KICKOFF ® 2020 31ST JULY - ROUND 01 2ND AUGUST MEN’S PREVIEWS It’s been a long wait but the National Premier determined to test where each side are at after Leagues NSW Men’s competition is back. such a long layoff which could make for a fast- After a forced 19 week lay-off, the league will paced start. return for a thrilling 11-week regular season but Before the lockdown, APIA started the season with a few unique differences. undefeated with two draws and a win from their Joining the top tier NPL NSW Men’s competition opening three matches. is Western Sydney Wanderers who will play in the Marconi was also undefeated before the NSW state league top flight for the first time after shutdown with three wins from three matches. replacing Sutherland Sharks just for this season APIA will return to the field with almost the same only. side that started the season. There will be no relegation or promotion this Chris Payne will once again lead the attack season with teams playing to qualify for a two- supported by captain Sean Symons, winger week finals series. Corey Bizco and club talisman Franco Parisi. Teams have retooled during the long break with APIA’s defence also remains the same with most teams forced into a reshuffle of their rosters. Themba Muata-Marlow, Josh Symons, Paul The new players, and in some cases new coaches, Galimi and Micahel Kouta all set to line-up at the will give a fresh element to the league and could back. shake up the pecking order. One big change for APIA is the departure of Reigning Champions APIA Leichhardt kick-off Ivan Necevski who has decided to sit out the the competition restart against Marconi Stallions remainder of the 2020 campaign. as part of a Friday night football feast which also Luke Turnbull will take on the role of custodian for includes Manly United hosting Rockdale and the rest of the season. Blacktown City taking on North Shore Mariners. Coach John Calleja will likely not change too The remaining three matches will take place much of the formula which helped the team to on Sunday starting with a clash between title success in 2019 but may need to make the Wollongong Wolves and Mt Druitt Town Rangers. most of his coaching skills to have his players Two huge derby clashes wrap up the weekend’s firing after such a long layoff. action as Sydney United 58 take on fierce rivals Marconi was just as lucky with no changes to Sydney Olympic, while for the first time in the their roster after the shutdown. NPL1 competition Sydney FC will go up against Western Sydney Wanderers. The Stallions remain strong across the park with stars such as Marko Jesic, Anthony Frangie, It’s going to be a massive season restart and Connor Evans and the Speranza brothers all you can catch all the action exclusively live ready to hit the ground running. Anthony Costa only on NPL.TV so don’t forget to register will also be keen to impress since his move from FREE today to catch all the action. South Australia and will be one to watch out for as well. APIA Leichhardt FC v Marconi Stallions, 7pm. It will be a huge game to start the season and one Friday at Lambert Park you won’t want to miss. Reigning premiers APIA Leichhardt return to Manly United FC v Rockdale City Suns, 7.30 action with a clash against rivals Marconi Stallions pm Friday at Cromer Park at Lambert Park this Friday. Manly United will be determined to hit the The two competition heavyweights will be ground running when they restart their season 2 #NPLNSW against Rockdale City Suns at Cromer Park on their own with star attacker Alec Urosevski and Friday night. midfielder Michael Neill not returning to finish Paul Dee’s side had a difficult start to the season the campaign. before the shutdown losing two of their first three Incoming is new signings Jaden Casella, Kyle matches and will be hoping to use the enforced Cimenti and Zander Reagan. break as a fresh start. Rising star Sam Guilisano will be determined Their opponents Rockdale City Suns were to come back in the same impressive form he undefeated in their three games earlier this year showed before the enforced break, while captain including a dramatic win against Manly back in Daniel Petkovski will be back where he belongs March. to marshall the heart of the Rockdale defence. Manly has had a few changes to their roster since A winning start could give both sides the that match with Richie Cardozo, Sasa Macura and momentum they need in the sprint towards the finals. Jack Fulton all sitting out the competition restart. Blacktown City FC v North Shore Mariners, 7.30 Defender Jimmy Oates