A Word from AK - 22 June 2011

We catch up with Athena senior coach Ante Kovacevic for a word after an impressive run of results that has seen the team rise up the ladder into the top five and it now appears that we are in  obvious contention to stake a claim for the crucial finals program.

AK, since we last caught up our league run has given us much to be excited about especially after our slow start. Give us an overview of your feelings on where we are at as the second round fixtures have well and truly begun?

Well, we are sitting in the top 5, and that’s where we want to be come the end of the regular season. We’ve done enough over the last 9 weeks to turn our season around from the slow start and pull away from the relegation zone. Obviously that was our main aim, but now that we find ourselves amongst the finals contenders, that is where we want to remain for the rest of the season. The challenge now is to match it with the front runners of the competition and prove that we deserve to be there also.

Midfielder Damien Catalano has recently signed with the club after a career long association with Bayswater SC. Tell us a little about his qualities and where you see him adding value to the squad?

Catalano is a quality footballer, who is comfortable on the ball and has good vision. He’ll be able to slot into a midfield role when required as the season goes on. In the second half of the season, suspensions and injuries traditionally creep into the squad. With this in mind, and ambitions to make the finals, strengthening the squad was a necessity. Catalano, along with Kyle Moran, have added quality to the squad for the rest of the season. Sikora’s short term addition has also added undoubted quality as witnessed against the Knights.

With the June 30 transfer deadline looming do you see any scope for anymore signings?

Taki and I have kept a constant eye on the squad and what we may need to improve the squad. We will always be on the lookout for players that can come in and will improve the squad. What we wont do is bring in players that we believe wont' be any better than the players we currently have available at our disposal.

You must be impressed with the gelling of the midfield pairing of Kyle Moran and Mark Pritchard who are proving a handful for all opposition sides lately?

Both Moran and Pritchard have had valuable contributions to the team since their arrival. They are both confident and capable footballers who are quite comfortable at this level, and we are privileged to have their services. Hopefully they continue to have an effect on games and continue to gel with one another as well as gel into the team and the way we want to play collectively.

We have just completed 2 hard fought draws against fellow top five contenders - the 2-2 vs the Western Knights at home and 1-1 Sorrento away. We are developing a reputation as being somewhat difficult to beat! What is your assessment of these 2 results? 

They were both tough games against two quite different opponents. Firstly the Western Knights probably have the most experienced squad in the league, and the mistakes we made were punished. It was a game of two halves, which was disappointing on our behalf. We need to play and compete for 90 minutes.

The game against Sorrento was a scrappy affair in tough conditions. We hit the lead through Liam Boland, and once again gave away a cheap goal. Against the better teams in the league, sloppy football gets punished, which was evident in both those games. Hopefully we have learnt from our mistakes, and prevent this from happening in the future.

We have played well over the last 9 weeks, and this will need to continue for the next 8 weeks to ensure we figure in finals football this season. At this stage, it’s safe to say, our destiny is in our own hands.

We meet the high flying Balcatta SC at home this Sunday in another WAPL match of the round clash something we as a club and a fan base are becoming very accustomed to!

The last two weeks we have played teams battling for a top 5 spot, and this week we’re up against the league leaders. These are the sort of games we need to win if we expect to play finals football. Hopefully it will be another good game of football, but hopefully the points remain at Litis Stadium.

How is the preparation for the match coming along?

How do you rate our chances?

At this time of the season the preparation becomes a routine. Julian Madaschi and myself will be available for selection, so we’ll have a full squad to choose from. We will go through a few things on Thursday night in regards to the team setup and structure. But I’m sure all the boys in the squad will be itching to be part of this game and hoping to knock of the league leaders.

Amongst the array of players that Balcatta has amassed who do you see as being important and in need of careful watch and containment?

Their attacking combination of Rosindale and Burton have created a great understanding which has produced goals. With other creative players such as Moe Atak and Daniel Micevski supplying, they will always be dangerous in the front third. They also have Daniel Niederberger, who has strangely played a role off the bench, but is menacing when on song.

Jack Allen moves soon to the UK for a football scholarship. We congratulate the boy and the coaching success and input he has received from under 18's coach Chris Barbas and yourself that culminated in Jack being a revelation with some standout performances in our successful night series campaign last summer.

Jack is a wonderful talent, who has somewhat been unlucky in the game time he has received in the regular season. After a successful night-series campaign where he showed he is capable at playing at this level, he received a red card in the first round of the season. This, combined with our poor start, forced some changes in personnel. I decided to move Michael van Dongen to a full back role and he has performed admirably. This has also coincided with the teams fortunes turning around so opportunities have been limited. I hope his move to the UK is a successful one. I’m sure this isn’t the last time we’ll here his name.

As someone who has travelled both interstate and overseas as a football professional no doubt you are excited about the adventure young Jack is about embark upon. From where you sit do you have any words of advice for him?

Concentrate, listen and learn. Players at his age have their careers ahead of them. Development and progression is of ultra importance. The UK will be a more competitive environment than what we have here, so a strong work ethic will also be required.

It is always exciting when Athena players make the cut of State team squad and this year is no different with the selection of James Isaia and Mark Pritchard. What do you have to say about their selection and who do you think was unlucky to not make it?

They have both deserved their selection, and have been an important part of the squad and our revival. Both are versatile players and have played a number of positions as required and have consistently performed well.

Its tough to pick out other players, as all have played well and done what is required of them. Julian Madaschi is probably another one who has been a consistent performer for Athena for several years, and hasn’t failed the club or team this year, after taking the captaincy role as well.

But in the end, its up to the State Team coach, and what he see’s in players as he watches the games on the weekend.

In a similar vein James Isaia and Liam Boland have been part of the Perth Glory training squad and this is something all Athena fans should also be proud of. In your opinion what is the thinking behind this?

Perth Glory have identified a number of players from the State League that will come under the eye of the football department as potential recruits for the A-League and Youth team squads. Ian Ferguson and the coaching staff have welcomed some of the players into training, to see how they cope in the professional environment. This is fantastic for the players involved and a better way of assessing the players abilities, especially when the State League is a part-time environment and the players are stepping up a level. It will give them time to adapt and an understanding of the requirements needed for them to step up a level.

Thanks AK for the update and as always be assured that the loyal troops of the Athena Army are behind you and the boys all the way as we remain excited and focused toward the goal of finals football in 2011

Video Highlights

Balcatta *(2) vs Athena (1) - 26/3/2011: Grindleford Reserve