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Full game in a 2-0 away win against Vibonense and the mathematical certainty of qualifying for the playoffs! Huge opportunity for Reggina who won't have a game next week but should fund out soon who they'll be up against in the first play off game.

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Reggina won 3-0 by default overnight against Matera who basically went bust a few months ago.
Very complicated play off rules in Serie C this year (we specialise in red tape and dump rules back home) but here all you need to know:

Reggina will play Monopoli next weekend in a single match play off. Reggina will advance if the score is a draw after 90 minutes as they finished ahead of Monopoli in the regular season.

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Reggina won 3-0 by default overnight against Matera who basically went bust a few months ago.
Very complicated play off rules in Serie C this year (we specialise in red tape and dump rules back home) but here all you need to know:

Reggina will play Monopoli next weekend in a single match play off. Reggina will advance if the score is a draw after 90 minutes as they finished ahead of Monopoli in the regular season.

Home match for Reggina?

By advance, means into next stage of playoffs? Or promoted Serie B?

Would be a great move for Kirwan yes, if Reggina got promoted, and he was retained.

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Yes advance to the next round (there are up to 6 or so I think if you make it to the end)...home game for Reggina who are pretty good at home

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Reggina advance to the second round of the Serie B play offs with a 1-1 draw vs Monopoli. Full game for Niko.
Next up is Catania, recently of Serie A away from home.

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Big game for Niko and Reggina tomorrow vs Catania. Due to travel restrictions only 61 Reggina fans will travel over to Sicily. I read one one news website that Niko might be 'in doubt' but it wasn't clear whether because of injury or technical choice. Hard to believe he wouldn't be picked if fit as he's played almost every single game. Luckily so far only 4000 tickets have been sold (Catania average 9000 spectators per game usually).
Reggina have only ever won 3 times in Catania and must win to advance (a draw will see Catania through).

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A bad defensive performance sees Reggina getting eliminated with an emphatic 4-1 scoreline by Catania. Lots of costly mistakes and the dream is over.
Sadly after a terrific season where he's played 34 games (92% of the time in the starting line up and played 89% of the total minutes played by his team), he wasn't in the March day squad due to injury.

Transfermarkt says his contract expires in June but the club has an option for 2 more years.
Hopefully he is retained or moved to a better team in Serie C or is scouted by a Serie B team.

All in all, Reggina did well given the low expectations at the start of the season. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything.

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Possible contract extension until 2021 with Reggina

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sporteamcalabria.com/reggina-vicino-il-rinnovo-di-kirwan/amp/

Niko was given a rating of 8/10 for his season by a local website which said he was the best summer transfer and was very consistant and a workhorse

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I've been reading that he is now contracted to Reggina until 2021. No big announcement though. I think this is due to the fact that he was on a 1 year deal with an automatic extension based on appearances (which he's definitely triggered as he's played more than any other Reggina player).
There were rumours of some Serie B teams sniffing around and Reggina are not awash with money so they would probably be open to selling him is there's a transfer fee to be had.

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Good news for Reggina who have registered for next year's Serie C.
I expect a number of clubs will default/be relegated due to admin or budgetary issues, so this is good news.

Also, a new coach is in the house, Mimmo Toscano, former Reggina player who won two promotions to Serie B in his career.

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Good news for Reggina who have registered for next year's Serie C.
I expect a number of clubs will default/be relegated due to admin or budgetary issues, so this is good news.

Also, a new coach is in the house, Mimmo Toscano, former Reggina player who won two promotions to Serie B in his career.

Good to see the club will still exist.

To hell with the NLWG, the Phoenix could well do with a simple registration process for the A-League!

You seem to be up with the play though newzealandpower, any likelihood that Niko will get a transfer or look in with another club or get looked at by teams higher up the chain - Serie B etc? Going by this thread he's a consistent performer and was a first team regular for Reggina last season. Would be good if he can show some progression through the ranks. 

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I read sone articles which said Serie B clubs were sniffing around last January. But the transfer never happened and Niko has apparently renewed his contract for another couple of seasons.
Realistically I don't think he's going anywhere this season. He's basically the only defender retained by the club (they're looking for 4 more in the off season) so that speaks volumes.
This being said, if the right offer came along then Reggina would certainly listen.
I would say he has a good chance of progressing to Serie B or similar in the next 18 months.

