After leading the way up front for Perth Glory last season, star striker Eugene Dadi will have plenty of attention focused in his direction in the new campaign but if he’s feeling any pressure he isn’t showing it.
After leading the way up front for Perth Glory last season, star striker Eugene Dadi will have plenty of attention focused in his direction in the new campaign but if he-s feeling any pressure he isn-t showing it.
The cool, calm and collected marksman was on target 10 times in 16 matches last season and has set himself another ambitions tally for the new season but the exact number, he says, will be kept under wraps.
“It-s not something I-ve ever come out and said before a season,” Dadi said when quizzed about the number he wants to hit the back of the net.
“My goal will always be for the team, we want to succeed and to have a great season, so my personal aims come after the team but I think they-re aligned so hopefully it will be a good combination.”
Dadi has joined Perth-s pre-season training following a loan spell in Europe and is eager to take part in the new fitness regime designed by recently appointed Strength & Conditioning Coach Peter Cklamovski.
“Yeah I heard about that, I don-t know why I came in today,” Dadi joked as he prepared for his first session.
“Maybe I should wait for a couple more weeks because it looks like it’ll be pretty tough,” he laughed.
“Honestly, there are some good changes at the club and I heard that everything was going well and so I-m just looking forward to joining in.”
After more than a decade of professional football the Frenchman said he doesn-t tire of the pre-season training but like any player is eager for the games to begin.
“Everything is good, our job is just beautiful and I believe that there are so many people who would like to do what we-re doing so there’s nothing to complain about in the pre-season.”
While Coach Dave Mitchell has added a great blend of experience and youthful enthusiasm to the squad, which has Perth poised to make a concerted push into the finals, Dadi knows it will take more than just names on paper to get the job done.
“There have been a lot of changes, good ones, and I believe that (Glory Chairman) Tony Sage and Mitch (Dave Mitchell) are doing a good job to bring the club back to where it should be.
“Of course we are always looking for good players and people that can help the team and I think that is what they have done.
“However names alone don-t mean much. If we all get fit and Mitch is able to have us do what he has planed then there is no reason why we shouldn’t do a good job,” said Dadi.
The striker said the blockbuster pre-season matches against English Premier League sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham will be a wonderful warm-up to the season proper and should ensure Glory-s squad of new faces gel together quickly.
“As a team everyone wants to do better than last season. I know that there is a lot of expectation around the club,” he said.
“At this stage it’s still early I believe. We have plenty of pre-season matches and still some time to prepare and hopefully we can have our entire squad together sooner rather than later.”
