A new season is on the horizon for Sydney
Olympic, and with it as usual, comes great expectations. Now whether those
lofty expectations are justified is another story.
We are entering our 3rd full season with Grant Lee and Peter Zorbas at the helm. Since taking over at short notice in the middle of the 2013 season, you would have to say they have done a reasonable job, all be it with no rewards for their efforts.
If you speak to the supporters they would probably say that both the 2014 and 2015 seasons went begging. For all the promise shown and good football played we came up empty-handed when it really mattered and in the trophy department.
What to make of 2016 then? Where it has been made common knowledge, that the budget for the 1st team has been slashed dramatically. The players that have left as a result has been well documented. Replacing them has proven to be difficult.
Confirmed signings are the return of former juniors; Chris Triantis and Mitch Stamatellis from Sydney United, as well as Anthony Tomelic and Mark Cindric also brought in from the Edensor Park Club. We have managed to keep the core players of the last few years; Paul Henderson, Brayden Sorge, Harris Gatiatzis, Michael Gaitatzis, William Angel, Howard Fondyke, Niko Tsattalios, Jason Madonis. We have also signed a clutch of young players from various clubs, some destined for 1st Grade, and others for the 20’s. A few players from last year’s Sydney Olympic 20’s team have also been promoted to the 1st Grade Squad.
Included in this is Adrian Vranic, a highly touted youngster who already has good European experience and was in the system at Dinamo Zagreb, where he was impressing everybody. The only reason he is even back in Australia is some form of bungled paperwork from Croatia’s end forcing him to come back to Australia. As a result Vranic fell into Sydney Olympic’s lap, the kid absolutely brained them in the 20’s last year, and is a young man with a big big future. The coaching staff would have to be crazy to not give him the no.9 shirt for 2016. All the supporters will be eager to see him strut his stuff in 1st Grade.
Other issues to look out for this year are the progress of the Tempe Reserve re-development, we will be keeping a close on eye on the proceedings, as it is of major importance for the future of the club. With a bit of luck we may also see an AGM sometime this year.
And finally, you have to truly feel sorry for the oldies of Sydney Olympic, who do not use the internet or have the likes of your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc and have to rely on reading the rubbish from a particular newspaper to get their Sydney Olympic news. A paper where the people that write there have agendas and “scores to settle” on behalf of their mates. They also have a vested interest in wanting to see the club fail and pop the corks to celebrate whenever it appears something might be going wrong. But hey, when they have no idea what is actually going on at the club, I suppose they have to resort to stories of the past, I mean they have to fill their pages with something, right?
Below is a list of confirmed pre-season matches for the club:
v Parramatta at Melita Stadium - Sun 31/1 - 3pm.
v South Melbourne at Kogarah Oval - Fri 5/2 - 7:30pm.
Nothing is 100% locked in yet but also expect matches against Wollongong, Rockdale, Blacktown City, Blacktown Spartans and maybe even the big Chinese club; Guangzhou Evergrande
We are entering our 3rd full season with Grant Lee and Peter Zorbas at the helm. Since taking over at short notice in the middle of the 2013 season, you would have to say they have done a reasonable job, all be it with no rewards for their efforts.
If you speak to the supporters they would probably say that both the 2014 and 2015 seasons went begging. For all the promise shown and good football played we came up empty-handed when it really mattered and in the trophy department.
What to make of 2016 then? Where it has been made common knowledge, that the budget for the 1st team has been slashed dramatically. The players that have left as a result has been well documented. Replacing them has proven to be difficult.
Confirmed signings are the return of former juniors; Chris Triantis and Mitch Stamatellis from Sydney United, as well as Anthony Tomelic and Mark Cindric also brought in from the Edensor Park Club. We have managed to keep the core players of the last few years; Paul Henderson, Brayden Sorge, Harris Gatiatzis, Michael Gaitatzis, William Angel, Howard Fondyke, Niko Tsattalios, Jason Madonis. We have also signed a clutch of young players from various clubs, some destined for 1st Grade, and others for the 20’s. A few players from last year’s Sydney Olympic 20’s team have also been promoted to the 1st Grade Squad.
Included in this is Adrian Vranic, a highly touted youngster who already has good European experience and was in the system at Dinamo Zagreb, where he was impressing everybody. The only reason he is even back in Australia is some form of bungled paperwork from Croatia’s end forcing him to come back to Australia. As a result Vranic fell into Sydney Olympic’s lap, the kid absolutely brained them in the 20’s last year, and is a young man with a big big future. The coaching staff would have to be crazy to not give him the no.9 shirt for 2016. All the supporters will be eager to see him strut his stuff in 1st Grade.
Other issues to look out for this year are the progress of the Tempe Reserve re-development, we will be keeping a close on eye on the proceedings, as it is of major importance for the future of the club. With a bit of luck we may also see an AGM sometime this year.
And finally, you have to truly feel sorry for the oldies of Sydney Olympic, who do not use the internet or have the likes of your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc and have to rely on reading the rubbish from a particular newspaper to get their Sydney Olympic news. A paper where the people that write there have agendas and “scores to settle” on behalf of their mates. They also have a vested interest in wanting to see the club fail and pop the corks to celebrate whenever it appears something might be going wrong. But hey, when they have no idea what is actually going on at the club, I suppose they have to resort to stories of the past, I mean they have to fill their pages with something, right?
Below is a list of confirmed pre-season matches for the club:
v Parramatta at Melita Stadium - Sun 31/1 - 3pm.
v South Melbourne at Kogarah Oval - Fri 5/2 - 7:30pm.
Nothing is 100% locked in yet but also expect matches against Wollongong, Rockdale, Blacktown City, Blacktown Spartans and maybe even the big Chinese club; Guangzhou Evergrande
