Mason Versi still riding on a Cup high
Having played a pivotal role in Wollongong United’s memorable Australia Cup run that led to the Football South Coast side booking a ticket to this year’s Round of 32, former NPL NSW Men’s star Mason Versi has certainly found his feet in the local Illawarra Premier League.
The 24-year-old has been one of the club’s standout players since he made the move from the NPL NSW Men’s competition which saw him play for the likes of Blacktown City and the Sutherland Sharks.
“I have been at Wollongong United for 3 years now and have not looked back.
“Coming from the NPL down to the IPL has been great. Winning the Grand Final in my first year at the club and now qualifying for the Australia Cup round of 32 has been an incredible journey for me.
“We have really shown our quality and what we are about over the past few weeks, and we have proven to many that we can compete with any team from the NPL.
“Full credit to the boys, they’ve all put in massive shifts week in week out and it will be great to see the club on the national stage with the official draw less than a week away.”
The Round 7 NSW Australia Cup Preliminary round victory over League One high-flyers St George City sent shockwaves across the nation after Wollongong United became the first Association side in the prestigious knockout Cup’s history to win a spot into the Round of 32.
“What a few weeks it has been for us all, I think it has finally sunk in that we have qualified for the round of 32 and the whole club is ecstatic.
“The post-game celebrations after the win over St George City was unbelievable, it’s always a good time in the change room when you have the best group of lads around you.
“Winning these cup games has been quite special for us, obviously having a rough start to our IPL season with the rain over the past few months has not been ideal with very little training sessions so that win was something special.
“I cannot begin to tell you how massive this is for our club. The support we have every week is amazing so it’s great to give our supporters something to look forward to.
“Obviously not just for our club but for the whole of Wollongong, being on the national stage and showing the quality we have down here will be great to see.”
We must also add that one goal Versi will not forget anytime too soon was his wonderful late strike in the club’s Round 6 win knocking out NPL NSW Men’s heavyweights and regular Australia Cup entrants Blacktown City – a former club of Mason’s.
With the club’s eyes all poised on the official Australia Cup Round of 32 draw set to take place on Wednesday, 29 June, Versi and his teammates would love nothing more than to draw an A-League side.
“To draw an A-League team would be insane for everyone at the club and will definitely give us boys something to look forward to, but we are so stoked to be in this position.
“Not one single person expected us to get this far so we will take anyone we get and give it all we have to get to the next stage.”
Away from the Australia Cup, Wollongong United also earned themselves a spot into this year’s Waratah Cup Semi-Finals where they have drawn to face League One outfit NWS Spirit FC.
Should Wollongong United cause yet another upset, the club will become the first Association side in the Waratah Cup’s history to play for Football NSW’s historic Cup which will be against either the Bonnyrigg White Eagles or Sydney United 58.
“The Waratah Cup will be another amazing opportunity for us as well competing against higher ranked teams from NSW so I’m sure the boys will look forward to that when the time comes, but our focus for now will turn back to the IPL.”
Australia Cup 2022 Round of 32 Live Draw
Date: Wednesday, 29 June 2022
Time: 7:30pm AEST
How to watch: LIVE on 10 Play, Australia Cup Facebook & My Football YouTube
How to follow: Follow Australia Cup Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
How to interact: #MagicOfTheCup
