2013 IGA NPL All-Star Team of the Year

As is the case at the conclusion of every season, the ‘3-2-1’ Player Ratings handed out by the Football NSW writers are added up and an All-Star Team of the Year is announced.

The make-up of the 2013 Football NSW Team of the Year is, without a doubt, one of the very best in recent memory.

Made up of an exceptionally talented group of ball players, the 2013 All-Star Team of the Year has an abundance of firepower in the front-third, no doubt more than equipped to strike fear into any potential opposition.

Defensively the side is sound with some real workhorses and fine readers of the game, matched by the incredible engine that powers the midfield. In the front part of the pitch the attacking options are endless with some real prowess amongst the ball players.

Let’s have a closer look at the All-Star Team of the Year.

In goal, Marconi Stallions’ shot-stopper James Chronopoulos offers any defence added security with his remarkable reflexes and shot-stopping ability. Not the tallest goalkeeper in the competition, Chronopoulos’ reading of the game, and tremendous anticipation, has seen the Marconi custodian frustrate a number of the competition’s leading strikers.

The Stallions had the second best defensive record this season, and a large amount of credit must be paid to Chronopoulos, especially after the precarious start to the campaign made by the reigning champions.

In a three-man defence, Askin Oygur captain of the Rockdale City Suns will be leading the line with the central defender coming off a strong season for the Suns. Blessed with a fine touch on the ball, and a confidence to bring the ball forward, and even find the back of the net, Oygur showed his defensive brilliance with some solid performances this campaign.

Not afraid to put his body on the line, Oygur is a more than capable leader for the All-Star team, having proven his exploits, again, in the Suns’ fabulous 2013 campaign to-date.

To either side of Oygur, Travis Major on the right, and Chris Tadrosse on the left will fill out the three-man defence. Two tremendous talents with energy to burn over the 90’ minutes, both Major and Tadrosse possess the experience and know-how to provide the side with the cover when defending, yet also extra ammunition when moving the ball forward.

Both players are also lauded with a fine right and left peg respectively – Major and Tadrosse known also for their set-piece deliveries and goal scoring abilities.

The All-Star midfield is the heart of the team. Led by the unyielding Nick Stavroulakis who will carry the ball winning duties on his shoulders, the Sharks captain will have the astute football brain, and feet, of Glen Trifiro alongside him who has been at his creative best for Sydney United 58 FC this season.

The two can cover kilometres across the park over the 90’ minutes, with Matt Sim on the left, and Brendan Gan on the right, two immense talents in running at their marker in the final third. Both Sim and Gan have played pivotal roles for their respective clubs this season with both players equally capable of scoring goals as they are in providing the assists.

The hard work of the midfield quartet will duly play into the feet of the ‘trequartista’ Panni Nikas who will play at the shoulder of the front-two pairing.

Nikas’ colossal talent has been clear for all to see again this season, the Sharks’ playmaker more than capable of turning a match on its head in a split second.

Benefitting from Nikas’ neat touches, darting runs and accurate passing will be front pairing Richard Cardozo and Luka Glavas. Even though Glavas missed a couple of matches through injury this season his presence on the pitch made all the different when the Reds fortunes changed for the better halfway through the year returning from injury.

His deadly touches inside the box and instinctive finishing has put him up there as one of the deadliest strikers this competition has ever seen.

Cardozo’s role as the ‘second striker’ would make for a real treat, with the creativity of Nikas and the Suns’ number 10 sure to offer entertainment aplenty.

The Suns’ number 10 has shown both his goal scoring, and goal assist, abilities in this campaign, and the tandem with Glavas would certainly strike fear into opposing defences.

Off the bench, the creativeness and goals continue with Blacktown City FC ace marksman Sean Rooney an unquestionable threat. Mitchell Long and Kingsley Williams each come off a fine season for their respective clubs and also offer individual brilliance in the established formation for the All-Star team.

Sutherland Sharks’ hard working defender Perry Moustakas also makes an appearance with his darting runs up and down the field along with his tough defending skills, the Sharks defender is a great acquisition after a good first year in the competition.

As back up to Chronopoulos, another fine goalkeeping talent in the form of Carlos Saliadarre figures in the team. The Blacktown Spartans goalkeeper has been in magnificent form, duly rewarded with a call up to the Western Sydney Wanderers group towards of the last A-League season.

All-Star Team of the Year
1. James Chronopoulos (Marconi)
2. Chris Tadrosse (Bonnyrigg)
3. Askin Oygur (Rockdale)
4. Travis Major (Blacktown City)
5. Brendan Gan (Rockdale City)
6. Matt Sim (Manly)
7. Nick Stavroulakis (Sutherland)
8. Glen Trifiro (Sydney United)
9. Panni Nikas (Sutherland)
10. Richard Cardozo (Rockdale City)
11. Luka Glavas (Sydney United)
Substitutes
12. Carlos Saliadarre (Blacktown Spartans)
13. Sean Rooney (Blacktown City)
14. Mitchell Long (Bonnyrigg)
15. Kingsley Williams (Sydney Olympic)
16. Perry Moustakas (Sutherland) 
-By Joseph Carlucci