It’s been a breakout year for 21-year-old speedster Randy Edwini-Bonsu.
After parting ways with the Vancouver Whitecaps just prior to that club’s jump to MLS, Edwini-Bonsu moved to Finnish second division side AC Oulu, where he racked up 16 league goals in just 18 starts.
His scoring prowess got him a trial at German 2. Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig, where he proceeded to notch four goals in two exhibitions matches, including a brace against top flight club Werder Bremen last week. Edwini-Bonsu’s play impressed the Braunschweig brass enough to earn him an 18-month contract, which was announced by the club on Tuesday.
The once-capped Canadian international will have to wait until the transfer window opens in January before suiting up for his new team.
On the field, another Canuck striker made headlines in the German second tier, as Olivier Occean jumped into a three-way tie for first place in the league scoring charts with a goal on Sunday in SpVgg Greuther Fürth’s 4-0 rout of FSV Frankfurt.
Occean scored the final goal of the match, giving him nine in the league so far.
Also finding the back of the net this past weekend was David “Junior” Hoilett, who struck Blackburn’s second goal in a 3-3 draw with Wigan in the English Premier League.
The goal was Hoilett’s third of the season for Blackburn, who continue to be mired in the relegation zone with a meager seven points after 12 games played.
Elsewhere in the EPL, Simeon Jackson nearly joined Hoilett and Occean in the scorer’s category during Norwich’s 2-1 home loss to Arsenal.
Jackson subbed on in the 82nd minute and found space a few moments later 30 yards from the Arsenal goal but sent a rocket just over the bar. The 24-year-old continues to see spot duty for Norwich, having only made five league appearances – all as a substitute – so far this year.
In the English Championship, defender David Edgar returned from international duty to put in 90 minutes on the Burnley back line on Saturday, although his side fell 2-1 to visiting Leeds United. The result drops Burnley to just two points above relegation territory.
Up in Scotland’s Premier League, attacker Marcus Haber was called into action by St. Johnstone as a late substitute in the Saints 0-0 draw at Rangers. It was Haber’s 12th appearance of the season.
Staying in northern Europe, Lars Hirschfeld’s Vålerenga fell 2-1 to Strømsgodset in the Tippeligaen on Sunday. Hirschfeld logged his customary 90 minutes in goal.
Chris Pozniak and FK Haugesund leapfrogged Hirschfeld’s side after defeating hosts Stabæk by a 2-1 scoreline. Pozniak went the distance for Haugesund, who are now in seventh place with one match remaining.
In nearby Denmark, Patrice Bernier played the full match for Lyngby BK in a 2-2 draw with fellow cellar dwellars HB Køge. Lyngby are second from the bottom in the Superliga after 16 rounds of play.
Over in Turkey, goalkeeper Milan Borjan made several key saves to salvage a 1-1 result for Sivasspor against visitors Gençlerbirliği. The two teams are tied with ninth-placed side Mersin İdmanyurdu on points, although Sivasspor’s goal differential actually drops them to 11th in the Süper Lig table.
Also in action in the Turkish top flight were Mike Klukowski and Josh Simpson, both of whom saw playing time for Manisaspor in a 1-1 deadlock with Gaziantepspor on Sunday. Klukowski played the full 90 minutes at left back, while Simpson entered the match at the start of the second half and had a seemingly legitimate shout for a penalty denied by the referee.
Down under in Australia, Issey Nakajima-Farran played 74 minutes for the still-undefeated Brisbane Roar, who dispatched home side Newcastle Jets 2-1 in the A-League on Saturday. Brisbane are already six points clear at the top of the standings after only seven matches played.
