Peter Katholos ready for Subway SAP East challenge

The 50-year-old has been casting his eye along with former Sydney Olympic great and good friend Pablo Cardozo in selecting the best possible players from a talented pool of players from the Eastern Suburbs, St George and Canterbury/Bankstown areas.
Ranked as being one of the most gifted technical players in Australia by the late and great Hungarian superstar Ferenc Puskas, Katholos has been happy with the progress he?s seen with his SAP squad.
?It has been very good thus far as the response from all the players has been fantastic.
?The trials went very well, we had well over 200 kids trialling and it was tough making that final decision as there were a number of talented young players looking for that opportunity to be part of this special program.
?I could have easily had two squads with equal ability that?s how tough it was to make that overall decision but I am excited with the group of players we have to progress to the next level.
?I have always wanted to work with elite players and this is an ideal opportunity for me to put something back in the game by working with some of our best young talent.
?Steering them towards the right pathway and laying the correct foundations to further their development to go onto one day becoming ready-made footballers at 16-17 is certainly one of my many objectives.?
Katholos stated that Football NSW?s technical director Alex Tobin?s vision in bringing coaches who had experience playing at decent levels has certainly benefited the SAP program.
?It was a good move by Alex in appointing coaches who have had that prior experience as players and were involved in the game at a high level.
?You need the best coaches possible in educating young players and developing them the right way.
?That is the secret countries such as Spain, Italy, France and England enforce as they employ ex-players as coaches for their respective development programs whether it be for their national sides or clubs.
?Alex must be praised for the hard work and efforts he has put into this program which is identifying talented youngsters and progressing to one day becoming future Socceroos stars.?
Asked what criteria he looks at whilst trialling players Katholos stated to Football NSW.
?Technique would be the first thing I look at along with their touch.
?Their football intelligence comes next as well as making quick decisions and being quick on their feet.?
Having been capped by the Socceroos 25 times and playing for the likes of NSL clubs such as Sydney Olympic, Marconi Stallions, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, St George, Melita Eagles and Sydney United, the ?Kat? also coached the senior squads of St George, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Sydney Olympic U19s, Sydney Olympic U11s and St George U13s.
On another topic, Katholos will be keeping a close eye on not only his squad?s first match-up this Sunday at Valentine Sports Park against Sutherland?s SAP side but he will be assisting his son Alex as a caddy at the current Emirates Australian Open who will take on the likes of Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy and Greg Norman.
?Alex has really excelled in the sport of golf, I am very proud of his achievements and look forward to him going up against the best.
?He?s only 22 so he?s got plenty of time to continue to develop as a full time pro golfer.?
-By Mark Stavroulakis