By: Russ Gibbs

It’s a different world post-COVID-19 and for the clubs in the NPL Capital Football competition and a new structure to come to terms with.

With relegation from the division temporarily suspended, the threat of demotion that would have been hanging over the head of half of the division has been eliminated.

Following a round-robin of matches, the league will split into two groups of four, clubs 1-4 and clubs 5-8, with the teams playing each other once and the top two heading for a Grand Final and Plate Final.

This new dynamic means there is something to play for in every game of a truncated season. So, who is likely to succeed and who should you look out for?

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BELCONNEN UNITED

Last Season: 5^th
Coach: Paul MACOR
In: Darren BAILEY (Tigers FC), Kofi DANNING (Canberra Olympic), Jordan THURTELL (Gungahlin United)
Out: Cameron REINHART (Retired), Finn JURAK (USA) Bead WATERS (Retired), Sam WHITHEAR (Tigers FC)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

1/2 v Dunbar Rovers (h) - CANCELLED
8/2 v Corrimal (h) L 0-1
29/2 v Hanwood (a) W 9-0 (Danning (4), Bailey, Curely, Michl, Florez, A. Macor)
8/3 v O’Connor Knights (n) W 2-1 (Bailey, Taurasi)
11/3 v Tuggeranong United (n) W 4-1 (Florez (3), Danning)

Paul Macor comes into the hot-seat at Belconnen United for the 2020 season and welcomes a trio of new signings who may well help the Blue Devils push on into the top four positions, a spot they narrowly missed out on at the tail-end of 2019. With Finn Jurak heading overseas, Macor has persuaded Jordan Thurtell to leave Grand Final winners Gungahlin United to cross the Northern divide and take up residence between the posts. Elsewhere, left-back Darren Bailey will add strength and tenacity to then back-four, with Kofi Danning, plucked from Canberra Olympic, providing the x-factor upfront. It looks to be a balanced outfit assembled by Macor at McKellar Park, and with a sprinkling of exciting youth coming through, in particular the promise of Luca Florez, Belconnen will be aiming for a place at the top table.

CANBERRA CROATIA

Last Season: 4^th (lost in Elimination Final)
Coach: Dean UGRINIC 
In: Nick BOBOLAS (Canberra Olympic), Nikos KALFAS (Monaro Panthers), Amilio KISTA (Monaro Panthers), Michael POCCI, Niko UJDUR (Canberra United)
Out: Ian GRAHAM (O’Connor Knights), Lucas MAURAGIS (Newcastle Jets NYL), Tom MILICEVIC (Gungahlin United)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

31/1 v Sutherland (h) L 0-2
8/2 South Coast United (h) W 5-0 (Ugrinic, Barac (2), Kalfas, Ujdur)
‪16/2 v Sydney United (a) L 2-6 (Keir, Barac)
22/2 v Queanbeyan City (h) W 4-1 (Colbertaldo (2), Barac (2))
29/2 v St. George (h) L 1-5 (Ujdur)
14/3 v O’Connor Knights (h) W 5-0 (Kista (2), Kalfas, Giampaolo, OG)

Dean Ugrinic takes over the leadership of one of the hottest seats in local Canberra football with a remit to get the newly re-named Canberra Croatia back into championship contention. The club managed to recover from a horrific start to 2019, losing three of their first four matches, to make the end-of-season finals, where they were eliminated by a rampant Gungahlin United. Ugrinic has retained most of the squad from last season and bolstered it by adding central defender Nick Bobolas from Canberra Olympic and Greek duo Nikos Kalfas, back for a second stint in red, and Amilio Kista both signed from Monaro Panthers. As ever, expectations will be high at Deakin Stadium, but then when are they ever not? If he can find the right blend, Ugrinic has the armoury to challenge for the title in 2020.

CANBERRA OLYMPIC 

Last Season: 1^st (lost in Preliminary Final)
Coach: Robbie CATTANACH
In: Aisosa IHEGIE (Tuggeranong United), Daniel LINSTEAD (Tuggeranong United)
Out: Nick BOBOLAS (Canberra FC), Tim BOBOLAS (Interstate), Kofi DANNING (Belconnen United), Elie DARWICH (Monaro Panthers), Daniel FELIZZI (Tuggeranong United), Nathen MEGIC (Tigers FC), Sean PATEMAN (Interstate), Zedan MUTLU (Woden-Weston FC), Andre JANCEVSKI. 

