Mutch and Kekeris hyped for Rockdale journey

Rockdale Illiden FC is continuing their push for the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s top spot, having signed former APIA aces Will Mutch and Peter Kekeris for the year. 

Mutch and Kekeris – both joining Rockdale from Lambert Park – enjoyed stellar seasons last campaign and are keen to establish themselves in what has been one of the premier clubs in NPL over the past few seasons.

“I think that I had quite a good season (last year),” said right-back Mutch.

“I was getting a lot of minutes and playing quite well, getting a couple of team of the weeks, a couple of assists and things like that.”

Meanwhile, Kekeris, who had joined APIA midseason from Sydney Olympic, enjoyed a similarly spectaular campaign.

“It was a good one for me,” said the new Rockdale winger.

“I’d come over mid-season from Olympic and there was no time to adapt, it was just straight in the deep end and started off with a few assists and then got a few goals.

“I had a good end to the season and on a personal note it was a positive one for me.”

Both players made the move to Rockdale in the off-season, with Mutch and Kekeris both citing the quality of the club and coach Steve Zoric’s persuasions as key cogs to the move.

“They’re such a good side and having a coach that really really wanted me and kept on asking and asking made me feel good,” said Mutch.

“Not that I wasn’t wanted at APIA, but they’re an amazing side and I’ve played with a lot of boys from there.

“I’ve only got good things to say about them.

“When they (Rockdale) came calling and Steve reached out to me it was a no brainer,” added Kekeris.

“The culture, the environment they’ve got there and the team they’re building is very strong so it was a no-brainer for me to go over.”

The two have become good friends at APIA and both expressed their delight at moving as a pair, but the original set of transfers wasn’t planned together, with neither Kekeris nor Mutch knowing about each other’s move until the contract was signed.

“I would say it was a bit of a coincidence to be honest – it wasn’t planned at all,” said Mutch.

“When I spoke to Steve he said there was another player coming from APIA, but wanted to keep it confidential.”

Kekeris told a similar story while adding on his excitement for the link between players to continue on the right flank, with Mutch at right-back and Kekeris in an advanced position ahead of him.

“It was a massive coincidence”, he said.

“The gaffer at Rockdale had spoken to me, and I had spoken with the CEO and the club and then had agreed on terms, and they told me that they were signing another boy from APIA but had to keep it under wraps.

“When I found out it was Mutchy I was over the moon because he was one of my good mates and it’s been good to have someone help me transition into a new changing room.”

Both players have said they’ve thoroughly enjoyed the transition to Rockdale and have praised the changing room for being so welcoming and opening.

Meanwhile, Mutch and Kekeris are both ready to go for the campaign and have spoken of their willingness to win the Premiership and Championship with their new club.

Their individual goals both stem towards taking a step back into the A-League Men competition, where the NPL NSW Men has produced a vast array of talent for over the years.

“I’d like to make a run for the (NPL Men’s) team of the year this year,” said Mutch.

“I want to try and get a lot of assists and team of the weeks and hopefully we can win the premiership and then go through and win the whole thing.

“I think with the squad we have and the depth of the squad I think it’s ours to lose.”

“Hopefully I have a good season and then an A-League Men team picks me up, but I just want to do the best I can at Rockdale and then see where I can go from there.”

“On a personal note, I want to try and score some goals and get some assists – I think numbers are important these days in football so if I can get double digits in goals and around the same in assists, it’ll be a successful season for me,” said Kekeris.

“As a team, collectively, I want to win the league.

“I think we have such a strong playing group and it’s really balanced with older and younger boys, so we want to go all the way and win the league and then hopefully go on a cup run as well.

“I’m hoping for a strong season for myself individually and then hopefully I can get back in the A-League Men or get a sniff in Asia somewhere.”

Mutch and Kekeris will feature in Rockdale’s fierce opening clash against Blacktown City to open the NPL Men’s season on the 6th of March, with a win crucial to start the season strongly for the former APIA duo.

-By Jack George

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