comes into the side as a pm Friday at Lily Homes Stadium replacement. Lily Homes Stadium will be alight as Blacktown Paul Dee will rely on captain Brendan Cholakian City restart their season against North Shore to drive the side’s attack while also utilising the Mariners on Friday. talents of Dejan Pandurevic and Scott Balderson. Blacktown were on fire in the opening three Sam Gallagher will return to the centre of defence games before the shutdown with captain and in front of shot-stopper Dylan Mitchell. defender Matt Lewis a surprise leading goal Rockdale has had a few major departures of scorer. NPLNSW.COM.AU 3 PREVIEWS North Shore, in what is their first season back declared he will not return for the competition in the top flight, had a win against Wollongong restart. Wolves and a draw against APIA in their first three Coming in is former Central Cast Mariners games before the enforced break. frontman Josh Bingham as well as custodian Luke Blacktown has brought in former A-League Kairies. rookies Mario Shabow and Daniel Alessi while Former Wanderers forward Lachlan Scott, Shaun Catlin replaces Tristan Prendergast who defenders Nikola Djordjevic and Nick Littler as has left the club after sighing for Western Sydney well as Harry Callahan remain with the team and Wanderers. will need to carry the load for the South Coast Blacktown has a very solid squad across the park Side. and with Yianni Spyrakis, Grant Lynch and Lewis Mt Druitt Town Rangers biggest change has marshalling the defence, while Daniel Araujo, been in the coaching department with Franco Dakota Askew and Leroy Jennings provide a solid Cosentino taking over from Aiden Desmond who link through the midfield. moves into a management position at the club. North Shore will return to the field without star Captain Carlos Saliadarre will have his team recruit Panny Nikas who decided to not play fired up and ready to deliver results for their new out the season, while Daniel Saric and Damir gaffer. Prodanovic also departed. Sunday’s match will be a tough first match for Replacing them in the squad is recruits, Charles Cosentino in the Rangers hot seat but hopefully, Williams and Jack Musgrave. his appointment can give Mt Druitt a new lease It will be a big test for North Shore against a on life. One huge loss for the Rangers will be that Blacktown team which has a reputation for of star attacker Mirjan Pavlovic who has since being one of the most well-drilled outfits in the returned to his former club Sydney United 58 but competition. the club has managed to recruit former Sydney It will be a great matchup and one not to be Olympic striker Jack Stewart and ex-Sutherland missed. Sharks player Brodie Clarkson. Wollongong Wolves FC v Mt Druitt Town Wollongong, on the other hand, will need to get Rangers FC, 2.30pm Sunday at Albert Butler used to life without their best player in James as Memorial Park well as one of their most experienced in shot- stopper Pasfield. Luke Wilkshire’s Wollongong Wolves host Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Albert Butler Memorial It is sure to be an enthralling clash. Park on Sunday to kick start their return to the Sydney United 58 FC v Sydney Olympic FC, NSW NPL competition. 3pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre The Wolves, the 2019 season Premiers, will be Traditional rivals Sydney United 58 and Sydney hoping to make a winning comeback after the Olympic will reacquaint themselves on Sunday shutdown. as part of the first round of the NSW NPL restart. Wilkshire has kept the majority of his squad It is a match which always features plenty of however must find a way to cover the loss of feeling and that is likely not to change for talismanic striker Thomas James who signed for Sunday’s clash. Perth Glory in the A-League. Sydney United, coached by former AC Milan and Veteran goalkeeper Justin Pasfield has also Socceroos keeper Zjelko Kalac, will be looking 4 #NPLNSW make a fast start as the competition resumes and for Sutherland Sharks who decided to sit out the victory against their fierce rivals would be a major revised season. sign of intent from the Edensor Park based side. Sydney FC showed strong signs before the Sydney Olympic have a new coach and will want shutdown including a 4-0 win against North to give Ante Juric a winning start to his tenure Shore Mariners. after taking over from Terry Palapanis. Unfortunately for the Young Sky Blues, they will It’s not the only change at Belmore with Spanish enter the restarted competition with a vastly midfielder Raul Beneit departing the side.