It will be a totally new squad made up of fresh new faces as the Blacktown Spartans commence its rebuild for the 2015 PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 season.
Ben De Haan will have the difficult job of rebuilding the squad from last season with only four first team survivors.
“Club captain Carlos Saliadarre, Greg Kondek, Luka Dukic and Mitchell Long all stayed at the club and not only showed that they’re great footballers and professionals but great people also and they will be true leaders for the young players we have.”
The Spartans were pipped for the title in a dramatic final day of football that saw the Bonnyrigg White Eagles crowned Premiers.
It was a dark day for the club as they were trounced 7-0 to staunch rivals Blacktown City FC who ran away with a Championship title to further rub salt in the wounds of the Spartans side.
De Haan stated to Football NSW that the club has adopted a different path for the up-coming season.
“We want to finish as high as possible on the ladder.
“We’re trying to restructure the whole club through the youth system by giving the young players coming through an opportunity to play first team football.
“We aren’t looking for immediate success this season but rather to build a young team of loyal players that we can keep at the club for the future.”
Having lost almost his whole playing team, De Haan discussed his views on the season ahead.
“We’ll obviously lose the experience factor with the young team we have but it’s all a bit of short term pain for some long term gain.
“There isn’t huge pressure on us to have to win every game as we’re in a development stage.”
The club has had to dip into the transfer market to fill in the gaps of departed players.
Amongst new arrivals are former Western Sydney Wanderers National Youth League player Josh Da Silva, Marconi Stallions’ Japanese import Shu Sasaki and the return of club junior Josh Tanner.
“Youngsters Jordan Crighton from the Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Daniel Fogarty from APIA Leichardt Tigers have been good additions to our teams also.”
The Spartans boss has also been impressed by the youngsters coming through the system as he hopes to blood them into the first team squad.
“We’ve got a good young team and talented juniors coming through, like Ben Tosi for example who played for our 18’s, a few games for the reserves and now a standard first grader.”
De Haan says it will be a fight between two teams at the top.
“Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney United 58 FC should fight it out for the Premiership.”
The Spartans mentor says there could be a few surprises this year but one team has really caught his eye.
“There are about four or five clubs that could be a shock this season but Manly United looks really sharp, they’re a good bunch of young boys.”
Notable Signings – Josh Da Silva, Shu Sasaki, Josh Tanner, Costa Andricopoulos, Jordan Crighton, Daniel Fogarty
-By Nikola Pozder
Archives for February 2015
Coach Carter relishing Stallions opportunity
Marconi Stallions coach Paul Carter is confident that a full preseason has put the club in high spirits in time for the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 competition.
Carter replaced Darren Iocca after 12 rounds of the 2014 season.
“I came in at difficult stage for the club with the resignation of their coach and we were in a situation where the results weren’t what we were looking for.”
Carter expressed his views on his players playing free flowing and entertaining football.
“There are no hand cuffs on the players this year as I want them to play and express themselves.”
Eight new faces will be visible at the Bossley Park based club with two players in particular moving from the Illawarra Premier League.
Both Robbie Shields and William Tsovolos have come from Wollongong United while Irish import Anthony Flood and Blacktown Spartans’ Jacob Ott have made up some of the new faces in the Stallions squad.
Coach Carter spoke to Football NSW about his new signings.
“I’m very happy with the players we have signed and we’re looking at adding maybe one more to that list.”
Carter stated that no player stood out but more so the team as a unit.
“I think all players will play a massive role in the up-coming season.
“It was part of my philosophy to keep the nucleus of the squad and bring additions that will add excitement, develop and entertain Marconi fans and the football public.
“We need to gel new players with the old squad and it will take a bit of time but we are ahead of my expectations at this stage.”
Carter believes his club can do well this year as he spoke about the Stallions expectations.
“Every club goes in with high ambitions, we’ll be looking toward the semi finals for this season.”
The Marconi boss gave his views on teams that will be up there in 2015 as well as the dark horse of the competition.
“APIA Leichardt Tigers and Bonnyrigg White Eagles are two that stand out but I think Sydney Olympic will be dangerous.
“Looking back at last years results, I think APIA will have the biggest turnaround of all clubs.”
Notable signings – Robbie Shields, Anthony Flood, William Tsovolos, Jacob Ott, Sam Nastic, David Talevski, Alex Boyadjian
-By Nikola Pozder
Parramatta FC back in the top flight
Newly promoted side Parramatta FC have earned their place back into the PS4 NSW NPL Men’s 1 competition for the 2015 season.
Coach Franco Consentino understood that a lot of hard work and positive results were needed in keeping the club in NSW’s top flight.
“It will be a tough year there’s no doubt about that and we’ll have to do our best in what will be a competitive season.
“It’s a relatively young team with a low budget and our aim is to do our best, hopefully survive and build on that the following year.”
Parramatta FC did well in the inaugural Westfield FFA Cup last season, unfortunately getting knocked out to Victorian outfit St Albans Saints in the Round of 32.
“We can use the Westfield FFA Cup and learn from the experience as it was certainly one that really captivated the sqyad.
