‘Faz’ is showing signs of his exciting ability

‘Faz’ is showing signs of his exciting ability

The new season might only be a couple of weeks old but already the player that Sligo Rovers fans are talking about is Fahrudin Kudozovic. Manager Sean Connor predicted that the Bosnian, a former Notts County player, would the one to watch and that has proved to be the case.
Already both himself and his midfield partner, ex-Summerhill College player Conor O’Grady, are linking up well and emerging as one of the best central midfield units in this season’s eircom League First Division.
When Kildare County saw that they couldn’t compete against the Rovers midfield in the opening game of the season at the Showgrounds, they resorted to a very direct, long ball game, and Dublin City did likewise for long periods of the game against Rovers last Thursday night.
Kudozovic, or ‘Faz’ as he likes to be called, had another good game for Rovers against Dublin City, being involved in all the away team’s best moves.
He went close to scoring in the first minute when an O’Grady corner from the left was played short to him and his shot from outside the box was parried by Dublin City goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy, with striker Carlos Alvarez first to the loose ball but unable to get in a shot.
The Rovers central midfield duo were up against the experienced pair of Ray Scully and Paul Shiels, with Scully keeping a close eye on Faz.
But Kudozoviz was a constant source of threat to City and nearly created an opening in the 20th minute as he linked up well with Kupono Low on the left before playing the ball forward to Alvarez, but Robbie Hedderman was alert to the danger and made the clearance.
He showed his defensive side in the 28th minute when Derek Pender made a good run down the right but Faz got back well to put in the tackle and prevent the cross.
The second-half saw Rovers playing the football that they are capable of, which meant that Faz was seeing more of the ball.
He was involved in a good move in the 54th minute that again was snuffed out by the home defence.
Shiels and Scully swapped marking duties in the second-half with Shiels trying to marshal Faz. When Rovers won their penalty in the 68th minute Faz stepped up to take it – but telegraphed too much where he was going to aim it and Brendan Kennedy, the Dublin City goalkeeper, made what was a comfortable save.
When Gerry Carr was introduced in the 71st minute Rovers went to a ‘4-3-3’ formation, with Faz operating on the left side allowing him to take on the Dublin City right-back.
He seems to be forming a good link up with Rafael Cretaro as well, and this was highlighted in the 81st minute as he played a good ball out to his right to Cretaro, whose cross was too close to Kennedy.