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Belkadi grateful to be back playing after injury scare

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Wollongong Wolves exciting young 21-year-old Left Back Bilal Belkadi has been hard at work during lockdown to ensure he can pick up where he left from after an early season leg injury that nearly derailed his maiden NPL NSW Men’s campaign.

The life of a young footballer is fragile at best.

You’re hungry to prove yourself as you constantly search to improve day in day out.

There have been many footballers brimming with talent in recent years that have gone too far too soon or in devastating cases, succumb to injuries that stunt or end their career before it begins.

For Belkadi, a broken fibula in the early stages of the year posed that very threat.

In very rare circumstances however, the budding footballers’ injury didn’t require surgery with the left-back only spending weeks on the sideline.

“I was very disappointed when I injured my leg.

“Having to move away from home on the Central Coast to a new place took time but I felt like I adjusted really well and slotted into the squad well under Luke’s (Wilkshire) leadership, so when the injury came it was tough mentally.

“I was, however, very lucky to only miss a few games and get back out onto the park quickly so I’m very grateful.”

For Belkadi, a return saw a string of strong performances for a player looking very comfortable within the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.

Having come through the academy at the Central Coast Mariners amassing several years at a first grade NPL level, Belkadi says he felt that he adapted well physically.

“Moving to Wollongong and into the NPL NSW Men’s league I didn’t find the physical challenge all that difficult.

“I was used to it in the years prior but the technicality of the players is definitely higher so that took some adjusting too but I feel I’ve handled it really well.”

Belkadi, with his vast experience against those older than him, poses a threat for those he comes up against each week.

An old head on young shoulders is certainly something that would be of benefit to any side and for a Wolves side right in the hunt for finals football this year, Belkadi is sure to have an important role to play.

“We started off a bit slow this year.

“There were new players like myself that came in and it showed early on.

“Although once we came together, we clicked well, and the performances came. We’ve qualified for the FFA Cup along with putting ourselves in a position to fight for the finals which is great.

“The timing of the lockdown was a shame but there’s plenty of teams like us who were starting to find form so we’re staying positive and looking forward to when the season restarts.”

As Belkadi, like many of us, sits tight amidst the enforced lockdown, he has been staying quite busy with the opportunity to play on the national stage along with a chance to play finals football at the forefront of his mind.

“When the lockdown first started, I was at home on the Central Coast. I have 3 brothers and a sister so it was great to be with my family.

“My brothers and I worked a lot in the backyard with bootcamp style training along with plenty of running to the beach and back.

“Coach Luke has also sent the squad training programs and we have a team zoom call three times a week involving core work which has been very beneficial for us. Of course, in my downtime, the PlayStation has been very handy (laughs).

“The squad is very keen to get back to training and playing together as we have a lot to look forward to.

“We’re going to be pushing for finals and of course the FFA Cup is exciting. It will be my first time in it, I can’t wait to show what I and the team can do but with all the work we’ve put in individually, we’ll be ready for a big end to the year.”

-By Joseph Esposito

Cholakian adapting well to Olympic life

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As one of the NPL NSW Men’s most experienced players, Brendan Cholakian has been a mainstay of Manly United’s squad for the majority of his time in the competition.

After making the big switch from Cromer Park to Belmore Sportsground for Sydney Olympic this year, the midfielder has settled right in to the new team dynamic, continuing to be one of the league’s most impactful players.

“I think this year was always going to be the toughest season for me because of the change,” he explained.

“Taking the big change into account, it’s been such a smooth and enjoyable season so far, the team, the squad, the coaching staff and the Club itself have been so welcoming to me and that made me fit in really, really well and it feels like I’ve been playing there for such a long period of time.

“We always knew it was going to take a fair bit of time for us to gel, but the chemistry that we’ve got as a playing group is really, really good and I’m enjoying my football now more than ever – it’s been a really good season.

“We’ve positioned ourselves really, really well, in that fifth spot and close to the top three or four that once we get back to playing, we can really close out the season with some strong form with the remaining games that we’ve got at home at Belmore.”

Having spent so much time at Manly, Cholakian experienced going back to Cromer Park as a visitor this season.

“It was strange when I came up against them the first time and it was actually at Cromer Park – it’s always strange going back to a place that you’ve been at for so long.

“I think the way that the Olympic has made me feel so much at home since day one, it made that transition a little bit easier.

“I still speak with a lot of the players at Manly still quite regularly and they’ll be good friends to me for a long, long time even outside of my footballing career.

“From that sort of individual people side of things, I still sort of keep in touch with everyone, but when it came to football, even though the first time back to Cromer was a bit strange, I haven’t really felt any different and I feel like my new home at Olympic is somewhere I want to be for a very long time.”

