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Sydney FC v Mt Druitt Town Rangers venue changed to Valentine Sports Park

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Sydney FC, in consultation with Football NSW and Inner West Council, have made changes to their round 16 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s fixtures for Saturday 22 June, 2019.

An electrical issue inside the current exclusion zone at Lambert Park, Leichhardt, means the North West floodlight is unable to operate due to power being isolated to the region as a safety precaution.

In order to meet NPL lighting standards for an evening kick off, Sydney FC will now play their Senior NPL NSW Men’s fixture against Mt. Druitt at Valentine Sports Park, with kick off times unchanged.

Sydney FC’s U13-16 Academy side’s fixtures will remain at Lambert Park, Leichhardt in the morning and early afternoon with times unchanged.

NPL NSW Men’s Fixtures at Valentine Sports Park v Mt. Druitt:

  • U18’s kick off at 3pm on VSP Field 3 (synthetic).
  • U20’s kick off at 5pm on VSP Field 1 (grass).
  • First Grade kick off at 7pm on VSP Field 1 (grass).

Antoniou back to spearhead Sharks revival

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After a stint overseas, midfield lynch-pin Bai Antoniou is back in the National Premier League NSW Men’s competition and ready to inspire Sutherland Sharks FC towards finals football.

Sutherland’s new number 7 returned to NPL NSW Men’s action last weekend, and his Man of the Match performance in the Sharks’ 2-1 triumph over Blacktown City FC earned him a spot in the Round 15 Ultra Football Team of the Week.

No stranger to the National Premier Leagues, the 22-year-old scored 20 goals as a member of the Sydney FC NPL 2 NSW Men’s side who secured promotion to NSW’s first tier of the competition in 2016.

After securing an A-League contract in the same year, Antoniou last year briefly joined Rockdale City Suns before jetting off to Cyprus to sign for Alki Oroklini.

However after Alki suffered relegation, he was offered a return to Sutherland, the club where he commenced his career as a junior.

Despite not concluding as he may have hoped, the 22-year-old believes the time spent in Europe contributed heavily to his development as a player.

“It was definitely was not just a footballing lesson, it was a life lesson,” he reflected.

“I believe I learnt and developed my game a lot in Cyprus.

“I had the opportunity to play against and train with players from all around the world.

“It was a very different environment and I was out of my comfort zone, but I feel like I learnt a lot.”

A few exchanges with Sutherland coach Terry Palapanis were enough for Antoniou to declare his next step would be returning home to the Shire.

“My team were relegated over there, and I did have another year on my contract,” the attacker explained.

“But when I came back, Terry Palapanis got in contact with me and spoke about what Sutherland are doing down there and the support team he has.

“We met a few times and their goals to develop players, especially at my age, was enough to convince me to join.

“I am very excited about where Sutherland Sharks are heading, and really believe in what they’re doing here.

“I just moved from a professional club overseas, and I can tell you now there is not much difference in what we do.

“My goals at the moment are to definitely play good football, work with Terry and his support staff at Sutherland and just see where it takes me.”

While the Sharks’ season got off to a horror start, including four losses on the trot, Palapanis’ side have quietly been building momentum in recent weeks.

Their form has been aided by the mid-season recruitment of three exciting ex-Sydney FC youngsters in the form of Charles Lokolingoy, Liam McGing and Jerry Skotadis, all of whom have hit the ground running at Seymour Shaw.

Antoniou has relished the opportunity to reunite with some former teammates.

“I found it very easy to settle in,” he said.

“It was good to come down here with Charles (Lokolingoy) and (Liam) McGing who I have previously played with and to be greeted by a lot of familiar faces.”

The Shire club now find themselves on a run of 8 rounds without defeat, which has launched them to within five points of the competition’s all-important top five.

Despite still having some ground to make up, Antoniou believes that a finals spot is well and truly up for grabs.

“I think the way we are playing and the momentum we have I think it (finals football) is more than realistic and we should be pushing for it.

“I might go as far as to say that it would be a disappointment if we don’t reach that point in the end.”

Antoniou and Sutherland will look to continue their ascent up the ladder when they lock horns with Sydney United 58 at Edensor Park on Sunday night.

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Reporter Chris Curulli (Twitter handle @ChrisCurulli)

 

Sharks sign Antoniou while Rangers bid farewell to Clowes

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Sutherland Sharks have continued on with their recruitment drive for the remainder of the 2019 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s by signing Bai Antoniou while the Mt Druitt Town Rangers have said farewell to one of their favourite sons in skipper Mathew Clowes who has since joined NPL 2 NSW Men’s outfit Canterbury Bankstown FC.

Antoniou comes back to one of his junior clubs after spending a year playing professionally in Cyprus while Clowes, who played a pivotal role in guiding the Mt Druitt Town Rangers to promotion into the Men’s top flight will hope he can use that same determination in getting the Canterbury Bankstown FC side out of the NPL 2 NSW Men’s relegation zone.

Vranic moves to Hakoah while Skotadis joins Sharks

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Hakoah Sydney City East have secured striker Adrian Vranic while the Sutherland Sharks have snapped up Jerry Skotadis as the midseason transfer window continues to spring

Vranic returns to Hakoah after stints at Sydney United 58, Sutherland Sharks and Mt Druitt Town Rangers with the striker hoping to lift up the fortunes of Gavin Rae’s squad who are currently locked in a relegation battle at the foot of the NPL NSW Men’s ladder. The club has since parted ways with midfielder Addison Sayan.

While for Skotadis, a former Sydney FC NPL youth star, is hoping to bring his talent and youthful exuberance to Terry Palapanis’ squad. The Sharks have also snapped up former Western Sydney Wanderers NPL youth product Thomas Aquilina.

 

Pavlovic switches to the Mt Druitt Town Rangers

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Mirjan Pavlovic is the latest star player to make a mid-season National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s move swapping the Marconi Stallions kit for the Mount Druitt Town Rangers.

Popondetta Park will now become the new home for the ace marksman who rocketed in eight goals for the Stallions but fell out of favour in the final few weeks of the first round of the NPL NSW Men’s competition prompting him to look elsewhere.

The Rangers stepped up and snared the prized signing which will no doubt add more fire to the club’s potent attack with Pavlovic set to lead it alongside former Western Sydney Wanderers young gun John Roberts.

The 30-year-old, renowned for his win at all costs attitude, will don the new Rangers jersey when Mount Druitt Town take on Manly United at Cromer Park this Sunday afternoon.

“One of the NPL’s top guns is coming home”, said Club Football Director Stewart Montgomery.

“Pavlovic was coached in his early years by club President Mark Robertson and Mirjan couldn’t wait to help us in our first year back in the NPL top flight since 1993.

“His experience and skills will be a massive asset to the club and shows the Rangers are serious about their NPL Mens program.”

Coach Aidan Desmond was eagerly anticipating Pavlovic’s arrival.

“Up until now we have bee super competitive in all our games.

“We continue to learn at this level and with every game we get better and our players know what to expect heading into the 2nd round games.

“Pav will settle the lads, give us extra power and clinical edge up top to work with John Roberts and Alex Boyadjin.

“We cant wait.”