“It was fabulous to have been part of the first ever Cup especially with the healthy crowd that turned up at Melita Stadium.
Parramatta have looked to strengthen their squad from last season and have done so with no less than nine new squad members.
Former St George FC striker Juan Chavez joins the Reds attack, as well as David Gullo and Marco Sama.
Nikodin Matic makes a return to the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 league and will provide stern competition to Luke Turnbull for the number one place.
Another handy addition to the roster will be the return of Luke Grima from injury.
Consentino added that he has been pleased with the recruitment process.
“We have a good group of players that will work for each other.
“We have good youngsters in David Gullo, Josh Symons and Marco Sama who can change a game on their own which can very useful.”
The Parramatta boss also heaped praise on the club stalwarts Patrick Gatt and Matthew Clowes.
“Patrick Gatt and Matthew Clowes will be there and they were a major reason behind us getting promoted.”
Consentino also spoke about who he believes will pose as a surprise in the competition.
“The South Coast Wolves and Naz (Nahuel Arrate) will fly under the radar.
“He coaches the way he plays, he never gives up and is a true winner.”
2015 signings: Marco Sama, David Gullo, Nikodin Matic, Juan Chavez, Aram Tayebi-Derazkala, Steven Wright, Roberto Speranza, Andrew Vais, Tommy Cirjak
-By Nikola Pozder
Star studded Tigers hungry for success
It will be a new look A.P.I.A Leichardt Tigers in the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 competition this season.
The Tigers have been extremely busy during the off-season and have so far added nine new faces to their playing roster for 2015.
Some of the Tigers notable signings include Adrian Ucchino moving from Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Corey Bizco, Brett Studman and Nathan Millgate jumping ship from the Blacktown Spartans and Sean Symons making his way back to Lambert Park after a stint with the Western Sydney Wanderers youth team and Rockdale City Suns.
Former Sydney FC National Youth League player Daniel Petkovski has also made the move to the Tigers further strengthening the club’s ambitions as a Premiership contender.
Coach Billy McColl is confident that the Tigers will improve from the previous year and is more than satisfied with the clubs signings so far.
“We have really strengthened the team from last season.
“Adrian Ucchino in particular is an excellent signing for the club.”
McColl believes the club should be aiming for the top of the league and are amongst the early contenders for the Premiership.
“We should be challenging for the title and be up there this season, the top three is our aim.
“I believe we have the squad to challenge the likes of the Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Blacktown City who are the two big clubs in the league.”
McColl didn’t write off the rest of the competition though and remains wary of the other teams.
“This year we will have a very keen and competitive competition where there will be no easy games at all.”
The Tigers mentor also made comment on his sides expectations in the Westfield FFA Cup. Last year APIA was knocked out in the fourth round of the Waratah Cup, going down to eventual FFA Cup quarter finalists Manly United.
“We want to go as far as we can in the Westfield FFA Cup and have the opportunity to have a crack at the big boys.”
2015 SIGNINGS: Adrian Ucchino, Corey Bizco, Brett Studman, Nathan Millgate, Tyson Rhodes, Nathan Elasi, Sean Symons, Daniel Petkovski, Ryan Norval
-By Nikola Pozder
Blacktown City looking to rebuild its success
Champions Blacktown City will look to rebuild for the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 competition in 2015.
After taking out the grand final with a 2-1 win over Sydney Olympic in 2014, many City players were sought after by Hyundai A-League clubs.
Standout performances from Travis Major, Zac Cairncross and Jacob Poscoliero saw the Central Coast Mariners swoop for them while Kieran Baccus was snapped up by the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Another loss for Blacktown was integral striker Ryuji Miyazawa who returned back to Japan after some noticeable performances for the club.
Coach Mark Crittenden spoke about the significant losses.
“The boys have moved onto to the Hyundai A-League, something the club wants to continue doing in producing players.
“We’ve lost some great players but that’s football.”
City has wasted little time in bringing replacements with Chris Tomaras coming over from Sydney Olympic, former Hyundai A-League player Joey Gibbs also signing and Patrick Antelmi making his way back to Australia after spending almost five years in England, most recently at Wigan Athletic.
Crittenden hasn’t placed any pressure on his players following last season’s success where City claimed the Championship and Waratah Cup.
“We don’t really have any expectations,” Crittenden said.
“We have a very young team, younger than last year with probably an average age of 20-21.”
The City boss knows where he wants his side to be.
“As long as we’re playing good football and are around the top five we’ll be happy.
“We have a young team who we want to compete.”
Crittenden also spoke about who he believes the favourites will be for the 2015 season.
“Bonnyrigg, Sydney United 58 FC and APIA will be up there in what will be an all round tough competition.”
As for a dark horse, Crittenden mentioned one team.
“South Coast Wolves with Naz (Nahuel Arrate) improved significantly last year and could make for a surprise this year.”
2015 SIGNINGS: Christos Tomaras, Connor Evans, Patrick Antelmi, Joseph Gibbs, Tristan Prendergast
-By Nikola Pozder