Former Dutch international Victor Sikora has quickly settled into Perth and can’t wait to suit up in the Boxing Day clash with Adelaide United at Members Equity Stadium.
Former Dutch international Victor Sikora has quickly settled into Perth and can’t wait to suit up in the Boxing Day clash with Adelaide United at Members Equity Stadium.
Sikora has played six matches for the Netherlands and spent several seasons with Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam where he played Champions League football. The 30 year old has been training twice a day in Holland after finishing a stint in the United States with MLS side FC Dallas and is ready to make an immediate impact with a long term contract at the Glory firmly in his sights.
“It (the A-League) is similar to the MLS and maybe a little tougher. As a club, we are still a chance to get to the playoffs and I want to give my 110 per cent to see if I can help it get there,” Sikora said.
“I feel fit, maybe not for 90 minutes, but I feel good and might need one or two games to settle in.
“My goal is to stay. I’m here for three months now and would like to stay for one or two years after that if I can. I like what I see very much. It’s a nice stadium and hopefully the crowd will come after the good win last week.”
It has been a significant change in environment for the Dutchman who normally spends Christmas in sub zero temperatures in his hometown but it-s a change for the better, the speedy attacker loving the Perth weather and keen to take in some of the unique sights of Australia.
“It’s my first Christmas alone abroad, but that doesn-t matter to me. It’s 30 degrees different from where I was, but I like it after being in Dallas where it was even hotter than this. They tell me this isn-t hot for Perth though,” he said.
“Last year, they asked me to come here but I had to make the decision to go to America. I stayed in Holland, went to Dallas for four months and now I’m released. The club (Perth Glory) asked me back and Australia was one of my big wishes to come to. I wanted to come here because of the weather, the country and to see more of the world.
“I want to see a kangaroo too,” he laughed.
Coach Dave Mitchell is glad to have Sikora on board after missing out on his services last year and if he impresses in the last part of this season, he would gladly keep him.
“He’s a character, a good player and will add good value to the team,” Mitchell said.
“I went to Holland last year and watched him train and play. I was very keen on him then, but we couldn-t come to an agreement and he had to go to Dallas. We kept tabs on him, though, and he phoned me straight away when there was a chance to bring him back out there.
“He’s very quick, a great dribbler, can take people on and can chip in with some goals as well. He’s played for Holland, for Ajax as well and you don-t play at that level if you aren-t a quality player. The players we’ve brought in have done really well and he will only add to that.”
