Perth Glory will take to the field tonight for their opening pre-season match against local opposition when they tackle Inglewood United at Clipsal Stadium.
Perth Glory will take to the field tonight for their opening pre-season match against local opposition when they tackle Inglewood United at Clipsal Stadium.
Assistant Coach Kenny Lowe will take on the coaching duties, while Dave Mitchell is in Melbourne for the Socceroos match, and said the players were looking forward to getting some game time after an intensive pre-season build-up.
“We-re looking to get some intensity into our game play, we-ve developed a great base with our pre-season work to date and want to turn that focus towards games as we continue to build towards the season,” Lowe said.
“We will have some specific coaching points that will be our drivers for the game tonight so it-ll be more about the process than outcomes, although we definitely want to win the game!
“We need to ensure we start implementing the things we-ve been doing at training and gel together as a new squad,” Lowe added.
The Glory will be without experienced recruits Mile Sterjovski and Jacob Burns who are on Socceroos duty, while defender Andy Todd and striker Branko Jelic are yet to arrive in Perth.
Several players are also on light duties after receiving some niggles and knocks at training, including goal keeper Tando Velaphi (hamstring) and defender Jimmy Downey (ankle), and won-t be risked in the match.
Midfielder Viktor Sikora is making speedy recovery after an arthroscopic procedure on his knee and is only a few weeks away from resuming training while Scott Neville (groin) and Anthony Skorich (ankle) are building their fitness after a delayed start to the pre-season.
Returning keeper Aleks Vrteski will take his place in goal while elevated Youth Team players Brent Griffiths, Howard Fondyke and Andrija Jukic will all start the match.
Tonight is the first of several planned matches against local competition prior to the club-s highly anticipated clashes against English Premier League side-s Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham in July.
Entry to Glory-s match against Inglewood will be a gold coin donation and all proceeds will benefit the Starlight Foundation.
Match details as follows;
Perth Glory v Inglewood United
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Clipsal Stadium (88 Hamer Pde, Inglewood)
Kick-off 7.00pm
Starting line-up: Aleks Vrteski (gk), Jamie Coyne, Jamie Harnwell, Brent Griffiths, Naum Sekulovski, Adriano Pellegrino, Wayne Srhoj, Howard Fondyke, Scott Bulloch, Eugene Dadi, Andrija Jukic
Substitutes: Alex Pearson (gk) (NYL), Cameron Edwards (NYL), Milljon Butshiire (NYL), Ryan Pearson (NYL), Sam Mitchinson (NTC), Adam Taggart (NTC), Todd Howarth (Perth SC)
Unavailable: Mile Sterjovski (Socceroos), Jacob Burns (Socceroos), Andy Todd (pending arrival), Branko Jelic (pending arrival), Scott Neville (groin), Anthony Skorich (ankle), Victor Sikora (knee), Tando Velaphi (hamstring), Jimmy Downey (ankle)
STARLIGHT FOUNDATION
Since being formed as an Australian children-s charity in 1988, Starlight has brightened the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families, throughout Australia. Starlight programs are delivered both in and out of hospital, providing positive distraction to children in their time of need.
Living with illness or injury can cause enormous strain in the lives of children and their families. The pain, loneliness and isolation that sick children feel dominates their lives, and they often miss out on normal experiences that healthy children take for granted.
Physical recovery is only part of the solution. Starlight delivers innovative programs designed to make children happy and lift their spirits when they need it most.
Starlight brings fun and laughter to children no matter what their illness or where they live.
