Perth Glory players received a welcome boost ahead of the club’s heavyweight bout with reigning Hyundai A-League Champions Melbourne Victory when Boxing World Champion Danny Green dropped into training on Thursday morning.
Perth Glory players received a welcome boost ahead of the club-s heavyweight bout with reigning Hyundai A-League Champions Melbourne Victory when Boxing World Champion Danny Green dropped into training on Thursday morning.
A keen supporter of football and close friend of Glory marquee player Mile Sterjovski, ‘The Green Machine- offered the squad words of encouragement before taking them through a ‘boxing- inspired warm-up.
“I wouldn-t have a clue what to do with the round ball but I-m here to support Perth Glory, I-m a proud West Australian and whatever I can do to help out our local teams I-m all for,” Green said.
“I used to come here when I was younger up in the shed and the atmosphere was bananas. There is a massive soccer community here in Perth and I think it was about time they stepped up and started to come to the games and supporting the boys because there is a wealth of talent here.
“These guys are Socceroos, Mile (Sterjovski) is one of the best players in the game, on a world level and Perth Glory are very lucky to have a guy like Mile over here playing with the team and hopefully he is going to lift them and take them to a new level.”
Green wasted little time in showing his support of the Glory after arriving in Perth only two days ago following a massive win over Argentine Julio Cesar Dominguez in their IBO cruiserweight world title fight in Mississippi. The victory handed Green a historic third world title, each in different weight divisions, after holding the WBA light-heavyweight and WBC interim super-middleweight titles.
“I-m very lucky and blessed to have achieved a third world title in a third weight division and I have got there through hard work and perseverance and that is the message to the boys today.
“Sometimes it doesn-t always go your way, I-ve had devastating losses but I-ve always hung in there and persevered and showed commitment and that-s what I-ve said to the boys today and the result will start coming,” Green said.
Perth started the season with two tough away matches that ended in narrow losses however the Glory inflicted some heavy blows of their own last weekend in a convincing 2-0 win over Newcastle and will be looking to repeat that performance against Melbourne on Friday night at ME Bank Stadium.
“This week in training there has been a lot of confidence and we are looking forward to this match and think we can continue to step up our game and get another win and points on the board,” Sterjovski said.
“Danny is a World Champion and any life experiences or advice that he can offer us will only benefit us… I-ve been following him in his career and all the boys here at the Glory support him and look forward to seeing his next fight.”
Hyundai A-League – Rd 4
Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
Friday, 28 August 2009 at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Local kick-off: 8.00pm (Gates open 6.00pm)
