkey.
Then, there is Argentinian attacking midfielder, Cesar Martinez who made
25 appearances for the Argentine Under-20 and Under-23 teams.
Martinez used to play for Div 1 Quilmes FC in Argentina before being
loaned to Nacional de Montevideo FC in Uruguay.
He has been playing for Aucas FC in Ecuador since 1995 and was voted the
Footballer of the Year in Ecuador.
A natural left footed player with great vision and skills, Martinez is
said to have a knack for scoring goals from freekicks.
If Negri, KL or Kelantan actually go ahead to sign some of these
players, it will indeed add quality to the League.
Houseman said in Buenos Aires: "These players are quality players and I
personally guarantee their ability. They are top professionals.
"All of them are internationals who are looking to play in a different
League. They hope to play in the J-League eventually and intend to use the
M-League as a stepping stone," said Houseman.