Tara Murray
It will be a new Westside Strikers in the FV state league 3 north-west season.
After spending the last couple of seasons trying to get promoted, which they achieved last year, the club has set different aims for this season.
President Sam Raniolo said having achieved their goal, they were now focused on what the team can do the next three to four seasons.
“We are looking to have a squad for the next three to four years,” he said. “A group aged around 23-24.
“We want to consolidate then try and push into state league 2.”
With that new goal, the Strikers have virtually a brand new side, along with a new coach.
Raniolo said it was a mixture of the club looking to bring in new players, while other players decided to go elsewhere.
He said they had focused on their more experienced players to get them promoted, but now needed others to step up.
“We have a whole team, we’re recruited some pretty good players,” he said. “It is taking some time to gel.
“We needed to start looking at building a squad for the next few years.”
Raniolo said they had added a couple of Brailizans in Caio Da Silva and Fabio Albuquerque while a couple of other South Americans had also joined the club.
Raniolo said they had also added some local players to the squad.
Simon Vasconcelo, who has been part of the club for the last five years, will coach the senior side this year.
Vasconcelo has coached a number of the club’s junior teams in recent years, while he coached the club’s reserves side the last two years.
Raniolo said he had been really good so far.
“He’s really keen and energetic, it’s been non-stop,” he said. “Sometimes I have to tell him to slow down.”
The Strikers were in action on Saturday in the second round of Australia Cup, after having a bye in round one.
Raniolo said it had been disappointing to have a bye first up as they had been keen to get out there and have an official game.
Chisholm scored once in each half to come away with a 2-0 win.
Meanwhile, the club continues to go from strength to strength.
After having 20 junior sides last season, the club has seen an influx of numbers and will have 30 sides this year.
Meanwhile, Melton Phoenix is through to the next round of the Australia Cup after beating Heidelberg Stars. Spring Hills is out after losing to Lara United 1-0.
