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Central Coast recall Pondeljak [Fri Sep 16th, 2005]
Central Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna has recalled midfielder Tom Pondeljak to the Mariners squad for their round four clash with Sydney FC at the expense of injured youth international Matthew Osman, who is expected to be available for selection by next week.
Pondeljak’s return is a major positive for the Mariners, who are looking for a return to the winners circle after last Saturday’s disappointing 2-0 loss at home to the New Zealand Knights.
Osman, who has been one of the Mariners' best performed players early in their season, is sidelined after leaving the pitch 20 minutes into the clash against the Knights, but is expected to resume full training next week.
'We’re delighted to have Tommy back and I was commenting to Fergie (Mariners assistant coach Ian Ferguson) that he’s looking as sharp as we’ve seen him this year,' said McKinna after the Mariners' final training session at Central Coast Stadium today.
'Losing Ossie is a blow, considering how well he’s been playing, but it gives a chance to try something new in the middle of the park.'
Tomorrow's match reunites several members of the Parramatta Power’s strong 2003/04 NSL side, with the Mariners’ Michael Beauchamp and Andre Gumprecht meeting Sasho Petrovski, Alvin Ceccoli and Clint Bolton of Sydney FC.
It will also be the third time that the Mariners and Sydney FC have met, with the home side enjoying consecutive wins thus far, 1-0 in the Club World Championship qualifying final in May and 2-0 in the Hyundai A-League Pre-Season Cup in July.
'We’re under no illusions as to the enormity of the task,' said McKinna.
'Sydney FC are a great team and they’ve got the added incentive of bouncing back from a loss and playing at home to spur them on. There’s no doubting their ability and we’ll have to be switched on from start to finish.'
Central Coast Mariners squad to play Sydney FC at Aussie Stadium – 16 September:
1. John Crawley (gk), 2. Wayne O’Sullivan, 4. Noel Spencer, 5. Michael Beauchamp, 6. Andre Gumprecht, 7. John Hutchinson, 8. Dean Heffernan, 10. Tom Pondeljak, 11. Damien Brown, 12. Stewart Petrie, 14. Leo Carle, 15. Andrew Clark, 18. Alex Wilkinson, 19. Adam Kwasnik, 20. Danny Vukovic (gk)
The Mariners second local derby of the season kicks off at Aussie Stadium at 8pm this Friday, September 16.
Mariners fans planning on traveling to Aussie Stadium for the match are advised to pre-purchase their tickets to avoid the lengthy queues that kept thousands from seeing the opening minutes of Sydney FC’s first home match against the Melbourne Victory.
Tickets can be bought from Ticketek outlets, from the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.
All those donning the gold and navy of the Mariners are encouraged to sit in Bay 3 of Aussie Stadium, where a healthy contingent of Mariners fans are expected to congregate.
Fans unable to make it to the match are able to keep updated with proceedings by tuning in to 2CCC, 96.3fm, or logging on to the Central Coast Mariners website at www.ccmariners.com.au, where a live match update will commence from 7.30pm.
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