SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 Season Preview
Previewed exclusively on Football NSW’s official website is the 2013 SUPA IGA NSW Premier League Mens 2 competition set to kick off on the 23rd of March 2013.
Bankstown Berries
The Team: Since being relegated to the second tier two years ago, the Berries have been a model of consistency, finishing second and third in the Premiership and making two Grand Finals. Unfortunately for all involved at the club, both finals resulted in losses, and they may be gaining something of a bridesmaid tag as a result.
There have been plenty of player movements at The Crest during the off season, most notably the retirement of the ageless Ben Delicata, but strikers Dimitri Zakilas, John Tsironis and Kodjo Adjassou will all be pulling on the blue and yellow shirts again so certainly, scoring goals should not be a concern.
The Coach: John Calleja returns to the Berries after spending the past two seasons at Sydney University. A previous coach of the club when they played as West Sydney Berries, and with a coaching career encompassing fourteen years and clubs such as Eastern Suburbs, Wollongong Wolves, Sutherland, St George, Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Parramatta Eagles, Calleja will bring a wealth of experience to the Berries, as he seeks to lift them back to National Premier League IGA NSW Mens 1.
The last full season completed by Calleja at the Berries was in 2009 when he took them to sixth place in the NSW Premier League, and that is surely where they plan to be come 2014.
Player to Watch: Ante Deur needs no introduction to state league watchers, the classy midfielder having spent many a year plying his trade, much of it at either National League or Premier League 1 level, at clubs such as Sydney Utd, St George, Rockdale and Blacktown City. No doubt Deur could still play at the higher level but seems content at the Berries where his contributions have helped make the past two Grand Finals. A strong off season should see Deur again excel.
The Rising Star: This could be the season that Alex Becerra stamps his name on the game. The young central defender really came into his own during the second half of last season, becoming something of a regular in the Berries backline, as they made their way to the Grand Final. Further establishment within the first team this year should show that Becerra has the qualities to step up to NPL NSW Mens 1 level.
Bankstown City FC
The Team: Bankstown City came within a whisker of snaring the Premiership last year, and an immediate return to the top division, but in the end had to settle for second spot, behind Northern Tigers. It was nothing less than a ding dong battle against the Ku-ringai representatives all year and with just three losses to their name all season, the Lions forgave top spot in the final three weeks. While star Robbie Mileski has returned to the NPL Mens 1, the Lions have been busy in strengthening their squad, Saso Petrovski being the most notable signing, and another top notch performance is on the cards.
The Coaches: The coaching tandem of George Nohra and Bill Pilovski again lead the way at Jensen Park and there is little doubt that the aim of the two is to secure promotion back to the IGA NPL Mens 1. They almost pulled off that feat in their first season last year, only to fall in the final rounds, and so they will surely be looking to go one better in this.
Nohra has decided to register again as a player while Bill Pilovski will again assist from the sidelines, and with a year’s experience in the second tier under their belts, Nohra and Pilovski will be much wiser for the experience.
Player to Watch: Dual NSL championships with Wollongong Wolves, an A-League championship with Sydney FC and an A-League premiership with Central Coast Mariners, not to mention Socceroos caps, are just some of the major honours won by Saso Petrovski during his stellar career. But it is back to his roots at Jensen Park where Petrovski will play this season, the now 38 year old having departed South Coast Wolves/Wollongong Wolves as their leading all time scorer. With 2012 Golden Boot winner Gosue Sama remaining at Jensen, expect goals aplenty once more.
The Rising Star: Midfielder Zac Vallorani had a strong second half of the season in 2012 and will be keen to further cement a place in the centre of the park this year. The 21 year old, previously with Marconi, gained his chance when Domenic Hudap left for a period midway through last season and certainly performed admirably. Vallorani became a regular pick throughout the finals and will hope that the start of this season continues in the same vein.
Fraser Park
The Team: Fraser Park have been firmly established in the second tier now for a number of years though without garnering too much success. There are signs however that the club is on the “up” and if they can maintain their form throughout the whole year, they may be a challenger come finals time.
They have signed well with Andrew Vitucci, Pat Cappuccio and Silver Medalist from 2011, Kris Holbrook moving across from Granville Rage, while Ben Vidaic arrives via Sydney United. They look to have a lot more strength in depth this year so expect further improvement from Fraser Park this season.
