Waikato club Melville United have signed three former players ahead of June’s transfer deadline in their efforts to climb up the Northern League table.
The trio are:
- Forward Jama Boss (30), a Somalia international, who joins after a brief spell with local rivals Hamilton Wanderers.
- Forward Ryen Lawrence (21), who returns to Melville after a year with Central League club Miramar Rangers.
- Defender Carlos Ranui (17), a former Melville academy player who has been with the Wellington Phoenix academy since March 2023.
Melville, who were last year’s Chatham Cup runners-up, are second bottom of the Northern League and in danger of relegation.
Boss has been a prolific goalscorer for Waikato clubs in the past, with spells at Wanderers, Melville United, and Ngaruawahia United.
He has also played Northern League football for Manukau United, winning the club’s Golden Boot and Player of the Year in 2018, and National League football for WaiBOP United and Tasman United.
Melville United’s head coach Jarrod Young told the club’s social media followers: “I’ve known Jama my whole footballing career. We have played together so I understand who he is and what he brings on and off the field.
“Having played for Melville in the past, he knows how much it means to put on the shirt and represent the club, He will be joining a team who are fighting for the club.”
Young said the return of Lawrence and Ranui was “a great boost”.
“As we approach the halfway point of the season, their passion for the club is just the injection of enthusiasm we need.”
Lawrence started for Melville in last weekend’s 2-0 loss at East Coast Bays, with Ranui coming off the bench during the game.
Boss is expected to make his first appearance of the season for Melville in Saturday’s Chatham Cup tie against North Shore United.
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