Goalkeeper Tamati Williams, forward Iwa Shakar and veteran defender Riki van Steeden all put pen to paper this week before the window slammed shut.
Williams and van Steeden have played for Auckland City previously and are seen as safe hands, with both boasting extensive domestic experience.
Somewhat of a lesser known quantity is forward Iwa Shakar, who made his name in the Northern League with Papatoetoe and Onehunga Sports but who Tribulietx feels is more than capable of making the step up.
“All three players have been on our radar for some time and bring different qualities to the squad,” Tribulietx says.
“We felt the current group needed a boost with a number of very important matches looming and we’re delighted that Tamati, Riki and Iwa have agreed to join Auckland City.”
Tribulietx lost four players during January when midfielder Andreu Guerao transferred to Dinamo Tbilisi and defender Sam Campbell headed across the ditch to the Queensland Lions, while goalkeeper Liam Little returned to Dunedin for family reasons and Thomas Doyle grabbed an opportunity in the US college system.
That number could rise to five if Ian Hogg is offered professional terms at Swedish club Umea, where he is currently on trial, in the next week or so.
Van Steeden, 35, has won five All Whites caps and scored a cracking winner in Auckland City’s 3-2 FIFA Club World Cup win over African champions TP Mazembe in 2009.
Williams’ first spell with Auckland in 2008 was a mixed bag with the Forest Hill Milford custodian ousting club legend Ross Nicholson as the preferred number one. With Waitakere dominating the domestic and regional scene at that time, Williams eventually moved on.
Tribulietx believes Williams is a better player now than four years ago.
“Tamati stiffens competition for our goalkeeping duties with the incumbent Jacob Spoonley,” he says. “We now have a group of top-drawer goalkeepers at the club that includes young Liam Anderson so we’re in a very fortunate position.”
Shakar has been a player on Auckland’s radar for some time and his capture bolsters an already formidable forward line.
Manel Exposito, Emiliano Tade, Daniel Koprivcic and Luis Corrales have weighed in with twenty goals this season and Shakar has an eye for the net.
Shakar’s versatility means he is also capable of playing in the wide areas or behind a lone striker.
Auckland’s ASB Premiership campaign steps up this Saturday when the Oceania champions meet local rivals Waitakere United at Kiwitea Street before travelling to Napier to take on a resurgent Hawke’s Bay United on Monday.

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