The Tigers tackle old foes and rivals Marconi Stallions this Friday 6th April (Good Friday) with kick off set for 3pm at Lambert Park while they will be back at Lambert Park again next Friday 13th April when they take on Bonnyrigg White Eagles with kick off set for 8pm.
Match Details
Friday 6th April 2012
3pm – APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Marconi Stallions
Grade 20s – 1pm
Friday 13th April 2012
8pm – APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Grade 20s – 6pm
-By Mark Stavroulakis
Sydney Olympic v Rockdale City Suns time change
The Grade 20s will be kicking off at 3pm while the Grade 18s at 1pm.
Insight: Rockdale City Suns
The Team: Rockdale City Suns failed to deliver in 2011 following their fine first season in the NSW Premier League in 2010. Always a difficult side to break down defensively, especially at home, the Suns lacked the creativity and self-belief in the final third to make a serious challenge last season.
Despite the early season setbacks, the Suns did finish the season strongly under the guidance of Wally Savor, finishing only five-points outside the top-five.
Expectation in 2012 is that the Suns do make a serious challenge for finals football. Despite losing a number of experienced campaigners from last season including the likes of Paul Dee, Adem Kir, James Monie and Mirko Jurilj, the Suns have added some strong names to their playing roster this season.
Paul Kohler?s experience will be vital, especially around the young players, meanwhile the additions of Takuya Muruyama, Hussein Jasli and Nathan Jagelman certainly do add pace and flair to the squad.
The late inclusions of former Sydney United young gun Tomislav Cirjak along with Sydney United youth keeper Ryan Norval and ex-Newcastle Jets youth player David Talevski.
Captain Peter Apolevski will again lead his beloved Suns, and his job will be an important one in guiding the newly promoted youngsters through their first season in Football NSW?s top flight.
The Coach: Wally Savor made the jump from the Rockdale City Suns Grade-20 side midway through last season following the departure of Lee Sterrey at the club, and the former Socceroo defender has proven he does have a bright future in the coaching ranks ahead of him.
Savor led the Suns to what seemed an unlikely eighth place finish following the Suns start to the 2011 campaign, a run that included some very impressive displays by his side.
Savor?s playing experience ? having played at an elite level and voted one of the greatest Socceroos of all time ? stand the Rockdale City Suns club in a good position to challenge for finals football.
Player to watch: Much expectation surrounded striker Jason Naidovski following his arrival at the Suns last season, though a difficult season all-round for the club culminated in a lengthy goal scoring drought for the burly front man.
Despite the early season setback, Naidovski showed his strengths late on in the campaign and his overall ability cannot be questioned. A deadly finisher in front of goal with a strong capacity to hold off his marker and create chances, expect Naidovski to show his true worth in 2012.
Rising Star: Roberto Speranza is another fine emerging talent in the NSW Premier League this season. A tremendous 2011 for the Suns? Grade-20 side, the imposing figure who has exceptional touch on the ball, equally impressive vision and a no nonsense attitude offers coach Wally Savor much versatility across the backline or even in midfield.
The young talent also possesses a fine set-piece delivery, an asset to the club following the departure of Adem Kir following last season.
Rockdale City Suns Squad 2012
1. Ryan Norval
2. Takuya Muruyama
3. Giorgio Speranza
4. Tomislav Cirjak
5. Pece Cvetanovski
6. Josh Lawson
7. Pece Apolevski ?
8. Paul Kohler
9. Nathan Jagelman
10. Jason Naidovski
11. David Talevski
12.Hussein Jasli
13. Jin Kim
14. Daniel Slaveski
15. Adrian Karakolevski
16. Anthony Perri
17. Sash Tirovski
18. Daniel Mitwali
19. Marino Musumeci
20. Roberto Speranza
21. Ricky Perinich
22. Aaron Liddell (GK)
23. Askin Oygur
24. Sean Thomas
Coach: Wally Savor
Ins: Paul Kohler (Sutherland Sharks), Takuya Muruyama (Bonnyrigg White Eagles), Pece Cvetanovski (free agent), Daniel Mitwali (Kfarsoum FC), Nathan Jagelman (Marconi Stallions), Hussein Jasli (Sutherland Sharks), Jin Kim, Daniel Slaveski (Bankstown City), Ryan Norval (Sydney FC youth), Tomislav Cirjak (Brisbane Roar youth), David Talevski, Ricky Perinich (Sydney United)
Outs: Paul Dee, Sash Trajcevski, Shay Spitz, Dominic Hudap, Jeffrey Issa, Adem Kir, Itsuki Hasegawa, Steven Veleski, James Monie, Mirko Jurilj, Dion Shaw
Insight: Bonnyrigg White Eagles
The Team: Bonnyrigg White Eagles supporters and club alike will be expecting a much more consistent season in 2012 following the disappointment of a fifth-place finish in the last campaign. The side was tipped to run over all adversaries twelve months ago following an almost perfect 2012, though Bonnyrigg never really got going in what was a very inconsistent 2011 campaign.
