Originally Posted by
The Hacker
Striker Beka Mikeltadze issued visa as Jets granted exemption to train
James Gardiner
Newcastle Jets' hired gun Beka Mikeltadze is a step closer to joining his new teammates after the Georgian international had a visa approved to travel to Australia.
Now all the club has to do is organise a flight - not an easy task given the border restrictions due to COVID-19.
Mileltadze signed a two-year deal with the Jets a month ago. He has since been following a training program, and Jets executive chairman Shane Mattiske confirmed that the striker's arrival was imminent, pending medical results.
"His visa is in the tray," Mattiske said. "He is not yet on a flight but we are trying to get him on one."
Mikeltadze has represented Georgia at every youth level and has two senior caps. The 23-year-old was last with Greek club Xanthi, where he was teammates with Jets defender Matt Jurman. Jets assistant coach Arthur Diles had the same role at Xanthi.
He is one of three senior strikers on the roster, which also includes scholarship players Archie Goodwin and Blake Archibold
Former Socceroo Eli Babalj and Papua New Guinean international Tommy Semmy are training with the club.
COVID restrictions have limited the number of flights permitted to Australia but Mattiske was hopeful that Mikeltadze would soon touch down in Sydney, where he will quarantine for 14 days.
The Jets have also agreed to terms with two other foreign attackers but are awaiting visas to be issued before announcing their signatures.
The squad is in the fourth week of pre-season. The NSW Health Department has granted the players exemptions to train as a group but they must adhere to strict protocols.
"It is a critical part of our preparation for the season," Mattiske said. "The players arrive right before the session and leave immediately after it. They are required to wear masks when they are not on the field. On the pitch, they train as normal."
However, trial matches are "an impossibility" and there is growing uncertainty about the FFA Cup proceeding.
"Our ability to play the FFA Cup is now in question," Mattiske said. "The qualifier against Western United was meant to be on August 14, then they gave us a later August date. Now it has been suggested that it will push into September.
"We have to get to Melbourne to play that game. If we win, we have to play Wellington. In the round of 16, you have teams from around the country trying to cross over and play. There are some headaches in terms of how that is going to work out.
"Trial matches are an impossibility at the moment. Typically we play Brisbane but we can't cross the border. We can't plan for that.
"There is still time to do those things but we are now starting to think about contingency plans."
The A-League is scheduled to kick off on October 30.