First-year Sydenham Park soccer coach Alan Muscat has already seen the lengths his players will go to for success.
Earlier this month the Reds travelled to Thornbury on a Friday night to beat Old Melburnians 6-0 in an FFA Cup match.
Less than 12 hours later, Muscat’s men were at Noble Park for the first match of the long weekend’s Macedonia Cup.
But the small turnaround time didn’t stop the Reds from securing their first silverware for the year.
“We sat down on the Thursday and gave a commitment we would go as far as we could in the Macedonian Cup,” Muscat said. “We ended up winning it, which was a fantastic effort.
“The games were 20-minute halves and some guys played five games in 48 hours. It shows we’re committed to the cause.”
Muscat succeeded Sash Becvinovski as head coach of the state league 1 club after three years as an assistant.
“They threw me the reins and asked me to take over and I accepted,” he said. “Everything’s going along well and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
The Reds’ FFA Cup campaign has since come to an end after a 4-0 loss to NPL club Pascoe Vale in round four.
After 10 draws last year, the most in its division, the Reds are looking for more late goals this season.
“We’re working on that last few minutes of a game and trying to get that result,” Muscat said.
