Attacker Hamza Hina is not surprised by how well Floreat Athena have opened their 2019 campaign.   Floreat have hit the ground running, collecting the Night Series trophy for the second successive year before picking up points from the opening two rounds of the National Premier Leagues.

Hina, who played for Floreat last season, is tipping Saturday’s game at Litis Stadium to be a testing encounter against one of the league’s front-runners.   “I’m not at all surprised with the way Floreat have started this season,” commented Hina, a Jordanian youth international.

“I played at Floreat last year and know the strong philosophy that (coach) Garrett (McDuling) has brought to the club, so I was always expecting them to be the team to beat.   Saturday will be a tough, high-intensity game … the boys at Inglewood rise to such occasions and we will undoubtedly deliver a show to the fans.”

Hina is in no doubt Inglewood, who have a single point after two games, can make a statement of intent on Saturday afternoon.   “We had a rocky pre-season with the managerial changes and that has put us outside a lot of people’s calculations for the championship,” he said.

“But by beating one of the top teams we’ll cement ourselves as a worthy top four contender.   And especially after demonstrating good football in the last two games without getting the rewards those performances deserved … who doesn’t love an underdog story?”

National Premier Leagues, Round 3

Floreat Athena vs Inglewood United
Saturday 30 March @ Litis Stadium, Mt Hawthorn

Under-18s 11.00am
Under-20s 1.00pm
First team 3.00pm