While the lockdown is stopping Olympic from getting together and training as a team, they are still training individually and building their chemistry through the digital channels available to them.

“As most people would say when you’re in lockdown the best escape is to sort of get out onto the paddock and have a run and have a kick so the fitness plan that has been provided to us by Olympic has been really, really good and, most importantly, we’ve got a really committed squad of individuals and I know that every single one of them is going to be doing this at the best of their ability.

“Our WhatsApp group chat blows up quite regularly with a fair bit of banter, in fact, I think now that we’ve gone into lockdown the WhatsApp group has probably got a bit more content in there in comparison to when we were seeing each other every pretty much every second day of training anyway.

“We’ve got a really good bunch of boys everyone gets along really well, everyone’s reaching out to individuals independently as well – I’ve reached out to the boys just checking to see how they’re going, and I’ve received the same, so it just shows what a strong group of players that we have.”

With the extension of the NSW stay-at-home orders, Cholakian can’t wait until it is safe to get back on the pitch and continue Olympic’s 2021 campaign.

“We’ve positioned ourselves in a really good spot in terms of the league, being fifth with a number of games to go.

“With a number of those games at Belmore, it gives us a really good opportunity to secure our spot in finals football and finish as high as we can on the table, so that when we do go into the finals series we’re going into that with a bit of sort of winning momentum.

“It’s also been a really successful year for us in the Cup competitions – we’ve got the semi-final of the Waratah Cup against Blacktown, and we obviously want to win that game and get into the final, and then we’ve got the big matchup against Sydney FC in the FFA Cup so we’ve still got so much to play for.

“That’s why this time off is so important to make sure that we are staying fit and sharp so when we do get back we’ve got a couple of big-ticket items to make sure that we win and progress well in.”

-By Madeline Riley

 

 

 

 

 

Kekeris declares the bar remains high at Lambert Park

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A midseason change of scenery for winger Peter Kekeris has bore early fruit as the high-flying youngster eyes a late season charge for APIA Leichhardt FC as Cup football looms.

Transitioning from one club to the other can be a difficult prospect in the life of a footballer. Surroundings, coaches and teammates take time getting used, it’s a normal part of the process.

However for APIA Leichhardt FC’s Peter Kekeris, this transition from Sydney Olympic amidst the middle of a campaign has seemed to affect him like water off a duck’s back.

With 8 appearances to his name already at Lambert Park and a host of goals and assists, Kekeris has started life very well at his new home and the youngster, aged 22 says he couldn’t be happier.

“It’s been a good start. It was great to grab the match winning assist in my first game.

“From there it’s been good to get more game time and make more of a contribution with goals, assists and just doing my part for the team.”

For a player with experience at A-League outfit the Central Coast Mariners, the quality of Kekeris’ play has been a welcomed addition for an APIA side who are right in the hunt for finals football this season.

“When I arrived we went on a good run of performances, collecting vital points.

“Then just prior to lockdown we had some tough results not go our way but it’s still all to play for.

“However, we’ve qualified for the FFA Cup and are in with a great chance in the Waratah Cup so there’s some exciting fixtures ahead of us.”

For a young footballer like Kekeris, opportunities like those in the FFA Cup are worth their weight in gold.

Being able to butt heads with the best of the best within Australian football, in front of a national audience, is more than enough to stoke the flames of aspiring footballers in this country.

For Kekeris, he says it’s competition he can’t wait to give his all in.

“For NPL players, the cup is so important.

“It gives us a chance to showcase what we can do and potentially earn ourselves a professional contract.

“We’ve drawn Cooma Tigers first up. They’ll be a tough side no doubt, but we are confident we can get the job done and hopefully draw an A-League side and if that opportunity arises, we’ll show no fear.”

For Kekeris, he said the timing of lockdown was a shame but a time he is using to stay fit and enjoy time with his family.

Representing a club with a rich history like APIA comes with it, its own weight of expectation.

Nonetheless, Kekeris knows that both himself and the side will be itching at the bit once the season recommences.

“We can’t wait to get back out there.

“We’ve set the bar high. We want to go as far as we can in the FFA cup, win the Waratah Cup and gain a spot in the finals.

“We know that it won’t be easy but we are a side with the talent capable of bringing more success to the club.”

-By Joseph Esposito

 

 

 

 

 

Hatfield Eager to Continue Finals Fight

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For Marconi’s Chris Hatfield the stay-at-home restrictions came at the most inopportune of times, having found his feet in the NPL NSW Men’s Competition after missing so many games due to injury.

Having spent a lot of time in lockdown in Melbourne last year, the Stallions’ attacker is eager to get back on the pitch and continue to make an impact for his team.

