FK Paņevezys has announced that goal-scoring Nicaraguan forward Ariagner Smith who missed all of the 2024 because of an injury will remain with the team for another season.
The 26-year-old Nicaraguan international joined Paņevezys at the start of the 2022 season on loan from the Latvian club Jūrmalas Spartaks. During his first season with the Aukštaitija club, he contributed with eight goals and five assists.
In his second season, now a permanent member of Paņevezys, Smith had the best year of his professional career. He scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 34 league matches, helping lead Paņevezys to their first historic A Lyga title.
Unfortunately, Smith suffered an injury while on international duty that sidelined him for all of 2024. However, he has stated that he is now ready to return, and the effects of the injury are behind him.
“The team’s performance last season was average; we showed a low level of play in several matches. I feel fully recovered from my injury, and I hope to engage in rigorous physical training to prepare myself well for the start of the season,” Smith shared.
“In the upcoming season, I will strive to return to my best form and help the team become champions again,” he added in an interview with the fk-panevezys.lt website.
The Nicaraguan national team representative, along with other Paņevezys players, will gather for their first training session in preparation for the new season on January 6.