Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

Balanta Signs On Until 2012

With rumours persisting that QPR manager Paul Hart is close to signing Daniel Cousin and Caleb Folan from Hull City, it would be safe to suggest that more firepower up front is his main priority. Barring Jay Simpson who has scored regularly in a misfiring side, QPR's other strikers have struggled to stay injury-free and score all season long. After Simpson's haul of ten goals, the rest of the Hoops' striking bunch have contributed just five goals between them (three for Patrick Agyemang and one each for Alessandro Pellicori and Rowan Vine).

The manager retains a rarely-used option within his own ranks though. 19-year old striker Angelo Balanta has missed most of this season because of a groin injury but the promising youngster is now fit to play and has just signed a new contract to keep him at the club until 2012.

The Colombian, who has only managed two appearances so far this season, would have been out of contract in the summer.

Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, he said:

"I'm absolutely delighted.

"This is where I want to play my football, so I couldn't be more pleased.

"I'm feeling really sharp and hopefully I can make an impact during the second half of the season."


One of those QPR transfer targets could be arriving home from the African Nations Cup earlier than expected after his manager advised him to return to England.

Rangers were strongly linked with Daniel Cousin of Hull City, who is on international duty with Gabon at the tournament in Angola, over the last week.

The player could now walk out of the tournament if Hull boss Phil Brown has his way as a result of the shooting on the Togo team bus yesterday that killed one player, two staff members and the driver: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/09/togo-withdraw-africa-cup-of-nations-attack.

Brown voiced his concern for Cousin's safety, as well as Hull team-mate Seyi Olofinjana who represents Nigeria.

Speaking to The Sun (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2801232/Prem-bosses-plead-Call-it-off.html), he said:

"I am appalled.

"This throws a question mark against next summer's World Cup.

"You simply cannot put the safety of players, officials and fans at the slightest risk.

"That is totally unacceptable.

"I have two players - Daniel Cousin and Seyi Olofinjana - on duty and I want them back home here with us as quickly as possible."