PETROVIC HAPPY TO HAVE SELECTION HEADACHE

2016_11_12_inglewood_u18_trials_1026Under-20s coach Andrija Petrovic admits he faced some tough decisions in selecting his squad for the coming National Premier Leagues season.   Petrovic and new assistant Fabian Pergoloni have spent the better part of the past month putting some three dozen trialists through their paces before coming up with a final list of 15-players.

Petrovic is pleased with the shape his squad has taken.   “We had over 70 expressions of interest and invited 35 players to take part in closed trials,” Petrovic explained.   “We got a good look at not only the players football ability, but also their personality, how they work with other players and how they react in each of the moments of the game.”

“The quality was very high across the board and competition was pretty fierce once the players got on the park together.   This made it difficult when decision time came and we had to figure out who would make the squad and who wouldn’t.   But as tough as that was, it was a great headache to have.”

Petrovic, who returned to coach the Under-20s early last season, is looking forward to what 2017 holds for his re-energised team.   “We’ve got the right structures in place with the coaching department, and all the players have high standards which they are delivering at training constantly, and that bar is being raised with every session.”

“Our aim is to work hard and push the limits in developing ourselves as players, as coaches and as a team, acting with integrity on all occasions.   Hopefully a few players will push into the first team this year and some of the 18s will come into the 20s.   While we’d like to win everything, that won’t be at the expense of the development.”