WITH PATRICK STAVELEY
Western Sydney Wanderers primed and ready
The Western Sydney Wanderers are fresh and ready to get stuck in for the 2021-22 A-League season as they look to
Raring to go : the Wanderers are fired up and ready for a big season .
put previous COVID-disrupted seasons behind them .
It ’ s hard to imagine that as they head into their 10th season , the Wanderers have the task of avoiding missing the finals for the fifth consecutive season .
However , with the current squad on paper fuelled by a number of experienced and big name signings , the Wanderers sit in a good position heading into the season opener against their fiercest rivals , Sydney FC , on 20 November .
While a wealth of experience and talent has been lost to the Wanderers with the likes of Mitchell Duke ,
Nicolai Muller , Dylan McGowan , Patrick Ziegler , Bruce Kamau , Graham Dorrans and Jordan Mutch , among others all departing at season ’ s end ; replacements have been signed efficiently with players that have proved themselves in the A-League .
Wanderers defender , Tass Mourdoukoutas , speaks highly of some of his new teammates ,
“ We ’ ve brought in some real quality and experienced players and they ’ re going to help develop the younger ones as well . I look forward to playing alongside them more . A lot of the players have won things and have had good careers so far and are looking to win more .
“ We want to push hard and do well and these are the sort of calibre players we need to bring in to the club . They each bring different aspects – leadership , skill , general ability and professionalism into the team .”
Australian Internationals , Rhys Williams , Terry Antonis and Dimitri Petratos lead the recruitment drive . Ex- Premier League striker , Tomer Hemed , starred for the Wellington Phoenix last season and still has plenty of goals in him .
Ivorian defender , Adama Traore , adds
depth and experience to the left back role while Johnny Koutroumbis and Ramy Najjarine add some extra quality . New signings to the A-League are goalkeeper , Tomas Mejias , and forward , Keijiro Ogawa , who will be keen to showcase their talent to the Wanderers fans .
Mourdoukoutas admits the NSW lockdown was hard on the squad in the off-season ,
“ I think a lot of boys were a bit lost for a while , not being at training and what not so just to be back is huge . I ’ m privileged to play football as a job . We want to use it as motivation to push even harder and to realise how lucky we are to train out at Blacktown – an area that ’ s done it pretty tough as well as an LGA of concern .
“ t ’ s massive to be back for the whole group because they just know what people have sacrificed and what they ’ ve had to sacrifice in order to be back .
The Australian Under 23 ’ s star says the squad is excited for the Sydney Derby in Round 1 ,
“ It ’ s a huge deal . The group is raring to go . Everyone ’ s definitely ready and fired up for the big season ahead . It ’ s extra special in a derby I think , just more on the line for fans and players alike so it ’ ll be a big game I ’ m sure ,” Mourdoukoutas adds .
Blacktown Storm prepare their evolution
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The representative branch of the City of Blacktown Basketball Association ( CBBA ) is known as the Blacktown Storm . The Blacktown Storm enters both junior and senior teams in competitions that take part in the Waratah League which is conducted by Basketball NSW .
Blacktown Storm Basketball is in the process of a new ‘ Evolution .’ The association will be focused on the players and coaching staff development for 2022 moving forward . The improvements and focus are on getting young talented players the opportunity to represent NSW .
The new coaching staff will make sure that they do all that they can to improve the fundamentals of each player so that they have a solid foundation for their future in the game .
The representative season runs from March to August , however , the trials for both senior and junior teams are cast out from November to December .
The coaches appointed this year are
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an amazing group and will be exposed to self-improvement clinics during the season . They will also provide a quality program to develop and improve the skills of all players . Blacktown Storm will provide a mentor program for all junior coaches to ensure development and support throughout the season .
They are putting in place and developing an association style of play to ease the transition for players and coaches throughout the program . ‘ The New Evolution ’ will provide open and effective communication channels to assist in the management of all participants and their families .
“ We will strive to compete in Division One for all ages with a development group to compete in the next decision ,” states Blacktown Storm source , Steve Sardi .
The CBBA was incorporated two years ago , offering the Blacktown local government area the opportunity to participate in local basketball and learn
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Courtesy of Blacktown Storm Facebook page .
more about the game .
The CBBA is committed to providing the Blacktown community a safe environment to participate in basketball and is committed to facilitating good people as well as great athletes .
It is already making great ground of introducing youngsters to the game of basketball . The CBBA was awarded the
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2020 Sydney Metro Learn to Play Program Provider of the Year , with their Aussie Hoops program playing a big role in national junior development for children between the ages of 5 and 12 to explore the sport of basketball . Members of the association can participate at Kevin Betts Stadium in Mount Druitt and the Blacktown Leisure Centre in Stanhope Gardens . |
REGISTER ONLINE www . blacktownbasketball . com . au or Facebook www . facebook . com / BlacktownBasketballAssociation
Trials will be held at Courts 1 & 2 Kevin Betts Stadium Ralph Place , Mount Druitt Arrive 30 minutes before your trial
FOR MORE INFO email reps @ blacktownbasketball . com
NOVEMBER - SATURDAY 13 , 20 and 27 |
11am - 1pm |
U / 12 Boys |
1pm - 3pm |
U / 14 Boys |
3pm - 5pm |
U / 12 to u / 16 Girls |
DECEMBER - WEDNESDAY 1 7pm - 9pm YLM
DECEMBER - SATURDAY 4 , 11 and 18 |
11am - 1pm |
16 Boys |
1pm - 3pm |
18 Boys |
3pm - 5pm |
YLW & 18 Girls |
DECEMBER - TUESDAY 7 and 14 6.30pm - 8.30pm YLM
28 ISSUE 08 // NOVEMBER 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT