NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE 2014
The 2014 National Premier Leagues: Capital Football season promises to be full of intrigue and surprise with all of the competing teams shaping up to challenge for a place in the top four and the end of season finals. Early indications are that last year’s League Champions Canberra FC and Grand Final winners Canberra Olympic are looking strong to make a decent fist of defending their trophies. Perennial challengers Belconnen United appears to have recruited well in the off-season and will enter the competition confident that they can go better than last year’s runners-up position. If those three are the favourites to occupy the top spots then Cooma Tigers, who disappointed in 2013, will be eager to re-find the form that saw them win the Grand Final in 2012. But it’s anyone’s guess really as to the final make-up of the top four. Canberra City and Woden Valley will fancy their chances of making the finals, with Woden looking to build on their maiden appearance last season. Tuggeranong United, who ended the 2013 season rock bottom, has been busy re-building their squad under the stewardship of new Head Coach Steve Forshaw. Having won the Federation Cup in 2013, Tuggeranong have proved on their day that they can be a match for anyone. Waiting to throw a spanner in the works will be the newly rebranded FFA COE (formerly the AIS). The Institute welcomes a new batch of recruits for the National Premier Leagues campaign and they are sure to provide formidable opponents. As last term the AIS (now FFA COE) are not eligible for finals, but they are likely to have a big say on who actually does. Settle back and enjoy the next five months of action as we build towards the biggest finals series ever.

FFA CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (formerly AIS)
The newly renamed FFA Centre of Excellence (formerly the AIS and now known as the FFA COE)) will embark on their second season of National Premier Leagues football in 2014 after a debut campaign that did exactly what Head Coach the team for a season in the Foxtel National Youth League. Last year’s squad has since been dismantled following the completion of their two-year stint at the Institute and a new batch of young hopefuls will take to the fields of Canberra hoping this will be the commencement of a long, productive and illustrious football career. As the 2013 vintage found out however, the NPL is no-place for the faint hearted and the youngsters can expect a baptism of fire and a steep learning curve as they are pushed straight into action having only arrived at the AIS in early March. The composition of the new squad is certainly interesting with half of the twenty-four players originating from NSW, half a dozen from Queensland, three from South Australia, two from Victoria and one from Western Australia. Melding these players into a cohesive and hopefully competitive unit in such a short space of time will be a challenge for Vidmar and co. but one which they have faced on numerous occasions before. A three week team building trip to Italy, in which they will play four to five matches, will be a good experience for this young group and a chance to sample international football ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers for the Joeys which take place in September this year—a tournament a large majority of this squad will be targeting as the next step in their progress and development. Unable to qualify for the finals, due to NPL regulations, the FFA Centre of Excellence are likely to cause one or two teams a headache throughout the season. Their progress will be interesting to watch as the stars of tomorrow start their careers.
HEAD COACH: Tony VIDMAR
2014 SQUAD: 1. Duro DRAGICEVIC, 2. Malcolm WARD, 3. Henry DAVIES, 4. Kye ROWLES, 5. Zac SPETH, 6. Joe CALETTI, 7. Daniel MASKIN, 8. Daniel ARZANI, 9. Nicholas D’AGOSTINO, 10, Jamie DIMITROFF, 11. Peter KEKERIS, 12. Brandon OSIPOV, 13. Christian VERBI, 14. Solomon MONAHAN-VAIIKA, 15. Zak WATERS, 16. Danny KIM, 17. Nicholas PANETTA, 18. James DELIANOV, 19. Charlie DEVEREUX, 20. Perry FOTAKOPOULOS, 21. Jamal REINERS, 22. Cameron JOICE, 23. Kosta PETRATOS, 24. Jackson BANDIERA

BELCONNEN UNITED
There’s a fresh feel to Belconnen United for the 2014 National Premier Leagues season as new Head Coach Dean Ugrinic looks to develop his own brand of football at McKellar Park and take the Blue Devils one step further than their runners-up spot last season. Ugrinic’s teams are well known for their ability to play football and with a roster packed full of talent there is reason for Belconnen supporters to be confident that this could be their year. With the retirement of experienced Blue Devils stalwarts Elliot Zwangobani and Matt Valeri, much would appear to depend on how the ‘old heads’ of David Arranz and top scorer and club talisman Dustin Wells, manage to guide their youthful team mates. However, when you look closer all the youngsters at Ugrinic’s disposal, all are veterans of first-grade football and have the miles in the bank to set the pace in 2014. Some smart recruitment has seen Jason Ugrinic and Goran Mukevski move across town from Woden Valley and the pair will offer more pace and variety out wide than the Blue Devils had last term. Midfielder Tom McLachlan returns from a spell at Monaro Panthers looking to crack the first team and his tenacity and ability to play a defensive holding role could be crucial. Elsewhere, Belconnen has lost the services of goalkeeper Ben Klug and replaced him with the largely untried, at this level at least, Ashley Collins. A big lad with the physique to match it in the NPL, Collins must hit the ground running in order to build a stable defensive line. Providing the ‘x-factor’ alongside Wells will be new striker Marty Raines. Signed from South Cardiff, Raines impressed in pre-season and could provide a source of goals alongside last season’s main man.
