Get Ethiopian

Four Four Two Reports that "Melbourne Heart have signed exciting young Ethiopian-born AIS striker Kamal Ibrahim as the new A-League club’s squad takes shape.

The left-sided winger who has already played for Australia at U17 level says his move to Heart feels like a homecoming after spending a number of years at the VIS.

Ibrahim moves to Melbourne in March after his commitments with the AIS in the National Youth League.

The 17-year-old says he accepts it will be difficult to gain a starting spot at Heart and with no youth league team till the following season, it won't be easy for him to nail down a regular starting berth.

"It's going to be hard at the start, I reckon. But obviously the coach thinks I've got potential," Ibrahim told au.fourfourtwo.com after the weekend's NYL game in Gosford.

"And I'm not going to put my head down [and get disappointed] if I don't start. It's a good team, and a good coach and I'm going to work hard and if I get my chance hopefully I can prove myself."

Heart have already signed Kristian Sarkies, Dean Heffernan, Matt Thompson and Jason Hoffman.

"I'm very skilful and I'm looking to bring something to the fans," Ibrahim said.

"Some of the players here do what the coach says, 'pass, pass, pass' but African players can do other things too so together we can create some good football."

Home?

Four Four Two reports that "Melbourne Heart CEO Scott Munn says the A-League newcomers want a single base for home games when they kick off.

Munn insists a nomadic existence where home games are played at more than one venue is not their vision.

He admits that the new rectangular stadium in the city would be a welcome home base.

"We are working extremely well with the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust on the rectangular stadium," he told melbourneheartsyn.com.

"Our preference has always been to play at one venue, we're not going to mix, we think that's an absolute disservice to our fans and we want them to be able to sit at the same seats every week, with the same group of friends to cheer on the team.

"Our preference is to play at one stadium. If it was the rectangular stadium, purpose built, certainly the best football experience in Australia, then certainly that would be fantastic for us."

The CEO also reaffirmed that the club wanted to see the game grow and it was about attracting more fans to the game, not a question of taking fans from the existing Melbourne Victory franchise.

"When we look at Victory, and we have to because a) they are a competitor and b) they are the market leader in every measure and we would be foolish not to look at them," he said.

"But what is important for us is to ensure we do get the new fans on board, those fans that haven't engaged Victory, and then the second one is we actually provide a point of difference."

Heart will become the A-League's 11th club when the 2010/11 season kicks off and have reportedly just landed AIS striker Eli Bablj.

Bablj has been a regular scorer for the AIS in the National Youth League despite their lowly position in their inaugural campaign."

Eli Babalj and Kamar Ibrahim signed

Bigsoccer.com reports that "AIS striker Eli Babalj has signed with A-League expansion club Melbourne Heart.

Babalj will be joined at the Heart by fellow Australia youth international, talented winger Kamar Ibrahim.

AIS coach Jan Versleijen said of Babalj: ''He's difficult player to mark. Eli is pretty tall he's about 1.87m but he's also good with his feet.

''He has good awareness in the box and positioning to know where he needs to be.''