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

1/2 v Albion Park White Eagles (HFC) D 1-1 (Woods)

8/2 v Wollongong Olympic (h) W 3-2 (Reece, Piccolo, Faust)
29/2 v Stanmore Hawks (h) L 2-3 (Sparrow, Ihegie)
11/3 v ANU FC (a) W 4-1 (Sparrow, Ihegie, Jancevski, Piccolo)

Replacing the legend that is Frank Cachia as head-honcho at Canberra Olympic is a daunting proposition, but in Robbie Cattanach, Olympic may just have the perfect replacement. Cattanach knows the club inside-out, has the respect of his players, and a tactical reading of the game that was as good as any when he graced the playing fields of Canberra. If he can translate that into management, he will go a long way. There have been a couple of key losses in the Olympic squad, Nathen Megic and Nick Bobolas were mainstays of the team that achieved a clutch of trophies over the last five years, but the addition of Aisosa Ihegie, top-scorer for Tuggeranong United, and defender Daniel Linstead, from the same Tuggeranong squad, look to be decent additions. They look likely to be challenging for honours once again.

GUNGAHLIN UNITED 

Last Season:3^rd (won Grand Final)
Coach: Marcial MUNOZ 
In: Michael ADAMS (Woden-Weston FC), Philippe BERNABO-MADRID (Pascoe Vale), Joshua GULEVSKI (Monaro Panthers), Tom MILICEVIC (Canberra FC)
Out: Jordan THURTELL (Belconnen United)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

2/2 v Sutherland Sharks (h) D 2-2 (Adams, Green)
8/2 v Bulli FC (a) D 1-1 (Timotheou)
‪20/2 v Sydney Olympic (a) L 0-3
‪22/2 v Rydalmere Lions (h) L 1-2 (Bernabo-Madrid)
‪29/2 v Tigers FC (n) W 4-1 (McLachlan, Angelosante (2), Ayuel)
7/3 v ANU FC (n) W 3-0 (Adams, Timotheou, McLachlan)
11/3 v Weston-Molonglo FC (n) W 5-1 (John, J. Habtemariam, Adams, Angelosante, Obst)
‪14/3 v Bulli FC (a) L 1-3 (John)

The form team of 2019 head into 2020 with then moniker of the team to beat. Grand Final winners in emphatic fashion, Gungahlin United look stronger than ever this season, having added even more firepower and guile to a squad that contains enough talent to potentially field two first-grade sides. Philippe Bernabo-Madrid, one of then heroes of Canberra Olympic’s run to the FFA Cup Semi-Finals in 2016, returns from a spell in Melbourne and is joined by Josh Gulevski who had a magnificent season last year, leading the charge in goals for Monaro Panthers.  Michael Adams, the pass-master from Woden-Weston FC, and Thomas Milicevic, another gifted passer, complete the incoming signings and, with little outgoing, the squad looks stacked. Keeping everyone happy appears to be a masterstroke of Marcial Munoz and his team start favourites. 

MONARO PANTHERS

Last Season: 7^th
Coach: Jimmy KANARIDIS 
In: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Holy Cross Saints), Joel BAIRD (Southern Tablelands), Ryan BROSE (Macon SC), Aaron CASHMAN (Woden-Weston FC), Elie DARWICH (Canberra Olympic), Anthony GIORGI (Sabbatical), Anton HOSHOVSKY (Mount Aloysius College, USA), Elijah HOWE (Goldey-Beacom College, USA), Alex OLORIEGBE (Woden-Weston FC)
Out: Josh GULEVSKI (Gungahlin United), Nikos KALFAS (Canberra FC), Amilio KISTA (Canberra FC)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

1/2 v Tanawarra Blues (h) W 2-1 (McCarthy, Oloriegbe)
15/2 v Wagga City Wanderers (h) W 8-1 (Dahl, Ahmed-Shaibu (2), Caglar (2), Smith (2), Oloriegbe)
‪23/2 v Tigers FC (h) W 2-0 (Neou, Oloriegbe)
7/3 v Yoogali (h) W 10-1 (Ahmed-Shaibu, Smith, Cashman, Tkatchenko, Oloriegbe, Caglar, Alusir (2), James-Ward, Neou)
14/3 v Bellambi FC (a) D 2-2 (Dahl, Driscoll)

The rebuilding job that Jimmy Kanaridis began in 2019 at the Riverside Stadium continues into 2020 with a clutch of new players arriving in Queanbeyan. Replacing the 14 goals scored by Josh Gulevski would appear to be the main priority and, in that respect, Kanaridis has turned to Alex Oloriegbe, who has netted over a century of goals for a variety of clubs in the NPL. The return of Aaron Cashman from Woden-Weston Wanderers will be welcomed by the Panthers’ supporters, as will the signing of the exciting Anthony Giorgi, back after a sabbatical. As ever with the Panthers, there are several youngsters champing at the bit to get into the first-grade squad, and the overall youthful complexion of the group means they should have the energy to play Kanaridis preferred brand of high-paced football.