HEAD COACH: Dean UGRINIC
2014 SQUAD: David ARANZ, Taylor BEATON, Jack BLACKLEY, Ashley COLLINS, Jack GREEN, David KEMP, Zac MAYBURY, Goran MUKEVSKI, Tom MCLACHLAN, Milan POPOVICH, Marty RAINES, Cameron REINHART, Bernard RENE, Michael TAURASI, Jason UGRINIC, Dustin WELLS
IN: Jason UGRINIC (Woden Valley), Goran MUKEVSKI (Woden Valley), Ashley COLLINS (Woden Valley), Tom McLACHLAN (Monaro Panthers), Marty RAINES (South Cardiff)
OUT: Rowan SHEPHERD (Tuggeranong United), Matt VALERI (retired), Ben KLUG (retired), Elliot ZWANGOBANI (retired), Michael REEVE (Canberra Olympic), Callum SMITH (Canberra Olympic), Misko NAUMOSKI (Canberra City)

CANBERRA CITY
A new venue should precipitate the start of a new era at Canberra City as Nick Palagyi’s team settle into their new surroundings at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval. And with a new season comes fresh optimism for a team that under-achieved for the most part in 2013. City entered the season as an outside chance of making the top four with a roster that included several experienced Premier League players. However, they would be the first to admit that their campaign failed to hit the heights and only a late season flourish saw them climb away from the foot of the table to end seventh. So what’s changed this time around? Well for a start Palagyi has a season of first grade coaching under his belt and will be well acquainted with his charges. And there has been few movements of note away from City. Goals were at a premium for the club last term so the return of Misko Naumoski from Belconnen United will be a boost in that department with last season’s leading scorer Sam McDonald unavailable. The forward won’t have to do it all on his own though as Ben Doyle returns from a sabbatical to offer a physical and aerial presence. The addition of the experienced Andrew Aliffi appears to be an astute signing from Monaro Panthers with the former Goulburn Strikers star a proven quality player at Premier League level. Less is known about Sydney recruit Brad Moore, Irishman Alan Gaston and Corey Ellison, signed from Palm Beach Sharks in Queensland, but City insiders are sure that they will prove to be worth their place this term. City were beset with injuries during 2013 and will be hoping that this curse that struck down more than a fair share of their senior players, Pat Ross-Magee included, will have abated by the start of the 2014 campaign. Expect City to be far better organized and structured than last term and ready to push on to compete for a place in the finals.
