2008 Tiger Turf Cup Semi-Finals
Saturday evening?s clash kicking off at 7.30pm has pitted current TeleChoice Premier League leaders Sutherland Sharks taking on the currently rejuvenated Sydney Olympic side.
Both teams have met three times in 2008 with the Sharks winning their round 15 clash at Seymour Shaw convincingly 3-0; points were shared in round 4 at Belmore Sports Ground when the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Milan Blagojevic?s side did defeat the Sharks earlier in the season when the Blues took out the Johnny Warren Cup at Seymour Shaw after securing a 2-1 victory in extra time.
Sutherland Sharks coach Brian Brown was optimistic about the club?s chances in the semi-final.
?If I had said to anyone at the beginning of the season that we would have finished runner-up in the Johnny Warren Cup, reached the semi-finals of the Tiger Turf Cup and be closing in on the Minor Premiership I think I would have been laughed at.
?It is a great achievement by this side and the wonderful people that support football in the Shire.
?Sydney Olympic is one of the great sides this season. They did suffer a slight slump in form in mid-season, though are in great shape. We?ve already played them three times this season ? having lost the Johnny Warren Cup Final and a win and a draw in the League.
?We have a very healthy, competitive rivalry with the side and they will be very difficult to beat. So I?m really looking forward to the match.?
While his counterpart Blagojevic stated that his side were on the rise with some decent results of late.
?We?ve made improvements, and I am happy with the momentum we have at the moment. Certainly, Sutherland will be no pushover, though I believe we do have enough potential in our squad to do very well in the Cup.
?Yes, the return of Shannon Cole and Matthew Mayora has definitely helped us, though I wouldn?t say that it is only their return that has helped us re-find the winning way.
?Their return has pushed other players that are vying for the same starting positions to fight harder each week ? in training also ? so it is really creating a much more competitive environment.
?And for a coach, this is very important ? to have motivated players that will fight for their position.?
Sunday afternoon?s fixture kicking off at 3pm will see current Super League giants Bonnyrigg White Eagles taking on TeleChoice Premier League outfit Bankstown City.
Bankstown City will be hoping that they can achieve some silverware for 2008 after they were bundled out of the race in finishing in the top five of the TeleChoice Premier League in last weekend?s loss to Wollongong which all but ended their finals series dreams.
Player/Manger Peter Tsekenis was adamant that the Tiger Turf Cup was now the players? main priority.
?We?ve set ourselves a target for the rest of the season and one of them is to win the Tiger Turf Cup and it?s obviously motivating the players in a huge way.
?We have played so well throughout the season though we have failed to score goals and win matches, which has been our downfall and thus pushing us out of the finals series race.
?However, the Tiger Turf Cup is certainly something the club and players would love to lift at the end of the season.?
For the Eagles, their superiority in the Super League has charged up coach Blagoja Kulevski?s men in hoping to topple their TeleChoice Premier League opponents.
?I have preferred to come against Bankstown as I have seen them play a couple of times this season.
?I cannot believe how they?ve failed to reach the finals series as on paper they have one of the best squads in the competition.
?We have a tough run before the Tiger Turf Cup with a couple of very important Super League fixtures but I know the players will be switched on for the big game against Bankstown.
?We would love nothing more than to make the Final for our club and our supporters.?
Admission for the Tiger Turf Cup Semi Finals will be $10 Adults, $5 Concession and Kids Under 16 Free.
Tiger Turf Cup Semi-Final Fixtures
Saturday 19th July 2008
Sutherland Sharks v Sydney Olympic
7:30pm ? Seymour Shaw
Sunday 20th July 2008
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Bankstown City
3:00pm ? Seymour Shaw