The Coach: Fraser Park had expected to start the season with David Perkovic at the helm once more, as they looked to improve on their steady rise over the past year or so. However, Perkovic resigned just over two weeks out from the season kick off to take up a club coaching role in the Phillipines.
Instead, Fraser Park have now elected to turn to their Technical Director, Albin Mikulski, a UEFA Pro licence holder, who will take over the reigns of the first team. Perhaps not the ideal start to a season, but with the squad already well in hand, Mikulski should not take too long to stamp his influence on the squad.
Player to Watch: Ex Sydney Olympic attacking midfielder Hussan Akil has arrived at Fraser Park with great wraps about him, after having spent last season in Singapore’s S-League with Woodlands United. A winner with Olympic in 2011, Akil, 23 years old, will be out to impress, perhaps with a view to returning to the NPL Mens 1 at some future stage.
The Rising Star An impressive pre-season by Mitchell Davidson has set up the ex Blacktown Spartans Under 20 for what could be an auspicious year, as the left footed winger looks to make the breakthrough as a first team regular. Having hit the back of the net a couple of times already during the early season friendlies, Davidson is sure to make his presence felt, once the competition proper commences.
Hills Brumbies
The Team: This will be the third consecutive season for Hills Brumbies in the second tier and they are now starting to find their feet at the higher level. After a difficult first season, and a slow start to 2012, the Brumbies picked up some very creditable results in the latter part of last season, particularly away from home. If the Brumbies can find the answer to their poor home record, where they failed to record a win last year, further improvement can be expected.
The Coach: For the fourth year in a row, Mark Abi-Arrage will be in control at the Brumbies as they look to consolidate their position in the top tiers of state league football. Having first taken over as coach in 2010, Abi-Arrage was successful in his first year, claiming the first division title and gaining promotion to Super League for the 2011 season.
Two seasons in, Abi-Arrage, whose own playing career lasted twenty years and took in clubs including Granville Chile, Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic (now Bankstown Berries), Ryde City, Fairfield Bulls, Bankstown City and Hajduk/Sydney Wanderers, will be looking to further improve on last season’s commendable eighth spot.
Player to Watch: Jeffrey Issa could well be regarded as the main signing for Hills Brumbies for 2013, as the joint winner of last season’s Silver Medal moves across from the demoted Granville Rage.
Issa’s experience will be a boon for the relatively young Brumbies side and will be a key man in the attacking third, where, despite their lower half league position, Hills finished last season as the fourth highest scorers in the division.
The Rising Star: Brad Robertson commenced last season as a member of the Brumbies Under 20s squad, and in 2011 was in the Under 18s, but before the year was out, Robertson had established himself firmly in the first team. Even more creditably, Robertson finished as the Brumbies’ top scorer with six goals.
Robertson is certainly one to watch for the upcoming season and will surely be a mainstay as Mark Abi-Arrage continues to promote Brumbies’ youth.
Macarthur Rams
The Team: When considering which clubs should be finals contenders, it is never wise to overlook Macarthur Rams. Having only missed the finals once since their relegation from the top tier, and that was only by goal difference in 2009, the Rams are bound to be challenging for the top spots once again.
A number of new signings have arrived with Daniel Carozza, Joseph Cartisano and Almir Dizdaric coming from Granville Rage, Reece Iredale from Mounties, Daniel Ramirez from Hills Brumbies while Alvaro Malmierca (from Sydney University) and Slaven Ljuboja (Spirit FC) return to their old stomping ground.
The Coach: Claudio Canosa remains in control at Macarthur Rams, for the fourth season, and another strong year can be expected from the club from the deep south west. Canosa’s sides are always competitive, and defensively strong, as would be expected from a coach whose playing career incorporated a lengthy spell at the NSL’s Morwell Falcons.
Renowned for his fiery passion on the sidelines, Canosa will again be a driving force as he seeks to lift the Rams back to NPL NSW Mens 1, a division they last competed in back in 2008.
Player to Watch: There is always one name which is one of the first to be on the Rams’ teamsheet, and that is of club captain Craig Cooley. The overlapping full back, seemingly comfortable on either side of the pitch, is renowned for his runs down the flanks, causing panic to many a defence and this season should be no exception. The ever reliable Cooley has been a mainstay at Lynwood Park for many years and is one of the reasons for Macarthur’s regular finals appearances.