HEAD COACH: Nick PALAGYI
2014 SQUAD: Adam DOBELL, Brad SAWYER, David DEXTER, James PERRY, James WARD, Pat ROSS-MAGEE, Brad MOORE, Misko NAUMOSKI, Andrew ALIFFI, Michael PERCIVAL, Andrew MANLEY, Alan GASTON, Luke GIBSON, Matt RICE, Ben DOYLE, Grant DAVOREN, Daniel DI-SALVATORE, Chris McEWAN, Jeremy HEGARTY, Steven McLAUGHLIN, Corey ELLISON, Gimale ESSACU
IN: Misko NAUMOSKI (Belconnen United), Andrew ALIFFI (Monaro Panthers), Ben DOYLE (sabbatical), Brad MOORE (Sydney), Alan GASTON (Ireland), Corey ELLISON (Palm Beach Sharks, QLD)
OUT: Ross EDWARDS (overseas), Henry WILLIAMS (overseas), Alex BARNES (overseas), Sam McDONALD (overseas)

CANBERRA FC
As ever, League Champions Canberra FC enter the National Premier Leagues season with only one goal in mind – to defend their League Championship crown and regain the Grand Final trophy that eluded them at the last hurdle in September. There’s a change at the top with title winning coach Miro Trninic gone and replaced by former Canberra United Westfield W-League and ACTAS coach Ray Junna. Junna, a former Canberra Deakin player back in the day, brings a technical maturity to the squad and should thrive under the pressure that inevitably comes with holding the top job at a club expected not just to challenge for honours, but to pick them up on a regular basis. Having a settled squad will no doubt help and that is what Junna has inherited. The only major losses are the wide midfield pair of Josip Jadric and Ivan Pavlak to Sydney United whilst fringe first teamers Julian Borgna and Stefan Todoroski have joined Cooma Tigers in search of regular first team football. Three players have come in for Canberra FC, two of whom are well known to the club. After taking a year off for personal reasons, striker Danai Gapare is back in the fold, as is defender Izach Clements, whose promising run of form was curtailed by a freak injury that saw him miss the entire 2013 season. Young stopper Antonio Barbaro is the only other addition to the squad which has the most potent attack in the competition. Alex Oloriegbe and Philippe Bernabo-Madrid are as deadly a pair as you can find at this level and winger Daniel Bennett has all the attributes to make a strong career in the game—pace, power and the ability to score goals. Watch out also for left-back Jordan Lamb to further his status in the local game as well as the ‘go-to’ midfield of Ian Graham, Ryan Keir, James Field and Adam Spaleta. Once again Canberra FC pose a formidable threat.
HEAD COACH: Ray JUNNA
2014 SQUAD: Jakob COLE, Jordan LAMB, Aidan BRUNSKILL, Izach CLEMENTS, Antonio BARBARO, Matt GRBESA, Marcin ZYGMUNT, Adam SPALETA, Ian GRAHAM, Ryan KEIR, James FIELD, Daniel BENNETT, Danai GAPARE, Alex OLORIEGBE, Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, Domenic GIAMPAOLO, Aaron EVANS, Nathan EVANS
IN: Antonio BARBARO (Woden Valley), Danai GAPARE (sabbatical), Izach CLEMENTS (return from injury)
OUT: Julian BORGNA (Cooma Tigers), Josip JADRIC (Sydney United), Ivan PAVLAK (Sydney United), Stefan TODOROSKI (Cooma Tigers), Adam PERAKOVIC (Monaro Panthers)

CANBERRA OLYMPIC
Grand Final winners Canberra Olympic are another side who have changed coaches in the off-season as the victorious Leo Exarhos takes time off for personal reasons and is replaced by Frank Cachia. Cachia has a wealth of local football knowledge and he will have to draw on a lot of it to juggle a squad that looks, on paper at least, to be in with a good chance of repeating last season’s heroics. They may have lost some influential players, such as two-goal Grand Final scorer Robbie Schroder, Valeri Medal winner Hristjan Tanoski and defender Joel Valtonen, but they have also recruited well. In comes midfielder Tim Womack from Monaro Panthers, Adam Rogic from White Eagles and Nick Sallecchia, who returns to action after a stint overseas. Four Belconnen youngsters, Michael Reeve, Callum Smith, Joshua Parisi and Michael Rinaudo complete the signings with the former pair part of the Futsalroo training squad. Outside of this player movement it’s much the same for Olympic. They will rely heavily on the goals of sharp-shooter Mark Shields and the midfield dynamism of Robbie Deeley and Josh Gaspari whilst defensively Nick Bobolas and Nathan Tidmarsh form an unerring partnership that is growing in stature with each passing season. Goalkeeper Angelo Konstantinou provides a physical and vocal presence at the back with his years of experience a major plus. Keep an eye out too for the likes of Daniel Fulton, who is sure to be a major talent going forward, and the technique and ability of midfielder Jeremy Habtemariam for whom 2014 could well turn out to be a breakthrough year. Despite some off field changes, Olympic should very much be in the hunt come finals time.
