S.League: Alviz can be on song

He was the creative force in the DPMM FC engine room, spraying passes to wide areas and threading them through the eye of the needle, even chipping in with a couple of goals.

Now Roberto Alviz will join Tampines Rovers' revolution, as the five-time Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League champions look to bounce back from a trophy-less 2014.

The Croat will take the place of injured Australian midfielder Srecko Mitrovic (right), who will undergo surgery on his Achilles tendon, and will likely be sidelined till the middle of the year.

"I watched him in the S.League last year, and his game is suited to the way we want to play football," said Tampines coach V Sundramoorthy.

"He's good with the ball, has a great passing game, and can deliver dangerous balls into key areas."

Sundram revealed that the 30-year-old Alviz has already put pen to paper, and could feature in the Stags' opening game of the season on Monday, when they travel to the Jurong East Stadium to face Albirex Niigata.

He will join countrymen Mateo Roskam and Pedrag Pocuca, France-born defender Eddy Viator and Haitian forward Fabrice Noel as the five registered foreign players in the Stags' S.League squad that have also been strengthened by the signing of former Singapore captain Indra Sahdan.

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On Mitrovic, Sundram said: "Alviz is here to replace him, but Mitrovic is still with the club.

"He hasn't been registered to play for the club in the league, but we are honouring his contract and will help him on his journey to recovery."

Last season, Alviz helped DPMM lead the league till the final half-round and also won the StarHub League Cup with the Bruneian side.

Steve Kean's side recorded just a single win in the five games of the final half-round, before they were eventually pipped to the title by three points by Warriors FC.

There were reports emerging from Indonesia which suggested that Alviz was poised to join Indonesian Super League side Persebaya Surabaya, but it was Tampines who secured his signature.

Club chairman Teo Hock Seng is pleased with the array of talent assembled at the Stags' Jurong West base.

"I'm very happy with the choice of foreign players at the club, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Sundram can do with this team," he said.

This article was first published on February 28, 2015.
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