 

TIGERS FC

Last Season: 2^nd (lost in Grand Final)
Coach: Ryan GROGAN 
In: Julian BORGNA (Sabbatical), Mariano CANAVESSIO (ASD Policoro Calcio), Luke DARK (Woden-Weston FC), Joe LAWLESS (Woden-Weston FC), Nathen MEGIC (Canberra Olympic), Sam WHITHEAR (Belconnen United)
Out: Darren BAILEY (Belconnen United), Jose DEFILLIPPI, Nahuel GUERRERO, Dimitri PARASCOS (Interstate), Boyan TASESKI (Released)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

15/2 v O’Connor Knights (a) D 2-2 (Shields, Maddafari)
20/2 v Weston-Molonglo FC (n) W 2-1 (Borgna, Strika)
‪23/2 v Monaro Panthers (a) L 0-2
‪29/2 v Gungahlin United (a) L 1-4 (Borgna (pen))
7/3 v Brindabella Blues (a) W 5-1 (Colaneri (2), Strika, Borgna, Shields)
11/3 v Queanbeyan City (a) D 1-1 (Colaneri)

COVID-19 had already struck a blow for the Tigers with forward Augusto Colonari, scorer of three goals in two matches in pre-season, forced to return home to Argentina without kicking a ball in anger for the Cooma-based side. His compatriot, Mariano Canavessio, remains in the Southern NSW town however and will line-up in Tigers’ colours for 2020. Luke Dark has been signed from Woden-Weston Wanderers to replace the departing Darren Bailey, whilst Julian Borgna and Sam Whithear add to an already attack-minded squad led by Mark Shields. New coach Ryan Grogan has also been busy further back, claiming Nathen Megic from Canberra Olympic, and Joe Lawless from Woden-Weston, two players with a crunch in the tackle and the ability to spray passes around the park. As usual, Tigers FC will provide great entertainment, there are always goals at both ends when they take the field, but can they go one better in 2020?

TUGGERANONG UNITED 

Last Season:6^th
Coach: Mitch STEVENS
In: Brandon CASHMORE (ADFA), Daniel FELIZZI (Canberra Olympic), Nick FELIZZI (Canberra Olympic U20), Euan PETERKIN (ANU FC), Sam SMITH (Canberra Olympic U20)
Out: Aisosa IHEGIE (Canberra Olympic), Daniel LINSTEAD (Canberra Olympic), Hamid POJOHISHGAR (Retired)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

15/2 v Port Kembla (h) D 1-1 (Slavich (pen))
22/2 v Weston-Molonglo FC (n) W 2-0 (Truman, Coggan)
29/2 v ANU FC (h) W 2-0 (Slavich, Truman)
11/3 v Belconnen United (n) L 1-4 (Truman)
15/3 v Brindabella Blues (n) W 5-2 (Coggan (2), Gayer (2), Fulton)

Improvement will be the watchword for Mitch Stevens as the Tuggeranong United Head Coach aims to get back into contention for the top four after missing out in 2019, ending a disappointing campaign in sixth place. There hasn’t been much traffic in and out of Kambah in the lead-up to the new season, with the most notable absentee that of leading scorer Aisosa Ihegie who has moved to Canberra Olympic. Stevens has scoured NPL2 for some talent and brought in Euan Peterkin, a neat-passer, and an integral cog in the successful ANU side in that grade, as well as the hard-running Brandon Cashmore from ADFA. Pre-season has seen the emergence of young striker Harry Truman, fresh from the Canberra Grammar School U18 Division 1 team, and he has repaid the faith shown in him with three goals in successive games.

WODEN-WESTON FC

Last Season: 8^th
Coach: Ulisses DA SILVA
In: Joe BOKE (Belconnen United U20), Martin MITRESKI (Launceston City), Zedan MUTLU (Canberra Olympic), Dhuel NYARNHOM (Granville Rage)
Out: Michael ADAMS (Gungahlin United), Aaron CASHMAN (Monaro Panthers), Luke DARK (Tigers FC), Joe LAWLESS (Tigers FC), Willem LEJUENE (Magpies Crusaders), Alex OLORIEGBE (Monaro Panthers)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

1/2 v Wollongong Olympic (a) L 0-1
8/2 v Albion Park White Eagles (a) L 0-5
5/3 v White Eagles (h) D 1-1 (Meek)
12/3 v Brindabella Blues (h) L 0-1
15/3 v Queanbeyan City (a) W 1-0 (Nyarnhom)

A loss of some experienced NPL campaigners has meant that Head Coach Ulisses Da Silva has been forced to rely on plenty of youth heading into the 2020 season. Of all the players that have departed the Wanderers, the loss of goalkeeper Willem Lejuene is perhaps key. Goals were at a premium in 2019, and pre-season has suggested this may again be their Achilles heel with five pre-season outings offering just two goals. There is a lot of potential in the youth ranks at the Wanderers and we may see a several young talents making the breakthrough at this level in 2020. If the Wanderers are to soring a surprise or two, they need to be hit the ground running. Playing a fast, crisp game on the break, could play to their strengths.