Turkish-based Liberian international winger Tonia Tisdell was among players that squeezed in late transfer on deadline day as he left his Turkish Super Lig club Osmanlispor to join Turkey League One team Ankaragucu.

Tisdell endured a difficult time during the 2016-17 league season, failing to make a single appearance for his team. He began the season with a hamstring injury that ruled him out for over three months. Upon his return, he failed to impress the technical staff, leaving him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

However, he came back stronger ahead of the current league season, where he impressed during the preseason. Tisdell scored three goals in five games, helping Osmanlispor win three of their five preseason matches. Despite his good form during the preseason, his woes continued from the beginning of the season, starting from the bench in Osmanlispor’s first match in the 2017-18 Turkish Super League. Already struggling to make the first team, things turned for the worse when Tisdell was shown a red card just 14 minutes after coming in as a substitute.

During the match, with his side down 3-0, Tisdell came in as a substitute in the 75^th minute in a bid to strengthen the attack. However, his booking saw Osmanlispor play the remainder of the game with ten men.

To avoid the difficulties he faced last season, the Lone Star forward squeezed in a late transfer to join Turkish first division club, MKE Ankaragucu. Tisdell will remain at the club until the 2018 summer when his current contract with Osmanlispor expires.

Tisdell, who hasn’t been a regular first team player since Osmanlispor returned to the top flight of Turkish football league in 2015, has not ruled out extending his contract when it expires in July 2018. Speaking to The Bush Chicken, he said his aim was to regain match fitness and any talks of a contract extension would be discussed later with his agent.

“I would have loved to remain with Osmanlispor to play in the top flight, but I needed to take this decision to reawaken my career by getting back to playing regularly and returning to my usual game fitness,” he said. “It’s better to play more games in the first division than to be lacking more time in the top flight. My contract runs until 2018, and my performance this season will help me get the perfect offer. My club has asked me to extend my contract, but I’m in no rush as my primary concern is to get back to my perfect form.”

Tisdell’s move to Ankaragucu is his second loan spell with the club since moving to Turkey in 2009. He moved to the Turkey in 2009 and signed with Ankaraspor that was later named Osmanlispor. He was first loaned to Ankaragucu during the 2010-11 season after spending his first season in Turkish football on loan to Karsiyaka in the first division.

Photo Courtesy of Osmanlispor