Murray aiming high at APIA
A BROKEN foot has sabotaged star recruit Jordan Murray’s start to his new career at APIA Leichhardt, but the 20-year-old goalscoring ace is confident he’ll be ready for the club’s season opener against fierce local rivals Sydney Olympic on March 13.
Murray, who arrived from the Wollongong Wolves in the offseason, was a key signing in a tireless recruitment drive by APIA which netted several significant newcomers, including Japanese attacking duo Tasuku Sekiya and Kenta Hasegawa, former Newcastle Jets defender Themba Muata Marlow and ex-Sydney Olympic star Brendan Hooper.
“My preseason has been absolutely terrible watching all the trial games but I’m better off taking the time to recover now than coming back too early,” Murray tells Football NSW. “I spent three weeks running my way back to fitness and started training with the team at the end of February. Now I’m touching the ball and getting into passing drills, so there’s definitely been some progress.”
Despite being unable to play, Murray joined his teammates on a preseason trip to Vanuatu. The Tigers returned home with a one win, one loss record from two games. Playing in the island nation in front of large and passionate crowds and spending quality time together was seen as a great bonding exercise for the team, one the club is hoping will provide some momentum for the upcoming season.
“We look very strong,” Murray says. “We’ve avoided playing our strongest lineup but whatever team we’ve put on the park we’ve been very strong. My teammates are awesome blokes, we’re all a team, there are no cliques and no individuals, and we’re definitely aiming for the title this season.”
Murray’s desire to play at the highest level prompted his move to APIA, a club that last year went agonisingly close to reaching the PS4 NPL NSW 1 Grand Final. Given the club has retained most of its squad from 2015 and recruited well, Murray and his new teammates certainly have the depth and talent to mount a serious challenge for premiership honours.
“I scored 10 goals in first grade for Wollongong last season and I did the same the year before,” Murray says. “But I want to play at the highest level and to do that you’ve got to go to the best teams. I love Wollongong but big people watch big clubs and for me, coming to APIA is a stepping stone to the A-League.”
Murray isn’t exactly a stranger to Lambert Park, having been a member of the Tigers’ under 15 side a few years ago. Despite receiving offers from three rival clubs at the end of last season, his familiarity with APIA made his decision to sign with them an easy one.
“I played here as a 15-year-old and I know a lot about the club,” he says. “Their facilities are top-notch and they’ve got a great reputation for providing players to the A-League. That played a major part in my decision to come here.”
A proven goal-scorer and hard-working team man, Murray has set his sights on scoring 15 goals this season, but he faces stiff competition for a starting spot from fellow strikers Nathan Elasi, who made seven appearances for Melbourne Victory, and Japanese import Tasuku Sekiya.
He also concedes he needs to work on a few things, such as developing a selfish streak and using his size to hold up the ball.
“At 6’ 2’, I’m tall but I’m not that strong,” he says. “I think I can probably hold up the ball a lot better than what I do. I probably like to offload the ball a little bit too early. Up front you’ve got to be a little bit more greedy. It’s something to work on, just the timing of when to pass the ball and when to hold onto it.”
For someone so young, Murray has achieved plenty of highlights, including making his first grade debut at the tender age of 18 and bagging a haul of 20 goals for the Wolves in two seasons.
He was also selected in the 2015 PS4 NPL NSW 1 first grade team of the year, an honour that gives him confidence for the future.
Never satisfied, Murray is hoping that plenty more good times lie ahead.
“My ultimate ambition in football is to be a professional player scoring as many goals as possible in the highest league as possible,” he says. “Now that would be awesome.”
Given his track record so far, who’d be willing to bet against the young goal-scoring ace from taking yet another significant step towards achieving his ultimate dream?
-By Derek Royal
