Midfielder impressed in five appearances during last season’s playoff run in
Having ended the 2023-24 season in such impressive form, Micael Fatela has signed for another year with Hassocks and is expected to become a permanent member of James Westlake’s first team squad.
The midfielder was on the books of Paris Saint-Germain as a youngster and began training with the Robins a couple of weeks into last season after a number of years out of the game following injury.
After a six-week wait for international clearance, Hassocks were able to complete his registration. Fatela instantly impressed in the Under 23s, scoring three goals in five appearances.
Westlake soon called Fatela into the first team, where he came off the bench three times through the autumn.
In January, it was decided that Fatela should sign for Southern Combination Division One side Billingshurst with the aim of playing regular senior football before returning to the Beacon for 2024-25 and pushing for a first team spot.
Fatela scored twice in seven appearances for Billingshurst, after which Hassocks requested his early return for the final month of the Premier Division season with the Robins eyeing up a playoff place.
This proved to be a good decision. Fatela was man-of-the-match on his full senior debut as Hassocks beat Bexhill United 5-0 at the Beacon, having a hand in two of the Robins goals.
He followed that up by scoring himself away at Saltdean United a week later via a sublime finish. Latching onto a Raging Joe Bull tackle which turned into a through pass, Fatela lobbed a difficult bouncing ball perfectly over Tigers goalkeeper Jordan Hawkins to drop just underneath the bar.
Fatela ended up playing five times for the Robins as they secured a fifth place finish before going down to Eastbourne Town in the playoff semi finals.
Based on what the Beacon saw in those appearances, he will be an exciting permanent addition to the first team for the upcoming campaign.
