Appeals panel grants Obua work permit to join Hearts

Ed Hodge
NEW Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has officially secured his first summer signing after the club gained a work permit for Ugandan international David Obua.
The Tynecastle outfit have successfully cut through red tape to land the 24-year-old following an appeals hearing at Hampden yesterday.

Obua had previously agreed terms in Gorgie, but Hearts were forced to go before an independent review panel due
to the player not meeting UK permit qualifications.

An established and influential international, the left-sided defender/midfielder fulfilled the legal requirement of appearing in 75 per cent of a country's competitive fixtures in the previous two years. But, additionally, that country must be within FIFA's top 70 ranking and Uganda are currently 97th.

However, Hearts, represented by managing director Campbell Ogilvie and Laszlo, made their case at the national stadium yesterday and will now welcome one of Africa's top performers.

The former South African Player of the Year, who was recently on trial at West Ham, is relishing the chance to be reunited with his former national team manager.

Ogilvie said: "We are delighted to have secured this decision. "Uganda are outside the required world ranking level, but it does provide a useful indication of what a good player David is that the review panel granted the permit.

"David is sure to be a valuable addition to Hearts both on and off the field. We are grateful to the panel for their judgment on this matter."

Obua is unlikely to make his bow in Saturday's league opener with Motherwell, but the club are hopeful he will arrive from Uganda early next week.

Meanwhile, Werner Burger has outlined his desire for success after sealing a reunion with Laszlo as assistant manager at Tynecastle.

Laszlo has completed his back-room team ahead of Saturday's SPL opener against Motherwell with the appointment of the 50-year-old German.

The pair forged their friendship while studying for their Uefa Pro-Licence in Cologne six years ago and have remained in close contact.

Burger has extensive experience of coaching in Switzerland, his previous clubs including FC Schaffhausen, Red Star Zurich – with whom he won the league in 1998 – and FC Kreuzlingen.

Burger also worked with the German Football Federation as a youth coach and will hope to help further develop Hearts' young players.

Ugandan coach Jackson Mayanja had previously been linked to the post, but Burger

said: "A long time ago, Csaba and I decided to work together and now we have the chance.

"I'm delighted to be here and am looking forward to the first match this weekend against Motherwell. I think it will be a very emotional moment for me. I saw the squad training in Germany.

"Csaba is very close to the team. I will be more in the background and I'm sure we will work well together."

Taken from the Scotsman