Ugandan David Obua has reportedly agreed a contract with Hearts, and will be unveiled as manager Csaba Laszlo’s first signing if his application for a work permit is successful.
Obua, who is 24 years old, can play in midfield or the left side of defence. He recently had a trial with West Ham United after leaving South African side Kaizer Chiefs, and if this deal does go through he will travel to Germany with the rest of the Hearts squad next week for their little tour.
As discussed yesterday, this is positive news from the point of view that Obua would appear to be a Laszlo signing. We’ll know in the fullness of time whether or not this will translate to being a good thing of course, but it is very important for Hearts that their new manager is allowed to make his own signings and stamp his mark on the team, otherwise there really is no point in him being there. If he’s not going to be a good manager for us then fine, but at least give him the opportunity.
Hopefully the Obua deal will be concluded shortly.
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The Scotsman paints a gloomy picture as regards the work permit: –
“… it remains to be seen if Hearts will be able to get round the criterion that the FIFA ranking of the player’s national side aggregated over two years must be at 70th or above. Uganda are currently ranked 97th in the world.”
Hmm not promising, especially considering how they got on with that Georgian guy a few years ago…
Scaremongering from Hans Christian Banderson. Gogua was a different story, because he hadn’t played enough full internationals (Obua has), and also the permit wasn’t applied for until the last day of the transfer window. The SFA/Home Office have discretion to grant work permits for a certain number of players who are outside the criteria required, but the quota had already been used up by the time Hearts got around to sending on the application. This time, we’ve got in early… so we SHOULD be okay. Famous last words though…
…especially if the SFA has a hand in the decsion making process!!!