FC Edmonton announces more signings By Steven Sandor Posted on February 25, 2013 Comments Off on FC Edmonton announces more signings 0 781 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter FC Edmonton now has 16 players on its roster for the upcoming NASL season. The team announced 16 “signings” on Monday, though that number includes five academy players — Mallan Roberts, Chris de Guise, Ajeej Sarkaria, Hanson Boakai and Sadi Jalali — who were officially promoted to the first team last week. Also on the list are Northern Irishmen Albert Watson and Daryl Fordyce, who the club confirmed over the weekend were signed. The two left Linfield FC in order to come to Canada, and then enjoyed strong trials in Edmonton. Ex-Carolina RailHawks midfielder and Guyanese national-teamer Chris Nurse joins Wes Knight, Neil Hlavaty and Lance Laing as NASL veterans the Eddies have brought in during the offseason in order to strengthen the squad. Also in camp, but not on the signed list, is Martin Nunez, who scored five times from midfield for the Minnesota Stars last season. Chris Nurse Hometown products Shaun Saiko, who led the team in scoring last season, and fullback Antonio Rago were officially placed on the list, but Alberta-born centre back and NASL Best XI member Paul Hamilton was not part of the 16. The fact that Hamilton wasn’t part of the list is a sign of just how hotly new FCE coach Colin Miller wants the players to compete for their jobs, as the team confirmed that there are no other outstanding issues with the defender. As camp started in 2013, new FCE coach Miller decreed that all players would be declared “trialists” wiping the slate clean after the team finished the 2012 season at the bottom of the NASL standings under former coach Harry Sinkgraven. FCE had originally stated that 17 players would be announced, but the understanding is that one player could not be confirmed as of Monday. FC Edmonton Roster: John Smits Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario Birthdate: September 7, 1988 Position: Goalkeeper Lance Parker Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Birthdate: August 19, 1985 Position: Goalkeeper Albert Watson Hometown: Belfast, Northern Ireland Birthdate: September 8, 1985 Position: Defender Antonio Rago Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta Birthdate: November 5, 1990 Position: Defender Chris de Guise Hometown: Montreal, Quebec Birthdate: August 28, 1993 Position: Defender David Proctor Hometown: Bellshill, Scotland Birthdate: May 4, 1984 Position: Defender Lance Laing Hometown: Trelawny Parish, Jamaica Birthdate: February 28, 1988 Position: Defender Mallan Roberts Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta Birthdate: June 6, 1992 Position: Defender Wesley Knight Hometown: Easley, South Carolina Birthdate: September 6, 1986 Position: Defender Chris Nurse Hometown: London, England Birthdate: May 7, 1984 Position: Midfielder Hanson Boakai Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta Birthdate: October 28, 1996 Position: Midfielder Neil Hlavaty Hometown: Berwyn, Illinois Birthdate: December 27, 1986 Position: Midfielder Shaun Saiko Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta Birthdate: November 13, 1989 Position: Midfielder Ajeej Sarkaria Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta Birthdate: February 7, 1995 Position: Forward Daryl Fordyce Hometown: Belfast Northern Ireland Birthdate: January 2, 1987 Position: Forward Sadi Jalali Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta Birthdate: June 6, 1995 Position: Forward