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Some news out of Italy..
The new serie C season start on 25 August but most teams will debut in the Serie C Cup on August 5 first.

Reggina have opened brand new offices in town and relocated their admin cell there.

Reggina, Salernitana and Bari (all formerly of Serie A) will contest a mini pre season tournament on August 1st. Interestingly enough, the memorial is dedicated to a deceased active supporter (ultras).

Finally, Reggina now boasts four Italian internationals, although two of those recently represented the Italian University national team and the other two the Serie C (Third division) national team, so they aren't full internationals.

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45 minutes in the first pre-season hit out (10-0 vs a local team).

Reggina now playing 3-5-2 (with Rossi as left CB) and Niko playing the RWB role.


Niko started the game and before the new coach changed the full 11 at half time.

Reggina have a couple of pre-season tournaments coming up so watch this space.

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Niko was the only one of two players to play a full game yesterday against Foligno (recently promoted to Serie D, eg fourth tier).

The other player to get a full game was Redolfi a new CB who scored a brace!

Reggina have a new coach and have been lively on the transfer market (especially buying new defenders). Niko will likely play more of a RWB role this year and hopefully can retain his spot as a regular starter this season.

Big pre-season tournament coming up soon vs the likes of Bari and Salernitana (formerly of Serie A).

EDIT: Reggina won 3-0.

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Niko is taking part in a pre-season tournament. Three teams playing each other once in games that go for 45 minutes with penalties straight after the full time whistle the result isa draw.

So far he's had a full game in a 0-0 draw vs Bari (who won 4-2 on penalties).

Next up is Salernitana.

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Niko played another full game (45 minutes) in the three-way tournament as Reggina drew 1-1 against Salernitana (who beat them 4-2 on penalties).

Bari take the cup home.


The season proper starts tomorrow with an FA Cup game against Vicenza.

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And we're through to the next round of Coppa Italia!
Reggina won 3-2 against Vicenza at home.  The away side took the lead in the 7th minute, before Reggina scored 3 in a row and then conceded a late consolation goal.

Full game for Kirwan Jr, next up is Empoli (now in Serie B as they were relegated last season) on Sunday.

Empoli are the favorites, but with the Cup you never know!

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Bad news for Niko who cops two yellow cards and leaves his team with 10 men in the 51st minute against Serie B side Empoli in a Coppa Italia clash. Apparently, he lost the ball and grabbed his man so he wouldn't run away - pretty silly tactical foul so early in the game sadly.

The score was 1-1 at the time, and Empoli grabbed the winner in the 72nd minute.

Niko has performed well but Italian football is ruthless so hopefully he bounces back straight away from this setback.

In other news, Reggina are apparently chasing Nicklas Bendtner - and my sources say they're actually a chance of signing him! 

Never really rated him and from memory he has alcohol/anger related issues, but could definitely do a job in Serie C!

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Phillip Rollo reports that Niko has joined fellow Serie C club Reggio Audace FC on a 2 year deal

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https://www.reggioaudacefc.it/niko-kirwan-e-un-giocatore-della-reggio-audace-f-c/

Confirmed!
I didn't see this coming, especially since Niko had been starting in most pre season games this season too, but the mistake in the cup might have cost him. Reggina are also buying a ton of MF so maybe it's the new coach shaping his team the way he wants it.
I haven't seen any mention of a transfer fee yet but there must have been one since he hasn't been loaned out and he was contracted to Reggina until 2021.

Reggio Audace, formerly Reggiana, play in Reggio Emilia (not Reggio Calabria which is Regina's city) - quite confusing!
Also they were promoted to the third tier this season by way of repechage (eg they were given a chance to go up without qualifying as another team had gone bust). They'll do well to stay up as they have a pretty tough league, Juve U23 and lots of former Serie A teams with a great following and more resources at their disposal).

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Not involved in a 3-3 draw vs Juve U23 in the Serie C Cup - he only arrived in Reggio a couple of days ago, so that's understandable.

I think Reggio Audace (I'll probably call them Reggiana as that's how the team was known to most before going bankrupt) are out, despite having the same points and GD as Juve?

For those of you how you Twitter, Reggiana have an English language channel.

