Steve Karavatakis appointed head coach of West Sydney Berries
The much travelled 39-year-old who was known during his playing days as a prolific goalscorer having scored well over 189 NSW Premier League goals and played for as many as twelve clubs which included the likes of Sydney Olympic, A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers, St George, Parramatta Eagles, Wollongong Wolves and of course Sutherland Sharks to name a few has taken over from former Berries coach John Calleja.
Calleja and the Berries management parted company on a mutual agreement which has seen Karavatakis step into the hot seat as the club currently sits a point ahead of current last placed NSW Premier League side Bankstown City FC on the ladder after ten rounds.
Karavatakis? first coaching stint was with the Sutherland Sharks Under 20?s side where he achieved positive results for the Shire based club and nurtured a number of budding Shire senior squad members to the first team.
?It was a tough decision to leave the young Sharks side as they?ve done ever so well in the last two years.
?This was my third season in charge there and I knew that it was the right time for me to move towards training a senior squad in the NSW Premier League.
?I wish the Sutherland Sharks Under 20?s side all the best and hope they continue achieving. There are a number of quality youngsters coming through the system there and I know they are in good hands.
?My priorities now lie in assisting the Berries climbing up the NSW Premier League ladder and I know it won?t be an easy task but something I am really looking forward to.?
Karavatakis held his first coaching session with his new squad on Monday and was very impressed with what he saw.
?I understand when a new coach comes to a club the players will be buzzing but I was happy with what I saw and I am sure they will lift as we need to get the points on the board.?
Asked whether the club was set to bring any fresh new faces to the side Karavatakis replied.
?I want to have a good look at what I have first and then make a judgement from there and see who is available if we need to look elsewhere in various positions.
?I understand that the transfer window shuts on the 31st of May so there is a bit of time to see what the outcome is on how we are travelling as a club.?
Karavatakis stressed that anything is still possible in capturing fifth spot on the NSW Premier League ladder after ten rounds.
?We are four points behind Sutherland so anything is possible. Why can?t we make the top five as looking at the league this year it has been very inconsistent.
?You could say that the top four looks pretty sorted so that fifth spot will be up for grabs.
?Look at what A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers have achieved so far, a couple of weeks ago they were in last position and now they find themselves just outside the top five.?
The former NSL star striker?s first task is by no means an easy one as they take on the much fancied Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre this Sunday.
?It will be a very tough game for us but you are always going to encounter tough matches in the NSW Premier League.
?I?ve stressed to the players that we want to win every match and that we need to start with the White Eagles this week as three points are a must it?s as simple as that.
?We are playing against a team with two great mentors and mine in particular being Brian ?Bomber? Brown and Cliff Pointer who know how to shape a squad and I believe are the best coaches in this competition.?
This isn?t the first time Karavatakis has been with the Berries as he did play for the club?s Under 14?s side as well as making his first grade debut for the club back in 1987 against Sydney Olympic in the AMPOL Cup.
Assisting Karavatakis this year will be former Sutherland Sharks director Bruce Spiteri.
?Bruce has missed being part of a club in the NSW Premier League and saw this as an ideal opportunity in getting back into it.
?He?s the best man for the job and I know he will do well.?
Berries spokesperson Theo Mitrothanasis praised the appointment of Karavatakis and stated to Football NSW.
“We are pleased to have Steve on board for the remainder of the season and on behalf of the club we are excited and wish him all the success for 2010.
“We understand the club needs to pick up points and the board believe we can achieve this to get us back on track.”
-By Mark Stavroulakis
