Sydney Olympic gearing for new era
IGA National Premier League NSW Mens 1 side Sydney Olympic are busily preparing for a new era under club hero and coach Grant Lee.
The former NSL giants have gone through a rebuilding process having lost a number of key players such as Emmanuel Giannaros, Phil Makrys, Brett Studman, Elsid Barkhousir, Kingsley Williams and coaching staff during the course of the 2013 season which derailed the club’s finals series aspirations.
The new season has heralded a new approach by the club as Lee along with newly appointed assistant coach and another former club hero, Peter Zorbas, prepare for what will be a big year for the club.
The Blues have added a number of fresh new young faces to the squad and even though the chat about former Greek International Angelos Charisteas as well as Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Pantelis Kafes possibly signing for the club has dominated the headlines, the club will certainly unearth a number of up and coming stars.
Former Hyundai A-League player Evan Kostopoulos is one who is hoping that a good season in NSW’s top tier competition can attract the interest of clubs such as Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Along with Kostopoulos, the club has signed Melbourne born Dimitri Hatzimouratis who spent time overseas as well as in the Victorian Premier League with South Melbourne while former Blacktown City FC sharpshooter Harris Gaitatzis, as well as his brother Michael, will no doubt add some much needed firepower to the Blues side.
Attacking midfielder Christos Tomaras has linked up with the side after his seven year stint playing in Greece while unknown Japanese imports Go Shirai and Taiga Soeda could both be the players to watch out for in a very talented squad.
The club will once again call upon the likes of Amaury Gauthier, Bradley Treloar, Brayden Sorge, Christopher Godoy Bascur, Troy Danaskos, William Angel and club captain Petar Markovic from last year’s squad but keep an eye out for promising young gun Jason Madonis.
Sydney Olympic’s first match of the IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 season will be against rivals and 2013 NPL Champions Sydney United 58 FC on Sunday 16th March at the Sydney United Sports Centre.
-By Mark Stavroulakis
