Ready to go: Goulburn Valley Suns coach Craig Carley is looking forward to competitive fixtures kicking off.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
With a solid pre-season out of the way, a quartet of star imports raring to go and the goal of promotion in the back of their minds, it is shaping up to be a big year for Goulburn Valley Suns.
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The Suns, who are the region’s only National Premier League soccer side, will begin their NPL Two campaign on Saturday against Manningham United at McEwen Reserve.
Saturday’s contest will draw to a close the Suns’ lengthy pre-season and coach Craig Carley was full of confidence heading into the season opener.
“I think the boys have done really well, I’ve been really happy with the pre-season, it’s been a long, hard slog, but the boys have all knuckled down and worked really hard,” Carley said.
“Now it’s just all about getting those competitive minutes into the games, it doesn’t matter how many pre-season games that you play, it’s the three points that count now for us.”
Carley’s side will be looking to control possession on the pitch this season, with the club working alongside the council to make the McEwen Reserve pitch bigger.
This change is an attempt to better complement the team’s playing style, with the goal of promotion in the club’s sights.
“For us it’s all about being competitive in every game and promotion has to be the key,” he said.
“We have to aim high, we are the benchmark for soccer in regional areas and in my opinion probably the best regional club in the country, let alone the state.
“With the facilities that we’ve got we have to be aiming high, I wanting be coaching in the NPL and I know the board share that vision too.”
Carley has turned to imports to help achieve this goal, with this season’s squad a good mix of young talent and new and returning faces from abroad.
“I’ve been really impressed with all the boys we’ve recruited and got in,” he said.
“I really believe that we’ve got an energetic and fast-paced team able to break down oppositions this year.”
Youngster Brandon Giaccherini is set for a big year this year, while Carley said under-18 players Tutu Taya, Gerald Corbo and Hassan Alhilfi may get an opportunity this season.
Big year ahead: Brandon Giaccherini is set to star for the Suns this season.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The Suns will have a large number of outs for this weekend’s round one clash, however, Carley was not fazed.
“I have full faith in the squad that we assembled, we don’t just assemble the 11 that start on the pitch, it’s a squad of 22-23 players,” he said.
“Manningham is going to be a tough test.
“They turned us over here — last year — towards the back end of the season.
“We certainly want to rectify that, but I know it’s going to be tough.
“We’re just really buzzing to get a good crowd back to McEwen Reserve this weekend.”
Round one of the NPL Two Victoria competition kicks off this Saturday at McEwen Reserve, Shepparton, with the Suns welcoming Manningham United Blues.
The under-21s will start at 1pm before the seniors kick off at 3pm.