The Rising Star: There are two players on the radar at Macarthur for whom greater things are expected. Ben Simpson and Reuben Agyie-Danso, both strikers, are looking to make the move into the first team after a spell in the Under 20s most recently, with Simpson working his way through the Rams youth ranks. Agyie-Danso was playing park football just two seasons ago, but both have the potential to make a claim this year.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers
The Team: After two years away, Mount Druitt Town Rangers are welcomed back to the second tier after a second placing in the State League 1 competition last season. Having last played this division in 2010, the Rangers are looking forward to competing at the higher level again. They will certainly have the experience with ex Blacktown Spartans’ Daniel Wells, Glen McPherson and Michael Todd all lining up, players who were members of the Spartans team which won the Super League in 2011.
Add in players such Shayne Ardle, Daniel Fogarty, Ryan O’Shea and James Thurtell who all have extensive Super League experience, and the Rangers will be a team to be reckoned with.
The Coach: Nick Verdos is the youngest coach in the competition at 26 but even so, he shows no lack of coaching experience, having already coached for eleven years. While this will be Verdos’ first senior coaching appointment, extensive youth league experience at the Rangers stands him in good stead as he looks to bring the successful Rangers youth through the club’s ranks.
Having already been at Popondetta Park for six years, Verdos is now eagerly awaiting his chance to take on the big guns.
Player to Watch: With an eye for goals, Daniel Fogarty can be expected to be one of Mount Druitt Town’s principal scorers when the season gets underway. Fogarty notched over the twenty mark last season in State League 1, but knows his way around at the higher level, having been a member of the Parramatta Eagles Premiership winning side back in 2010, hitting five goals along the way. Before that, Fogarty was at Macarthur Rams and so a return to this tier won’t be of any concern.
The Rising Star: Hosyal Cakal has teamed up again at Mount Druitt after a recent spell at Blacktown Spartans. Cakal is renowned for his goalscoring prowess, winning the Golden Boot in 2011 while with Mount Druitt, in State League 1, while again claiming the Golden Boot award in the Under 20s last season with the Spartans, in the Premier League.
A chance to cement a spot in the first team will be a priority this season.
Mounties Wanderers
The Team: Mounties Wanderers exceeded all expectations in 2012, no doubt including their own, when finishing fourth and qualifying for the Super League finals at their first attempt.
After having swept all before them in State League 1 in 2011, one could have expected the Mounties to have been happy with a year of consolidation but a strong start helped to show just what they could achieve, and an even stronger second half of the year saw the Mounties in the top five for the final nine weeks of the season.
With such experienced players such as Mark D’Alessandro, Daniel McCann and Daniel Willoughby all returning, with an off season signing of Daniel Severino, and with a pre season victory over Tahiti under their belts, the Mounties should threaten once again in 2013.
The Coaches: Glenn Lockhart and Aidan Desmond are again the joint coaches as the Mounties commence their second year at this level. Having shared the coaching duties in tandem for four seasons now in total, it is clearly a combination that works, an impressive debut season in Super League surprising many. Plenty of hard work has produced results to date, and plenty of more can be expected as the duo seeks to lift their Mounties side to even greater heights.
Player to Watch: Daniel McCann has been a major component in every team that he has played for, with many an opposition coach keeping a wary eye on the midfielder. McCann has plenty of experience around the traps, including at clubs such as Penrith Nepean and Macarthur Rams, both in their Premier League days. A strong leader, McCann’s influence will play a major factor in how the Mounties cope with what is typically, a tougher second year up.
The Rising Star: Alvin Singh is a newcomer to the Mounties, one who arrives at the club with plenty of potential. A defender, the talented young Fijian international looks likely to settle comfortably into the Mounties backline, a strong recruit to an already solid defence.
Northern Tigers
The Team: There was some impressive football played out of Mills Park last season, and the table topping side will be one of the favourites again to take the title. They had the best defence in the league last year, a miserly sixteen league goals against, and with Goalkeeper of the Year for 2012, Stuart Page, remaining between the sticks, and defenders such as Travis Oughtred, Michael Rolston and Daniel Cunningham all returning, the Tigers will again be hard to score against. While striker Adam Biddle has departed, the Tigers have signed Liam McConaghy from Sydney University, while Stefan de Jesus and Aram Tayebi have also made the journey north, after leaving the Bankstown Berries.
