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Ante Covic and Labinot Haliti become latest Western Sydney Wanderers signings
The experienced duo were both available after their releases from Melbourne Victory and the Newcastle Jets respectively, and swell the new club's squad to nine players
A-League new-boys Western Sydney Wanderers have held their first ever training session and unveiled two new signings on Monday.Former Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Ante Covic and ex-Newcastle Jets striker Labinot Haliti were officially announced as the latest additions for the new club ahead of their debut in the A-League on October 6.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic put his squad, which now stands at nine players, plus a host of trialists through a light session at Blacktown International Sportspark on Monday.
Things will ramp up from here for the club with just over three months until their opening fixture against Central Coast Mariners in the 2012-13 campaign, but Popovic described their first session as a 'special day'.
"This has been a long time coming but as a player and a coach this is where you want to be, out on the park," an emotional Popovic told reporters.
"A lot has happened in a short space of time, we've been busy preparing and we're all very excited and ready to go."
Asked about the new additions to his squad, Popovic said: "They are two experienced players. Ante had a fantastic season last year and deserves to be playing at the highest level. And Labinot is a great professional who will add a lot of value to our squad."
Covic, 36, joins the Wanderers after being released by the Victory at the end of last season, despite taking out the club's player of the year award.
While disappointed with the way things finished up in Melbourne, the veteran gloveman denied he was out to prove them wrong for letting him go.
"My performance last year spoke for itself... I have been very happy with the way my career has been going. What happened last year at Victory was out of my control," he said.
"That was a chapter closed in my book and I was always looking forward to the future. It is great to be part of a fresh, new club in the heartland of Australian football. It is a huge buzz.
"Covic and Haliti, who have both played for the Jets in the A-League, join fellow former Newcastle stars Mark Bridge, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Tarek Elrich at Wanderers FC."
Aaron Mooy, Kwabena Appiah-Kubi, Michael Beauchamp and Shannon Cole are the other players who are official signings for the club.
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