Former Altona Magic and Werribee City defender Tony Stojkovski has joined Spanish fourth tier side Club Deportivo Bunol after impressing their coaching staff in a recent trial.
The 21 year-old full-back moved to Bunol in September, a small town of around 10,000 inhabitants located 38 kilometres from provincial capital Valencia.
Stojkovski’s senior career began with State League One outfit Sydenham Park before making the move to the Altona Magic in 2014, where he featured under then head coach Rob Spasevski.
The former Magic manager was instrumental in helping the youngster secure the European move through his agency MFD Football Management, an FFA registered intermediary.
Speaking to TCF, the former Young Socceroo and ex-Preston Lions NSL player was happy to secure the move for his client who is hoping to continue on his football career at the Estadio Beltran Baguena.
“The Tercera Division is a league with great depth and quality. CD Bunol see Tony as a great prospect and it’s a great opportunity for him to further his football career overseas.”
Stojkovski spent the first half of 2016 with Werribee City in NPL2, making 10 league appearances for the Bees, including eight starts in defence.
His current employers sit 18th on the league standings, having collected 13 points from 17 league games and stand in the relegation zone on goal difference.
Meanwhile, former Nunawading City striker Emile Damey is also reportedly joining fellow Spanish Tercera Division side Unión Deportiva Los Barrios weeks after committing terms with Kingston City.
The club sits in the province of Cádiz, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia.
The 22-year-old fringe Liberian international moved to 2016 NPL2 Champions after 10 goals in 34 league games in a season and a half at Mahoneys Reserve.
Born in Guinea, Damey moved to Townsville in his youth and spent his formative senior football playing for the likes of Brisbane Wolves and Western Pride in his home state.
His first footballing overseas move came in 2014 where he joined Malaysian club DRB Hicom before also moving to Thai second tier side Seeker FC.
A desire to return home to Australia saw him join inaugural club Murray United ahead of the 2015 NPL2 season before transferring to Nunawading mid-season.
A bright start to life at the Forest Hill-based club saw him score seven goals in 13 league matches, which included a brilliant consolation strike in a 7-1 defeat at the hands of his new employers Kingston.
It was in 2015 where Damey was set for a trial with second-division side Mallorca, but injuries scuppered that opportunity.
He then had a trial at Austrian side SV Horn, who are affiliated with a scouting agency owned by Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda.
Damey returned to Australia and found the going much tougher in his first full season with Nunawading in 2016, netting three times in 21 games, including a brace against former side Murray United in City’s first win of the NPL era.
Consolation for Damey came with a mid-season call-up to the Liberian national team, where he scored as the Lone Stars were defeated 4-2 by the Moroccan Under 23 side in a B international.
UD Los Barrios may not be sitting in the fourth tier much longer, also sitting in the relegation zone of Group 10 of the Tercera Division in 18th spot.