“I missed so many weeks due to injury and obviously that wasn’t the plan coming to Marconi but since I’ve since I’ve come back, I think it’s been pretty good,” he explained.

“I suppose as a whole the team would have been expecting to do better this season and it’s disappointing the COVID has hit when it has because I think that we were probably just starting to really find our feet.”

Despite the bad timing, this lockdown is a little different from the last, being back at home with his family.

“I think I’ve got enough experience because I spent the whole year in lockdown in Melbourne last year so I’m a bit of a lockdown veteran.

“I’d say that it’s been a lot easier so far this time because last year I was living in Melbourne with my girlfriend and we weren’t with our families, but at least this time I’m living back at home with my parents which makes it a lot easier to kind of keep the sanity and just spending time with my girlfriend, when possible, makes it a lot easier.”

Despite not regularly seeing his Marconi teammates as he usually would, Hatfield explained that the team is staying in contact through their group chat.

“It’s always going to be more difficult because you can’t actually go out and spend time with them, but we do have a group chat on WhatsApp and we all stay in contact.

“Whenever something’s happening in the sporting world, we’re talking about it or getting updates about COVID and staying in touch.

“It has been difficult going from seeing them so often to just to just having that sort of contact – it’s tough.”

While the club has provided the team with training programs, the focus is on staying motivated to keep working hard in the current climate of uncertainty.

“It is more difficult, mostly on the motivation side, because it can get a bit tough being home all the time.

“We’ve all got training programs and the physical side of things we’re staying on top of.

“It’s just up to the boys personally to stay motivated and if everyone really wants to then they’re going to be pushing hard during this time period.”

Looking forward to the remainder of the season, Hatfield explained that the team has to talent and potential to make the finals.

“I think for everyone in the club the goal is to make the finals, I know that’s what it is for me and that’s what the coaches have discussed with the players.

“That means winning every single game from now on and I think we definitely have the squad to do that.

“We just need to continue to work hard and hopefully everyone’s doing what they can during this period of time to make sure they stay on top of it.”

-By Madeline Riley

 

 

 

 

 

Positivity driving Thompson through Sydney Lockdown

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For Mt Druitt Town Rangers defender Blake Thompson, the lockdown is the perfect opportunity to put in the extra effort to take his game to a new level.

After an impressive start to the NPL New South Wales Men’s season, Thompson and co showed the rest of the league what the Rangers were capable of doing.

“We had an unbelievable start,” he explained.

“I think that the boys that have come together to play this year are a really good group of boys.

“I think we have a good, good range of a few young boys that really aspire to get to a high level, a few boys, like myself and a few older boys, that have all played at a high level that they bring experience to the team.

“As football goes you can’t always continually win and we went through a bit of a rough patch, which I think was good – it tests your mentality.

“Just before COVID hit, we got a few good wins in a row and got back up the ladder so hopefully all the boys have been doing quite a bit of work in this lockdown individually so when the season starts again, we’re just firing like we were.”

The positive mindset of the experienced defender is proving invaluable as the Sydney lockdown continues to be extended with fitness and improvement at the forefront of his mind.

“I’ve been working pretty hard off the pitch to be fair, doing quite a lot of work by myself in the gym… it’s been really, really helping on the pitch.

“My body probably hasn’t felt any better than it has my entire career.

“Even when I was playing overseas, I probably wasn’t in the shape, or felt the shape, I am now so it’s been super, the body feels really good.

“I do four sessions by myself on the pitch, getting some good kilometres in the legs doing some beach runs and some grass sprints and kind of just keeping the legs at full fitness.

“I’m just yeah trying to do as much as I can to keep stimulated, I’m not one to kind of sit around the house it’s very hard for me to stay still there.

“It’s been a bit tough in that sense you can only do so much in one day but a lot of going to the beach, a lot of training, a lot of coffees – I’ve had that many coffees it’s ridiculous just to get myself out of the house.”

The tight-knit Mt Druitt group have been keeping spirits high with plenty of entertainment coming from the group chat.

“We have a WhatsApp group that goes off quite a lot.

“We’re very close and there is a lot of banter thrown about.

“In my session today, I just filmed about three minutes of it, and I’ll just send it in the group… I’ll get ripped by half the boys but it’s just banter.

“I think what’s been really good is everyone still has super, super high positive vibes, which I think you need.

“As a team sport, you really need to keep the positivity high, especially when you’re not seeing each other and you’re not playing which is essentially what we love to do, so I think that’s been a really good thing.

“There’s never really a day where we don’t hear from someone in the group, which is good.

“Even for the future, too, I think everyone feels really, really positive about these next five or six games, and we’re still in the FA Cup, which we feel super positive about too, so for the team, there’s a lot for us to still look forward to and I think that plays a big part as well.”

-By Madeline Riley