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Coaching changes at Sydney Olympic

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National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s side Sydney Olympic have appointed its Technical Director Ante Juric as the head coach of the senior side after the club were unable to reach a mutual agreement around a revised contract with Terry Palapanis of his role for the varied competition commencing in August.

Palapanis commenced in the role of Men’s 1st Grade Coach and Senior Technical Director for the 2020 season which was suspended by Football NSW due to COVID – 19 after Round 3 of the regular season. Terry will continue in the role of Senior Technical Director to support the preparation of the Senior program and will continue to report to the CEO and Club Board.

The decision has meant that Club Technical Director and former Sydney Olympic player Ante Juric will assume the coaching role for the 1st grade team for the 11-round competition.

”While disappointed we were unable to reach an agreement with Terry, for this revised competition around the 1st Grade Coaching component of his role, we are lucky to have a coach of Ante’s experience on staff at the Club and he is able to step into the role immediately to take the squad,” said Sydney Olympic CEO John Boulos.

Players were offered a reduced salary for the 2020 season and were fully accepting of the rationale behind this revised offer to support the Club’s participation in the competition.

“We are very lucky that our players appreciate the financial impact from decreased funding and sponsorship on the Club due to COVID-19. Our playing groups, men and women have all been willing to accept revised terms in their agreements to ensure we put the Club at the forefront of all decisions and are able to participate in the proposed competition”. Boulous said.

In squad news for the revised competition, the club has lost Spaniard Raul Beneit Romero who returned back to Spain while the competition was suspended and keeper Anthony Bouzanis who decided to not continue with the Club.

Returning to the Club is former Sydney FC defender Ben Van Muers who after signing with the Club in the off-season, accepted a professional contract offer in Hong Kong.

Also returning is young attacker Alexander Lopez who left just prior to the season start for a trial opportunity in Uruguay.

 

Football NSW Announce Return of 2020 NPL Senior Competitions

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Football NSW has today announced that all senior National Premier Leagues NSW Competitions will recommence in a revised format from late-July/early August and conclude in October.

With a match schedule to be confirmed shortly following consultation with Clubs, the reboot of each senior competition includes First Grade and Under 20’s whilst the Under 18’s competitions will be played alongside other Youth age grades.

Football NSW CEO Stuart Hodge was delighted with the outcome that NPL football was set to be played and acknowledged the patience and hard work of many stakeholders that have made it possible.

“I want to pay tribute to all our clubs, administrators, officials, volunteers, players and coaches who have worked together to ensure NPL football would continue to be played this season.

“I would like to thank everyone for their patience, understanding, unity and commitment to play despite these challenging times.”

“We look forward to showcasing many of our top-level matches on our new NPL.TV streaming platform.”

The revised format will feature a two-week Finals Series matches while no promotion and relegation will take place.

Unfortunately, a small number of Clubs have elected not to take part in their respective competitions.

The revised 2020 NPL NSW Competitions are as follows:

NPL NSW Men’s

  1. APIA Leichhardt FC
  2. Blacktown City FC
  3. Manly United FC
  4. Marconi Stallions FC
  5. Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC
  6. North Shore Mariners FC
  7. Rockdale City Suns FC
  8. Sydney FC
  9. Sydney Olympic FC
  10. Sydney United 58 FC
  11. Wollongong Wolves FC

NPL 2 NSW Men’s

  1. Blacktown Spartans FC
  2. Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC
  3. Central Coast Mariners FC
  4. Hakoah Sydney City East FC
  5. Hills United FC
  6. Northern Tigers FC
  7. NWS Spirit FC
  8. SD Raiders FC
  9. St George City FA
  10. St George FC
  11. Western Sydney Wanderers FC

NPL 3 NSW Men’s

  1. Bankstown City FC
  2. Bankstown United FC
  3. Canterbury Bankstown FC
  4. Central Coast United FC
  5. Dulwich Hill FC
  6. Dunbar Rovers FC
  7. Gladesville Ryde Magic
  8. Inter Lions FC
  9. Macarthur Rams FC
  10. Rydalmere Lions FC
  11. Stanmore Hawks FC
  12. Sydney University SFC

NPL 4 NSW Men’s

  1. Camden Tigers FC
  2. Fraser Park FC
  3. Granville Rage
  4. Hawkesbury City FC
  5. Hurstville FC
  6. Nepean FC
  7. Newcastle Jets FC
  8. Parramatta FC
  9. Prospect United SC
  10. South Coast Flame FC
  11. UNSW FC
  12. Western NSW FC

