new signings

Saints' Foreign Legion

St Patrick's Athletic FC confirmed their position as Ireland's most internationally famous club by signing two young internationals who hope to develop their careers by joining the Supersaints. With so much talk of the Irish game losing its best talent to lowly cross-channel clubs it certainly is refreshing to see the Saints buck the trend by casting their nets further afield and signing potential stars from Africa and the Caribbean.

Liberian superstar George Miller and Jamaican Bruce Tulloch have been drafted in to join Saint Pat's growing "Foreign Legion" at Richmond Park. Following in the successful footsteps of Ugandan international skipper, Charles Livingstone Mbabazi, George Miller, hopes to improve his career by joing a professional European club like Saint Patrick's. Miller was a substitute in Liberia's famous World Cup qualification group win over much fancied Nigeria last year. He arrived in Dublin last Friday having spent the previous season with FC Braga of Portugal.

Tulloch, meanwhile, arrives at Pat's after a successful spell as a centre-forward in professional football in New York. "I want to make my career here," he told onefootball.com. "I did OK in America and Jamaica but Europe is the home of football. This is where you make your name."

The culture shock of watching Pats v UCD battle out a scoreless draw on a cold and miserable Sunday in Belfield was hardly the best of introductions to Irish football and both players will take time to adjust to their new surroundings.

One man who is sure to be a big help to the new arrivals is Ugandan international Charlie Livingstone Mbabazi. "Babaz" as he is known by the fans, took time to settle down after a controversial first season but he has been the star of the league this year. Brian Kerr recently noted on Sunday Sport that Babaz was one of the most exciting talents to hit the League in many years.

Charles has already used his experience to help the new players adjust. "Charles has told us to be patient, reminding us that it was hard for him at the start when he first came to Ireland," said Miller. "He's been very helpful, but then he's African and we stick together."

Tulloch is also doing his best to adjust to his new Irish club and the good humoured Jamaican enjoyed his first taste of competitive action for the club when he took part in the recent quiz night in McDowells in aid of Saint Patrick's Athletic Schoolboys FC. He didn't get any questions right, much to the amusement of his Irish team-mates but he hopes to be making a bigger impression on the pitch in the very near future. Early reports from the training ground suggest that Pat's may well have struck gold again. Given the success of Babaz, who knows? Saint Pats could very well have two new foreign superstars in their ranks.

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