The journey begins

March 15 2014

Shepparton News

Five weeks ago Goulburn Valley Suns did not exist.

Tonight the hastily-assembled Shepparton-based soccer club takes on established Victorian power Oakleigh Cannons at McEwen Reserve in the opening round of the newly-formed National Premier League.

Even yesterday the Suns were confirming players, with central midfielder Rudy Saglam the latest former A-League player to sign for the club.

Saglam, who played under Scottish manager Ian Ferguson at North Queensland Fury, joins Kristian Sarkies and Naum Sekulovski on the Suns’ roster, but is likely to start on the bench.

Local hero Nick Kalafatis will captain the side and marshall the team from centre back, possibly alongside versatile English import Josh Glover, who arrived in Australia on Tuesday.

In total, 17 players are registered, but Anthony Calandro is suspended.

Under-20 goal-keeper Jake Keating will sit on the bench as back up for newly-acquired number one Phillip Petrovski.

Suns adviser Melvyn Wilkes will oversee match day one and said caution would be the initial approach.

‘‘We’ll be tight, hardworking, hard to break down and then try to hit them on the break,’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘They’re quick in wide areas, vastly experienced in the centre of the park, but I’m led to believe they can be susceptible to leaking a few goals at the back.

‘‘We know it’s going to be tough, but we want to get as many people through the gate as possible to support us.

‘‘We’re not frightened of anybody and there’s going to be a few surprises.’’

However, the Suns are not the only team caught on the hop.

High-profile Cannons coach Miron Bleiberg gave little away, but admitted his side was not as prepared as he would have liked.

‘‘I came quite late, because I was under the assumption the league would start like every year in the last week of March,’’ Bleiberg said.

‘‘So I’m not that happy, but we had a good three weeks and we’re still short on one or two players that will arrive later on, but we go at 80 per cent.’’

Bleiberg, who has previously managed A-League clubs Queensland (now Brisbane) Roar and the defunct Gold Coast United in a 32-year managerial career, said his team had the tools to play an attractive style, but would be versatile.

‘‘I’m not one of those ones preaching you have to play like Barcelona all the time, it depends on how the opposition play and the conditions on the day,’’ he said.

‘‘The most important thing is to get the three points, I’m not here to get reviewed that we’re playing good football.’’

Andreas Govas will pull the strings in midfield and fleet-footed striker Nate Foster, who crossed from Dandenong Thunder, is the Cannons’ danger man up front.

Kick-off is 7.30 pm.

Possible Suns starting XI

Petrovski — Hamilton, Kalafatis, Glover, Sekulovski — Clarke, Espindola, Sarkies, Paraskevas, Andrijasevic — Carley