Chris Coyne and the PGFC Academy First Team are relishing the prospect of heading to Geraldton for Saturday’s NPL WA Regional Round clash with Sorrento (kick-off at 3pm at Wonthella Oval).
Following the meeting with Jamie Harnwell’s Gulls, the Glory players and staff will attend local junior games on the Sunday as part of Football West’s regional football program.
And Coyne, who will take charge of the team due to regular Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich travelling to Auckland with the A-League squad, is right behind the initiative.
“It’s fantastic to be going out to regional WA where football is growing significantly and promoting both the game and the Perth Glory brand,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to the game and then engaging further with the local football community via the junior games on Sunday.”
In terms of the game itself, Coyne is expecting Sorrento to provide a stern challenge for the Academy First Team who head north off the back of a come-from-behind win over Rockingham City.
“It’s always tough against Sorrento,” he said.
“It’s fourth [Sorrento] against fifth [Glory] and we’ve prepared well this week.
“The guys need to learn to deal with these sorts of games and the kind of questions that Sorrento will ask on Saturday.”
With his former Glory teammate Harnwell in the opposition dugout, meanwhile, Coyne is expecting a lively afternoon on the sidelines.
“I’m sure there’ll be some banter flying around,” he said, “but it will all be in jest and that’s how it should be.”
Last year’s corresponding fixture, which was played in Albany, saw the Gulls run out 5-1 winners, but having lost just once in their last four outings, the Glory youngsters will be quietly confident of securing the win that would move them to within one point of the top four.
If you’re in the Geraldton area on Saturday, do try and get along to Wonthella Oval to lend the lads your support!
(picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
#OneGlory