NPL NSW Women’s

  1. APIA Leichhardt FC
  2. Bankstown City FC
  3. Blacktown Spartans FC
  4. Emerging Jets
  5. FNSW Institute
  6. Illawarra Stingrays
  7. Macarthur Rams Women’s FC
  8. Manly United FC
  9. Northern Tigers FC
  10. NWS Koalas FC
  11. Sydney Olympic FC
  12. Sydney University SFC

NPL 2 NSW Women’s

  1. Central Coast Mariners FC
  2. Gladesville Ravens
  3. Inter Lions FC
  4. Marconi Stallions FC
  5. Nepean FC
  6. North Shore Mariners FC
  7. SD Raiders FC
  8. Southern Branch FC
  9. St George FC
  10. Sutherland Shire FA
  11. UNSW FC

Manly United set for NPL NSW kick-off

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Manly United Football Club is proud to take its place in the 2020 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Competitions, for the men and women.

Football NSW outlined a varied format for the 2020 competition comprising 11 rounds and a two week semi final system, asking all NPL clubs to reaffirm their place in the competition.

Following separate meetings with the Men’s and Women’s senior squads and coaching staff Manly United has officially notified Football NSW of its intention to take part in the 2020 NPL NSW Men’s/Women’s Competitions.

“It was one of the easiest decisions we’ve ever made. We are a football club and our core focus is to play football games for men, women, boys and girls,” said Manly United CEO David Mason.

“Our men’s senior team had no hesitation in taking payment cuts for the 2020 season and we made the decision to retain the current payments for our women’s team.

The unprecedented COVID-19 disruption has presented unique challenges, as all Australians have had to adapt and evolve with the rapidly changing health, social and economic impacts it has created.

Football is no different.

Manly United Football Club has worked hard to rebound from a 10-week lockdown to ensure all teams and players can return to training and matches as soon as possible.

Junior teams and players have been back in training under COVID-Safe conditions for the past four weeks and Football NSW announced last week the resumption of the senior competitions under a varied format

“One positive out of this COVID-19 disruption and restrictions has been the opportunity for us to recognize the part football plays in our community and how much it has been missed,” Mason said.

“The COVID-19 shutdown has been challenging for Manly United as we worked to allow all of our players to return to training and matches as soon as possible and reshaping the training programs and season to ensure our players received the same development opportunities in 2020 as previous years.

“We are not immune to the financial realities that have hit our country and we’ve suffered a loss of revenue through sponsorship, canteen, holiday programs and annual fundraising events.

“It is a testament to the club culture that both the mens and womens senior squads have been not only understanding but supportive of the Club and agreed without question to resume the season.

“We are proud of the culture we have at Manly United and it is the people that drive that; the players, coaches, managers, volunteers and families it attracts has allowed us to charge full steam ahead into the varied 2020 season.”

Men’s Captain Sam Gallagher said: “We just want to play football. Ultimately we start playing football because we love the game. We all understand that the Club, like our entire country, has taken a hit and we are more than happy to get back onto the pitch and play for the love of the game.

“We have all missed the competitive aspect but more importantly the enjoyment and camaraderie and we can’t wait to get back into training on Monday night.”

Women’s Captain Chloe O’Brien was equally enthusiastic to restart the competition.

“The last few weeks training without knowing what was happening with matches has been difficult but it has been great to be back on the field playing the game we love. The club has been fantastic with getting training started as soon as possible and we are very grateful that we’ve been treated with respect with our contracts. I just can’t wait to play.”

-Manly United Press Release

Timotheou has nothing but love for old club Sydney Olympic

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Known as one of the success stories of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, former towering Sydney Olympic defender George Timotheou has praised the former NSL club and the competition for playing a hand in his European adventures that has seen play for the likes of German Bundesliga giants Schalke 04 and now Belgium First Division side Zuite Waregem.

The 22-year-old stopper is currently back home in Canberra following the cancellation of the Belgium First Division season due to COVID-19 which resulted in Club Brugge winning the Premiership.

Having only made a couple of appearances for Zuite Waregem before the league was cancelled, Timotheou stated to Football NSW that he still kept in contact with Sydney Olympic as well as their progress in the NPL NSW Men’s competition.