Some worthy additions have been made to the club with the experience of Jordan Simpson, Alex Mansueto, Mitchell Long and Luke Dukic certain to give the younger additions much guidance.
The arrival of Robbie Younis in attack fills the boots of Brad Boardman nicely following the striker?s move to Dandaloo in the Illawarra Premier League, meanwhile Long, Andres Gomes and the Gaitatzis brothers, Chris and Harris, will need to feed the target man if the goals are to be flowing.
Across the backline, and the middle of the park, Bonnyrigg seem to possess a mountain of cover and experience, something coach ?Bomber? Brown will be looking to use to his advantage once the season kicks off at the end of March.
The Coach: Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach Brian Brown will be out to ensure his side get the season off to a good start following a disappointing finish to the 2011 campaign. The White Eagles seemed unbeatable in 2010, where they reached the final before falling at the feet of Blacktown City FC, though 2011 failed to re-state that dominance with an inconsistent season that ended with a fifth-placed finish.
Brown has proven his stature as one of the best ever coaches in the NSW Premier League competition, leading a number of clubs to silverware over the years. ?Bomber? has had a very positive recruitment campaign over the off season, and the players at his disposal do seem more than capable of leading Bonnyrigg back to the top of the ladder.
Player to watch: Robbie Younis has joined Bonnyrigg following a long stint at APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, and the burly striker will have some big shoes to fill leading the White Eagles attacking line. Brad Boardman?s departure meant Brown needed to find a target man, and Younis certainly does fill that void. A mountain of muscle on the ball, the speedy striker possesses a need pass and powerful shot that has haunted many goalkeepers in the competition over recent seasons. A rather unsettled 2011 campaign at the Tigers arguably suggested the striker needed to move on into a new environment, and the challenge at Bonnyrigg may well result in Younis returning to his best form.
Rising Star: Jordan Crighton is a name to monitor this season. The youngster who can play out of defence or midfield has had a more than impressive couple of years. After helping APIA-Leichhardt Tigers to Grade-20 success last season, Crighton was rewarded with selection in the Sydney FC National Youth League side. A fine ability on the ball with speed to match a tremendous attitude on the park, Crighton will make a big contribution to the White Eagles this season.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles Squad 2012
1. Ben McNamara (Gk)
2. Alex Mansueto
4. David Vrankovic
5. Chris Tadrosse ?
6. Nikola Zonjic
7. Tynan Diaz
8. Alexandar Canak
9. Robbie Younis
10. Jordan Simpson
11. Ben Spruce
13. Nikola Stanojevic
15. Luka Dukic
16. Andres Gomez
17. Jordan Crighton
18. Chris Gaitatzis
19. Harris Gaitatzis
20. Andrew Bazi (Gk)
21. Ken Chun
23. Mitchell Long
33. Nikodin Matic (Gk)
Ins: Robbie Younis (APIA Leichhardt Tigers), Jordan Simpson, Andres Gomez (South Coast Wolves), Ken Chun, Jordan Crighton (Sydney FC Youth), Chris Gaitatzis (Omilos Nigritas Visaltiakos, Greece), Harris Gaitatzis
Outs: Shane Webb, Jamie McMaster, Nathan Elasi, Brad Boardman
Rockdale City Suns Signings & Season Launch
All players from first grade to the under 13?s were introduced and presented with their gear for 2012.
President Paul Goreski presented the First Grade captain Pece Apoleveski with his captain?s armband for another year and Josh Lawson was announced as the First Grade vice captain for season 2012.
The Suns also introduced four new signing made in the last week, three of which have joined the club from Hyundai A-League Clubs.
David Talevski an AIS graduate and former Australian youth international has joined the club from the Newcastle Jets as has Tommy Cirjak who most recently was with the Brisbane Roar youth team and previously under contract with Portsmouth FC in the EPL until visa issues caused him to have to return to home.
The Club has also signed Sydney FC goalkeeper Ryan Norval and experienced defender Ricky Pernich joins the club from Sydney United.
Finally, recently retired Rockdale City Suns and former NSL player Sash Trajcevski was announced as Assistant coach for the upcoming season.
-Rockdale City Suns FC Press Release