From Spain to Mossley

MOSSLEY have snapped up Nigerian defender Hafeez Hamzat from Spanish giants Real Betis.

Hamzat (20) is awaiting international clearance before he can make his debut for the Lilywhites, who travel to Kidsgrove Athletic tonight for a Carlsberg FA Trophy preliminary round replay.

Betis, who now plays in the Spanish Second Division, once broke the world transfer record by paying Sao Paulo £21.5m for Brazilian forward Denilson.

Hamzat’s previous clubs include PKS Radosc and Jeziorak Iiawa of Poland.

Mossley manager Shaun Higgins said: “He can’t play tonight because we are still working on international clearance, but Hafeez should be a good signing.

“He has come to live over here with his family and approached one of my contacts at Manchester City, who filled me in on Hafeez. We invited him to train with us for a couple of weeks and liked what we saw.

“It is a case of seeing how he gets on, but hopefully he can make a positive contribution.”

Mossley’s club secretary, Harry Hulmes, hopes to be able to confirm Hamzat’s clearance in the coming days.

Higgins hopes to welcome Matt Kay back into the fold tonight.

Kay has been missing since suffering a knee injury in the FA Cup victory at Glossop North End last month.


CHADDERTON boss Paul Buckley is facing up to another selection headache.

Plagued by injuries and suspensions since the start of the Vodkat North-West Counties League Division One season, the manager saw Leon Melia receive a straight red card for punching a Leek CSOB player in a 1-1 draw.

Melia, who wasn’t mean to play but left work to feature in the second half on Buckley’s request, was only on the pitch 10 minutes when he reacted to what he deemed to be an over-zealous challenge.

Buckley said: “Unfortunately the dismissal means Leon will be banned for three matches.

“Their lads carried out a couple of crunching tackles on him and he just lost it, and hit one of them.

“We will have to shuffle the pack again in his absence.”