“I built a very strong relationship with everyone at Sydney Olympic including the board and all the boys during my team there.

“We stay in touch a lot and when I’m back home, I like to go and watch them play.

“It’s an amazing club and I can definitely see why they’re one of the best in NSW.”

As for the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, Timotheou, who spent the 2017-18 season playing with the Blues, said that it further developed him as a footballer.

“The NPL NSW Men’s competition was a great pathway for me to express myself and to get constant game time.

“It was a really good level as every team in the league was strong and every week was like a grand final for us.

“We did something extraordinary that year and every week we built on our last match.

“We gained so much confidence and showed everyone in the league a good style of football and had moments that I will never forget.”

It was Timotheou’s big move to German Bundesliga giants Schalke 04 in 2018 that really set the scene in announcing the former Australian youth international onto the European stage – an experience which saw him sign for the clubs reserve team initially before he made his senior debut against Stuttgart in front of 60,000 people.

“My time at Schalke was quite simply amazing.

“I can’t say anything bad about my experience there as it really was an eye opener into football in Europe as well as the lifestyle and culture.

“The club welcomed me like their own and for one of the biggest clubs in Germany, I can see why they have been so successful over the years.

“During my time there I learnt how physical the German league was and how it had evolved over the years.

“You look at every centre-back in the league and they’re huge, very well built.

“A lot of emphasis is on heading and being top strong.

“In saying that, the majority of clubs loved playing football and implementing a nice style of play in which there were various systems and formations.

“People often ask me how nervous I was and how scary it was when I made by debut for the senior squad but to tell you the truth it was kind of the opposite.

“I’ve been working up to this moment my whole life, preparing, doing all the right things so that when you do get a chance, you are ready.

“I was so focused and in the zone, I couldn’t even hear the 60,000 fans in the stands.”

Soon after his time in Germany, Timotheou found his way in Belgium playing in the top tier with Zuite Waregem.

“It’s been great at Zuite Waregem, Belgium is a beautiful country.

“The fans and everyone were very welcoming, unfortunately I did not get more of a chance to play in the competition as COVID-19 cancelled the league but I’m really looking forward to preseason when it comes back.”

COVID-19 put a dent to many of the competitions across the globe, Belgium being one of them, which was why Timotheou found himself back at home.

“It’s been very different and has taken a lot of getting used to as COVID-19 has changed many things.

“I can say that it’s given me a good opportunity to rest as well as spend quality time with my family and friends who I haven’t properly seen in the last two years.

“I have been in Australia the whole time the Coronavirus got serious here so I’ve had to follow the same self-quarantining rules as everyone else, but it’s been pleasing to see that restrictions are easing slowly.”

Apart from kicking goals on the field, the former Gungahlin United junior is set to be busy off the pitch as he is set to become a proud father in September.

“I’m extremely happy about this, I know it will be a very exciting time for myself and my partner.

“It will be amazing to be able to raise a child and spend quality time at a young age with the little one, something I cannot wait to do.”

Holding a dual passport thanks to his mother’s Greek roots and his father’s Cypriot heritage, Timotheou had some sound advice for the young rising talents coming through the NPL NSW Men’s system hoping to continue on with their footballing journey abroad.

“For any young aspiring footballers my message is that no matter how hard you think you’re working or how good you think you might be, there’s always someone doing that little bit extra than you, so keep that in mind.

“Yes we all have two arms and two legs and kick the same football but if you work hard and believe in yourself you really can achieve anything.”

Former NPL NSW Men’s stars train with Central Coast Mariners

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With the recommencement of the Hyundai A-League in full swing, the Central Coast Mariners this week kicked off its campaign for the run in towards their round 25 clash against rivals the Newcastle Jets with Alen Stajic inviting some former National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s stars to train alongside his senior squad.

Former Blacktown City general Travis Major (pictured below), ex-Sutherland Sharks ace Nick Olsen and former Rockdale City Suns defender Michael Neill all went through their training paces this week under the watchful eye of Stajic and his coaching staff.

Major has had a successful journey playing top-flight football in Hong Kong, Olsen has been busy playing in the elite league in Kuwait while Neill has been one of the Suns’ most consistent players during the NPL NSW Men’s seasons in previous years.

All three players are hoping they can land short-term deals with the Mariners following the departures of Korean midfielder Eun-Sun Kim and striker Chris Harold.