Ante Juric has wasted no time in preparing for the 2022 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season after the club announced the signing of four quality youngsters in Mathieu Cordier, Sam McIllhatton, Emmanuel Peters and Niko Ujdur.
Both Cordier and McIllhatton come to the Blues after successful seasons with APIA Leichhardt, young defender Ujdur spent the past year with the youthful Northbridge Bulls outfit while Peters was part of the Marconi Stallions senior setup.
“We are looking forward to the 2022 NPL NSW Men’s new season and want to build on our solid fourth place this year and a FFA Cup Round of 32 birth,” Juric stated to Football NSW.
“I believe we have further strengthened the squad for the new season by bringing in some excellent young players such as Mathieu, Sam, Emmanuel and Niko.
“The team will again be youthful, though it is also a team for the now, as I believe we will be capable of challenging for trophies.”
The club however lost three influential players from its 2021 squad with long serving Blues star Jason Madonis, pocket dynamo midfielder Hagi Gligor and Nicola Kuleski who have all moved to rival NPL NSW Men’s clubs. Japanese import striker Yu Hasegawa has also departed while Olympic did lose both Mo Adam and Fabian Monge to Xanthi FC earlier this year.
Juric will still have a fair bit of experience to counter his young gun stars on display with the likes of Tom Whiteside, Brendan Cholakian, Fabio Ferrerira, Adam Parkhouse and fan favourite William Angel all ready to wear the Blues jersey once more.
For Angel, it will be an amazing 19th year with the club and twelve as a senior Olympic first grader, such is his passion for the Blues.
“This club means everything to me and I am delighted to be back once again.
“We are aiming to build on last season after finishing in a good position.
“A lot of the younger boys are gaining experience which is great for now and shaping us as a squad for the future as we look to be a force in season 2022 and beyond.”
Sydney Olympic 2022: William Angel, Ben Van Meurs, Michael Glassock, Brendan Cholakian, Tom Whiteside, Marley Peterson, Fabio Ferreira, Simun Milicevic, Chan Deng, Danial Dias, Nick Sorras, Christopher Parsons, Adam Parkhouse, Oliver Pufflett, Matthew Cordier, Niko Ujdur, Sam McIllhatton, Emmanuel Peters.