The Coach: Jason Eagar would have to be one of the more studious coaches in the competition, a regular face in the crowd on many weekends at games not involving his own club, as he searches for that edge which will give his Northern Tigers side a competitive advantage. It has provided results too, as the Tigers claimed the premiership last season, but unfortunately, failing to gain promotion to the top league.
No doubt, Eagar will be keen to correct that situation this year, and who could doubt that the coach, in his fifth season in charge, won’t produce another sterling effort from his team. A Grand Final win in 2010, and a Premiership and Championship double in 2012, is a measure of the success that Eagar has produced to date.
Player to Watch: It is hard to look past Tom Spencer when considering the most influential players at Mills Park. Despite the close attention paid by opposition clubs, Spencer continued to score his landmark goals last year, often at the most opportune times, and it was no surprise that he finished as the Tigers’ top scorer. Despite a brief foray at Blacktown Spartans in 2011, where he won the league double, Spencer has spent many a year at Northern Tigers, and his influence will again be a major part of future Tigers success. Spencer has played in the past three Super League Grand Finals and must be a decent bet to play in a fourth.
The Rising Star: After two seasons at Sydney University, Liam McConaghy makes the move to Northern Tigers where his goalscoring ability should be to the fore. The tall striker has an exceptional touch but was rarely able to show his true abilities last season, missing much of the year through injury. This could well be the season that McConaghy shows his worth again.
Parramatta FC
The Team: After sweeping swiftly to the Super League title in 2010, Parramatta FC found the going tough in the two seasons of Premier League, and now find themselves back in the second tier for 2013. The Eagles though can always be expected to be competitive at this level, only losing the title in 2009 on goal difference, prior to that 2010 premiership.
They have signed Suad Ameti from near neighbours Granville Rage, a strong defender who is always a difficult customer while Andrija Petkovic is another with strong state league experience.
The Coach: There can be little doubt that Lee Sterrey is the most experienced of the coaches taking control of clubs in National Premier League NSW Mens 2 this season. With a coaching career going back to the mid 1990s, commencing with Marconi, before a move into the NSL coaching ranks with Newcastle Breakers, Sterrey has a solid fifteen years plus at the helm of some of the state’s major clubs. A lengthy playing career as well, which saw success right at the start with the then Sydney Croatia in the early 1980s, Sterrey will surely have Parramatta FC as a contender this season.
Player to Watch: Simon Jaeger gets the chance to make the goalkeeping position his own, after moving from Sutherland Sharks. Jaeger was understudy to Nathan Denham for the past couple of years and will appreciate first team football on a regular basis. One of the older heads in the side, but still only 24 years old, Jaeger will add some much needed experience to the young Parramatta FC.
The Rising Star: Parramatta have put together a relatively youthful squad but despite their young age, a number of players gained a good grounding in the NSW Premier League last season. Principal amongst those was defender Domenic Trimboli who became something of a mainstay in the defence in a side which struggled for the most part. With Michal Sakowicz and 17 year old Devante Clut on the fringes of the first team last season, this year could be the right time for their breakthrough.
Spirit FC
The Team: Spirit FC have long been contenders since promotion to Super League back in 2009, actually winning the Championship at the first attempt. They have been mainstays ever since invariably challenging for the finals. Only last season did Spirit linger in mid table, but a conscious decision had been made to concentrate on youth last year, at a club renowned for its excellence, as evidenced by the Under 20s storming to the title.
No doubt Spirit will be hard to beat again this season and with Matthew Clowes returning after a year spent at the Berries and Dulwich Hill, they have a midfielder whose experience will greatly assist the Spirit youngsters. Also returning are striker Tim Simpson and defender Lachlan Harte, while Akwasi Agyei will again be a dominant player in midfield. This may be the season where Spirit again throw down the gauntlet.
The Coach: Rob di Ceglie was most recently the coach of the Spirit Under 20s and moves to take charge of first grade for this season. With an impressive 2012 under his belt, di Ceglie will be looking to repeat that performance this year, albeit with the first team. Di Ceglie, long established in the game since being a player with APIA Leichhardt back in their NSL days, has been at Christie Park for five seasons and is relishing the task of being in control of first grade for the first time. With assistant Steve Appleby returning to Spirit, the two are likely to work closely together to lift the team back to their former heights.
