Welcome to 2018 and Happy New Year to all Sydney
Olympic Supporters, as we continue to count down the days until the start of
the new season.
It is fair to say that the optimism and enthusiasm around the team’s chances
for 2018 are fairly muted at this point of the off-season/pre-season, and you’d
have to say with some good reason.
In the last 5 seasons we have finished 7th, 4th, 4th, 6th, and 5th, with the
same issues over depth arising every year. So, we are stuck around that 4th-8th
spot, which is where we are realistically at and things don’t look like they will
change any time soon. We simply are not on the same level playing field as
several other clubs who can pay outrageously inflated wages and fork out
hundreds of thousands of dollars every year all for the “honour” of being NSW
Champions.
Of course this does not mean we have no chance, it just means we have to be
smarter with coaching, recruitment and bringing through our own, having a clear
pathway from juniors all the way through to First Grade. Also, a bit of good
luck helps and we certainly haven’t had any of that over the past few seasons.
On to some signing news, the Club has confirmed that Max Burgess will be
returning for the 2018 NSW NPL season, no doubt a welcome addition and
something for all Sydney Olympic Supporters to definitely be excited about.
The Club has also signed a striker from Spain in the form of Alex Sanchez, who
last played in the Spanish 3rd division with Tudelano. It will be interesting
to see what he can bring to the team.
There are no other signings that I know of as of now and the squad currently
looks like this:
Paul Henderson, William Angel, Niko Tsattalios, Jake de Marigny, Jinya An,
Jason Madonis, Hagi Gligor, Max Burgess, Darcy Burgess, George Timotheou, Tom
Whiteside, Radovan Pavicevic, Stephen Athanaseris, Rafa Jimenez, Nicola
Kuleski, Riley Woodcock, Alex Sanchez
As for friendly matches, they are as follows:
Sunday, January 28 vs. Manly United @ Cromer Park @ 6pm.
Sunday, February 4 vs. Sydney United @ Edensor Park @ 7pm.
Saturday, February 10 vs. Heidelberg United @Olympic Village @ 5pm.
Sunday, February 18 vs. Bonnyrigg @ Bonnyrigg Sports Club @ 6.30pm.
Sunday, March 4 vs. Sutherland @ Seymour Shaw @ 6.30pm.
Sunday, March 11 vs. Blacktown City @ Gabbie Stadium @ 6pm.
Sad news from the weekend was the passing of Greek Football Legend, Takis
Loukanidis. He was a star for his hometown club Doxa Drama, before being lured
to Athens to play for Panathinaikos in 1961, he also played 23 times for the
Greek National Team.
Of course, Takis Loukanidis graced us with his presence here in Sydney for the
1968 and 1969 NSW seasons, helping us in the process to reach the NSW 1st
Division Grand Final in 1968.
RIP.