UPDATE: Sounds like Niko has signed a 2 year deal with Reggiana, so it's not a loan deal but I can't find any indication of a transfer fee.

I used my wife's FB account to look at the Reggiana FB page, the comments on his transfer are mainly positive and these themes recur often:

1. Reggina (his old team) fans loved him and are pretty gutted he left.

2. Most think Niko is very dynamic, has great stamina and gives his best every time.

3. He's better on offense than defense.

4. He's not technically amazing, especially his crosses need some working on.

Finally, here's a short interview with Niko (in Italian) - very interesting to hear he's fully fluent and even has a northern accent - I wish my son would speak Italian so well!!!

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Well he is Italian isn't he? born there with an Italian mother, from memory probably learned his first words while living there when his Dad was playing/coaching in Italy.

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Well he is Italian isn't he? born there with an Italian mother, from memory probably learned his first words while living there when his Dad was playing/coaching in Italy.

His dad speaks fluent Italian as well. Probably the mother tongue in their household, when Niko was growing up. Think JK also has passable Japanese

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Born in Auckland, but moved there quite early on and was in Italy for about a decade. His mum is Italian and Sir JK speaks the language very well - had the pleasure of chatting with him during the OFC Final a couple of years' back.

Also, he has an Italian passport IIRC (must do as his mum is from Italy) - but in the Italian media they always mention he's a Kiwi for some reason.

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Can confirm Reggio Audace are out of the Serie C Cup despite having the same points and GD as Juventus U23 - because the bastards scored more away goals.

First game of the season this weekend at home against Feralpi Salo' who boast former wonerkid and two-cap Italian international Andrea Caracciolo in their squad. The game will be played in Serie A's Sassuolo Mapei Stadium. It looks like Sassuolo and Reggio Audace share the 21,000 capacity ground.

Hoping to find a way to watch the game.

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Comes on after 73 minutes and gets a yellow card in a 4-1 win over Feralpi Salò. The score was 3-1 when he came on.

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Comes on in the 56th minute and picks up another yellow card in a 2-1 win at Ravenna. 

He came on just after Reggiana had taken the lead - Ravenna equalised in the 65th and super sub Lunetta scored late (86th minute) for the second week in a row IIRC.

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Unused sub in a 2-2 home draw vs Imolese.

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Subbed on in the 66th minute in a 3-0 away win vs SudTirol. Score was the same when he came on.

Still early times, but Reggiana are equal second on the table with 7 points after 3 games.

EDIT: Gets a pass mark (6/10) and the following commentary for his half an hour performance:

Plays a good game without overdoing anything. The situation was pretty settled by the time he came on.


Also, found an interview with the coach who said Niko had received a knock which kept him out of the previous game and that he wasn't certain he would be fit to play today - good news, sounds like he's definitely in contention for a regular spot in the match day squad.

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First start of the season and gets 89 minutes in a 0-0 draw at Fano. Reggiana still unbeaten and currently in 2nd position

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Unused sub in a 2-0 home win against fellow high flyers Carpi. Reggiana were celebrating the 100th birthday and with the won stay in second place.

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Starts and gets 66 minutes in a 0-0 away draw.

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Rode the pine in a 1-1 draw vs Gubbio

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Back in the starting XI. Gets 85 minutes and a yellow card in a 3-1 win over Triestina.
Apparently his replacement immediately set up Reggiana's third.

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Comes on in the 61st minute as Reggiana trailed 1-0 to Vicenza. Sadly the score didn't change.

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Starts and gets 72 minutes and bags one assist in a 2-2 draw in the Emilia Romagna derby vs Rimini.

Reggiana were 2-0 up but lost a player in the 37th after was double booked and gave away a penalty. The equaliser came just before half time.

Parity in numbers was re-established in the 50th, when Rimini had a man sent off as well. Rimini had a few chances to win the game, including hitting the bar, but weren't able to score and it ended 2-2.

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Highlights of the last game, including Niko's assist for Reggiana's first goal.

Very entertaining match - two red cards, one missed penalty, the crossbar being hit quite late in the game...

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90 minutes and a shot on goal in a 1-0 away win vs Modena.

Reggiana are 4th on the table and well within the play offs for now. Good to see Niko getting a full game.

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