Sydney Olympic Off-Season – January

Happy New Year and welcome to 2019 and in Sydney Olympic’s case, hopefully an even bigger and better season to look forward to.

Obviously given what we did last year, it is very difficult to go any bigger or better. But, the challenge for everybody at the club is to do it all again and go back-to-back. No matter what sport you are talking about, it is one of the hardest things to do.

One area where the club can, no, must go better, is in the FFA Cup. After qualifying for the first 2 editions of the tournament in 2014 and 2015 and making it to the Round of 16 on both occasions, we have missed out the last 3 years. That must be a target for the club in 2019.

In terms of how the squad is shaping up, this is what is known:

Retained: Paul Henderson, William Angel, Jason Madonis, Niko Tsattalios, Alejandro Sanchez, Radovan Pavicevic, Hagi Gligor, Jinya An, Thomas Whiteside, Nicola Kuleski, Riley Woodcock, Darcy Burgess, Zach Mackenzie, Ezequiel Consoni, Jake de Marigny, Stephen Athanaseris, Billy Patramanis.

New signings: Mitch Stamatellis, Troy Danaskos, Harris Gaitatzis, Michael Gaitatzis.

Gone: George Timotheou, Max Burgess, Rafael Jimenez, James Demetriou, Paul Katsetis.

Unsure: Brendan Hooper.

We’re looking in relatively good shape. Don’t rule out any more signings either.

The club has released information on up-coming pre-season trials, this is what we have to look forward to:

Sunday: February 3: vs. Sydney United – Sydney United Sports Centre (Edensor Park) – 6.30pm.
Sunday: February 10: vs. Gladesville-Ryde Magic – Christie Park (Macquarie Park) – 6.30pm.
Sunday: February 17: vs. Manly United – Cromer Park (Cromer) – 6.30pm.
Sunday: February 24: vs. Blacktown City – Lily Homes Stadium (Seven Hills) – 7pm.
Sunday: March 3: vs. SD Raiders – Ernie Smith Reserve (Moorebank) – 3pm.

So if you want to check how the team is looking, head out and catch a game during this pre-season.

Onto the Tempe situation. Straight from the Inner West Council:

“Council is currently in an exclusive dealing period with Sydney Olympic for upgrade works at Tempe Recreation Reserve. Sydney Olympic are in the process of preparing updated designs and plans for their proposal. Once these updated plans are formally received by Council, they will be presented at a Council meeting”.

So basically it is as you were for the time being.

Fingers crossed.