HEAD COACH: Frank CACHIA
2014 SQUAD: Angelo KONSTANTINOU, Nick OWEN, Nick BOBOLAS, Tim BOBOLAS, Nathan TIDMARSH, Chris NIKITAS, Daniel FULTON, Josh GASPARI, Robbie DEELEY, Joshua PARISI, Nick SALLECCHIA, Michael REEVE, Callum SMITH, Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, Tim WOMACK, Adam ROGIC, Oliver WIEDERKEHR, Mark SHIELDS, Michael RINAUDO
IN: Tim WOMACK (Monaro Panthers), Joel VALTONEN (sabbatical), Michael REEVE (Belconnen United), Callum SMITH (Belconnen United), Nick SALLECCHIA (return from overseas), Adam ROGIC (White Eagles), Michael RINAUDO (Belconnen United), Joshua PARISI (Belconnen United)
OUT: Victor YANES (Tuggeranong United), Hristjan TANOSKI (Rockdale City Suns), Matt CACHIA (Monaro Panthers State League), Robbie SCHRODER (Weston-Molonglo FC), Lukas COLE (Woden Valley)

COOMA TIGERS
2013 was a disappointing year for Cooma Tigers with a fifth place finish, ten points outside of the top four, indicating something of a hangover from their remarkable 2012 Grand Final success. But with a settled squad and an injection of new youthful faces there’s a sense of optimism in the Cooma camp that they could be back to their mercurial best in 2014. As last season much will depend on their exciting strike duo of Stephen Domenici and ACT Player of the Year Robbie Cattanach. When this pair are on song the Tigers are tough to contain. The inclusion of the exciting prospect Julian Borgna, snapped up from League champions Canberra FC, adds extra weight to an attack that also includes the experience of Goran Josifovski. The other additions to the Tigers roster sees Rishabh Sharma join from UC Pumas, a solid player who was in good form in the Capital League last term, whilst the inclusion of goalkeeper Jack Pettit, signed from Federation Cup winners Tuggeranong United, will put additional pressure on incumbent Francois Bangweni, with the battle for places a healthy indication that Cooma could push for a return to the top four. White Eagles legend, and creative playmaker Dejan Santrac is also on board for 2014, Sime Celeski adds more depth joining from Woden Valley whilst Stefan Todorsoki links up from Canberra FC where he was a regular in the Premier Pathway League team. The Tigers have lost some experience in long-time club legend Alex Castro as well as midfielder JP D’Ambrosio and squad players Marc O’Neill, Marco Gayer, Zach Munster and Michael Sydney. Keep an eye out for Iain Elliott who was an influential member of the team that reached the Federation Cup Final last year.
