ORIENT manager Martin Ling finally landed former Hereford United defender Tamika Mkandawire in June 2007 after a 12-month pursuit for his services.

The O's boss had been a long-time admirer of the Malawi-born centre back and he had a £60,000 bid for Mkandawire turned down by the Bulls prior to the 2006/07 season.

But once his contract expired a year later, Ling wasted little time in persuading Tamika to join the O's on a three-year deal.

The talented defender settled in immediately in E10 and made an instant impact in the O's team, scoring the club's 5,000th Football League goal in the 2-2 draw with Northampton Town on September 1 2007.

Mkandawire started his career at West Bromwich Albion, but he struggled to make the breakthrough at the Hawthorns and he moved to Hereford United on loan during the 2003/04 season to gain first team experience.

That move was made permanent in July 2004 and he went on to win the club's Player-of-the-Year award for the next two seasons, skippering the Bulls to victory in the Conference play-off final at the end of the 2005/06 campaign.

Following an equally impressive year in League Two in 2006/07, Tamika was keen to test himself at a higher level and he certainly made the most of that that opportunity last term.

Tamika Mkandawire
Squad No: 5
Position: Defender (C)
Place and Date of Birth: Mzuzu (Malawi), May 28 1983
Height and Weight: 5.11 / 13.03
Full Orient Debut: Away v Southend United (W2-1, August 11 2007)