Player to Watch: Murray Nelson has been a stalwart at Spirit over the past few years, the keeper being unchallenged as custodian despite the large number of changes at the club. A winner with Spirit in 2009, and indeed the hero after denying Parramatta Eagles during that Grand Final win on penalties, Nelson will captain the side for the forthcoming season, a sign of the belief held in him by the club.
The Rising Star: Henry Wells is ready now to make his imprint after having had a taste of first team football last season. Despite mainly being played in the Under 20s last year, Wells was considered good enough to warrant some first team action, and noticeably wasn’t afraid to try his chance on goal either. Three goals for the season should be a confidence booster as Wells looks for further opportunities as the season progresses.
St George
The Team: 2012 was not a year to remember for the Saints, whose season just never got going, failing to enter the top half of the league table at any stage, and indeed spending fifteen weeks in the bottom three. After having reached the semi finals on each of the previous three seasons, and a Grand Final in 2010, it was a disappointing year for the proud club but one for which they are keen to atone.
While there has been some major changes at the club, player wise, Super League Golden Boot winners Juan Chavez (2009) and Sam Messam (2010) do return and they will be very ably assisted by ex Macarthur Ram and Blacktown Spartan Chris Gomez, while keeper Costa D’Addona returns after a season at Sydney University.
The Coach: Manny Spanoudakis returns to the club he last coached back in the Premier League days of the early to mid 2000s. It is no surprise that the Saints looked to Spanoudakis who, with current St George Director of Coaching Aytek Genc, was at the helm of arguably the Saints’ most successful period over the past decade.
Spanoudakis, who also played for the Saints during their final NSL days, knows his way around St George, and has a proven track record, and so it would be no surprise to see the Saints strongly challenging for the finals once again.
Player to Watch: Chris Gomez transfers to St George Stadium, after a spell at Blacktown Spartans in the Premier League, but he is no stranger to this level, having spent a number of years at Macarthur Rams just prior to the Spartans.
Gomez, with nine goals, was in the top echelon of the league’s scorers in 2011, working a fine combination with then Rams teammate Shannon Hankin, where they scored twenty between them, and the Saints will be hoping that he can produce a similar tally at the Stadium. Well regarded at the club, Gomez will be a danger to many an opposition, and with his nose for goals, will help relieve some of the pressure from the Chavez/Messam strikeforce.
The Rising Star: Costa Andricopoulos is a St George junior who has returned after a spell in Cyprus. Having spent his teenage years at the Saints, and a year at Under 18 level at APIA Leichhardt, Andricopoulos will certainly be one to keep an eye on, as the season progresses.
Sydney University
The Team: There has been much change at Sydney University this year with a strong contingent of last season’s successful Under 20s squad making the jump into the first team. Uni has seen the departure of a lot of the older heads although striker Jason Garrido does return, after missing the second half of last season. Certainly, the younger under 20s players deserve their chance at the higher level, and with a new coach at the helm, it may be a time of transition at Hensley.
The Coach: Sydney University has made an intriguing appointment with Mark McCormick taking over the reigns out at Hensley Field. McCormick comes to the club via a circuitous route which has taken in his native
Scotland, USA, and most recently Austria where his last post was as an academy coach at Bundesliga side, Austria Vienna.
Uni are no doubt keen to make a bid for the finals again, having last competed in the series back in 2009. A current holder of a UEFA ‘B’ licence, McCormick’s broad experience should see Uni again be a thorn in the side of their opponents.
Player to Watch: Ex Stanmore Hawks, St George, Parramatta Eagles and Bankstown Berries midfielder Peter Crevani moves across town to take up the captaincy at Hensley Field. Crevani, whose cultured left foot has terrorised many defences, will be a great asset to the club, who seem to be relying much on youth this year. Crevani’s experience, along with his attacking nous, should prove to be a boon to the young Uni side.
The Rising Star: Nathan Clarke started last year in the Under 20s but found himself much used in firsts as the season progressed. The defender became something of a mainstay in the Uni backline towards the end of the season and a promotion this year to the first grade squad will give him the chance to really develop against the higher quality opponents.
-By Peter Rowney