HEAD COACH: Gaby WILK
2014 SQUAD: Jack PETTIT, Phil YARNOLD, Jordano SAN MARTIN, Liam HIGHMORE, Goran JOSIFOVSKI, Robbie CATTANACH, Lianel LAUPER, Iain ELLIOTT, Julian BORGNA, Jordan LANDO, Stephen DOMENICI, Stefan TODOROSKI, Rishabh SHARMA, Sime CELESKI, Domenic COLUCCIELLO, Glen CABLE, Daniel ROBERTS, Theveshran MOODLEY, Francois BANGWENI, Jair WILK, Tony ALEKSOVEKI, Tom BARTON
IN: Julian BORGNA (Canberra FC), Jack PETTIT (Tuggeranong United), Stefan TODOROSKI (Canberra FC), Sime CELESKI (Woden Valley), Rishabh SHARMA (UC Pumas), Jordan LANDO (Yoogali FC), Lianel LAUPER, Dejan SANTRAC (White Eagles), Pepe VARGA (Monaro Panthers)
OUT: Alex CASTRO (retired), Zach MUNSTER (Tuggeranong United), Marco GAYER (Woden Valley), Tomas MANGA, Felipe FLORES, JP D’AMBROSIO, Marc O’NEILL, Michael SYDNEY

MONARO PANTHERS
Monaro Panthers would appear to be a club in transition heading into the 2014 National Premier Leagues: Capital Football season with Technical Director Njegosh Popovich doubling as Head Coach having to come to terms with the loss of a number of players who performed admirably in the green and black of the Panthers last season. The club may have finished the inaugural NPL campaign in eighth place with six wins from their 23 matches played but they put in a number of memorable performances in that time and looked to have unearthed several potential Premier League stars of the future in what was a young roster dotted with a couple of older heads. Unfortunately for the Panthers they have lost a few of their former leading lights to the lure of other clubs in Canberra leaving Popovich having to start again with a new band of prodigy’s. With such a youthful looking line-up the experience of Tom Crossley at centre-back will be crucial for Monaro as they start 2014. Crossley will guide and cajole from the back as the speedy outfit look to take advantage of their enthusiastic approach to games. Keep an eye out for the emerging striker Darian McGarry-Watson and defender Alex Hollis, a top prospect snapped up from Cooma Tigers youth ranks. The introduction of Thomas James from the United Kingdom is an unknown quantity but his movement and perception in trial matches points to a successful integration into the Panthers ranks. Popovich’s team will cause plenty of problems for their NPL peers.
HEAD COACH: Njegosh POPOVICH
2014 SQUAD: Nathan ALFERINK, Adrian CANIZARES, Daniel LINSTEAD, Lewis BATES, Darian McGARRY-WATSON, Tom CROSSLEY, Josh CALABRIA, Alex HOLLIS, Martin DENG, Arok THON, Deng PADIET, Sam ROESTBACKEN, Dylan SHANLEY, Sammy ZEMICAEL, Gianmarco SENATORE, Taylor BONNEAU, Kamal AHMED, Thomas JAMES, Peter MALITH, Nick VECCHI, Anthony GIANNASCA, Adam PERAKOVIC
IN: Martin DENG (Tuggeranong United), Arok THON (Tuggeranong United), Deng PADIET (Tuggeranong United), Alex HOLLIS (Cooma Tigers), Marc O’NEILL (Cooma Tigers), Thomas JAMES (UK), Adam PERAKOVIC (Canberra FC)
OUT: Jon TOOLE (Tuggeranong United), Jonathon REIS (Tuggeranong United), Tim WOMACK (Canberra Olympic), James BRADBURY (interstate), Pepe VARGA (Cooma Tigers), Tom McLACHLAN (Belconnen United), Sam OSSATO (Woden Valley), Daniel COLBERTALDO (Tuggeranong United), Andrew ALIFFI (Canberra City)

TUGGERANONG UNITED
Season 2013 was a roller-coaster for Tuggeranong United and their loyal band of followers. Marooned at the foot of the National Premier Leagues after a league campaign to forget, United confounded most experts by producing a memorable Federation Cup run that culminated in a victory over Cooma Tigers in the showpiece Final at Deakin Stadium thus securing their place in the inaugural FFA Cup for 2014. Tuggeranong won’t want a repeat of their disappointing League campaign this time around and have moved fast in the off-season to make amends. The first signing, and perhaps most significant, was the recruitment of new coach Steve Forshaw. The experienced former Belconnen United Head Coach stepped into the hot-seat towards the end of 2013 and immediately set to task to attract some new faces. With goalkeeper Jack Pettit signing for
Cooma Tigers, acquiring the services of Rowan Shepherd was critical. Shepherd is one of three former Blue Devils players to sign for Tuggeranong, alongside creative midfielder Jon Toole, who played for Monaro Panthers last season. Goal-getter Zach Munster has also been signed after a short stint at Cooma Tigers for whom he signed on the morning of their Federation Cup tie with Belconnen before proceeding to score the goals that knocked his former club out of the competition that very evening. The addition of Jonathan Reis, also from Monaro, and Victor Yanes, snapped up from Grand Final winners Canberra Olympic, will add a wealth of nous to an otherwise young squad. As ever the form of Matt Menser and the dependable Tim Stewart will go a large way to deciding where Tuggeranong finish in 2014.
HEAD COACH: Steve FORSHAW
2014 SQUAD: Rowan SHEPHERD, Chris RUIZ, Harry PETTIT, Jonathan REIS, Michael GURNEY, Daniel PEKEVSKI, Cameron DOHERTY, Tim STEWART, Matt MENSER, Sean KIDDEY, Jordan GLOVER, Daniel COLBERTALDO, Victor YANES, Sean MURPHY, Jon TOOLE, Muad ZWED, Devin CARTER
IN: Victor YANES (Canberra Olympic), Rowan SHEPHERD (Belconnen United), Jon TOOLE (Monaro Panthers), Jonathon REIS (Monaro Panthers), Zach MUNSTER (Cooma Tigers), Daniel COLBERTALDO (Monaro Panthers)
OUT: Jack PETTIT (Cooma Tigers), Aaron CASHMAN (Weston-Molonglo FC), Dale OHLMUS, Tim IRESON (retired), Daniel BEAUMONT (Weston-Molonglo FC)

WODEN VALLEY
There’s been plenty of change at Woden Valley for the 2014 National Premier Leagues season, not the least of which sees Mitch Stevens make the considerable step-up from player to Head Coach following Dean Ugrinic’s departure to Belconnen United. Stevens may be raw as a coach at this level, but he knows all about top flight football having played for both Woden and Canberra City in this company. Stevens set his marker down early, looking to lock in the majority of his 2014 squad prior to Christmas so he could concentrate on developing a style of play that would help Woden match last season’s accomplishment of making the top four and playing finals football for the first time. Woden suffered some big losses along the way with creative wide players Jason Ugrinic and Goran Mukevski heading to Belconnen United whilst Derek Oelmann, the 2013 Golden Boot winner, returned to the USA. Replacing the goals of Oelmann will be a big task and Stevens moved to secure the services of Lukas Cole, a player with a cannon of a left foot, from Canberra Olympic. Jason Denham looks to be a decent signing in goal, replacing the departed Ashley Collins, and much is expected of Sam Ossato who was a stand out last term with Monaro Panthers. Other than those additions, and some internal promotion, the squad has a similar feel to the one that exceeded expectations in 2013. The midfield looks strong with the likes of the combative Conor Nolan and the silky smooth Regan Walsh an ideal partnership to create the chances for Cole and the youthful promise of Thomas Zeitlhofer and Andrew Slavich. At the back veteran defender John Gibson will captain the side possibly alongside David Jenkins—one to keep an eye on.
HEAD COACH: Mitch STEVENS
2014 SQUAD: Jason DENHAM, Fernando ALVES, Sam OSSATO, Jake WILSENER, Zach HARRIGAN, John GIBSON, Domenic SMEDLEY, David JENKINS, Conor NOLAN, Liam WALSH, Romeo ROMEO, Marco GAYER, Owen STEER, Mitch STEENBERGEN, Lukas COLE, Regan WALSH, Thomas ZEITLHOFER, Andrew SLAVICH
IN: Lukas COLE (Canberra Olympic), Sam OSSATO (Monaro Panthers), Romeo ROMEO (Belconnen United), Jason DENHAM, Dominic SMEDLEY, Marco GAYER (Cooma Tigers)
OUT: Derek OELMANN (returned to USA), Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), Goran MUKEVSKI (Belconnen United), Evan ALEXANDROW-RIDLEY (Hume City), Ashley COLLINS (Belconnen United), Sime CELESKI (Cooma Tigers)