Tara Murray
New Westgate coach Anthony Barbieri is hoping to have an impact late in the FV state league 1 north-west season.
Westgate announced that Barbieri would take on the role after the club parted ways with Peter Schwellinger, who was in his first season as coach.
Barbieri said it would be a new challenge.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “To be honest I’d had a fair few offers floating around to coach.
“I was waiting for the right one to pop up and I know a few people at the club. You never say never.”
Barbieri has had a long and successful coaching career spanning more than 13 years.
He has won multiple state league and National Premier League 1 titles, also reaching NPL semi finals and finals several times with Avondale.
Most recently he took Chisholm to back-to-back state league 3 and 4 titles.
Barbieri said there were a lot of things that attracted him to the Westgate role.
“I knew a few people and I knew the club was in a good position and I don’t think they’ve ever played at the next level.
“It’s good challenge for myself to see what I can do.”
Barbieri is under no illusions what it will take to earn a promotion spot.
After 17 rounds, Westgate is in fourth spot, four points off second spot. Westgate has a game in hand on the top sides after its round 16 match was postponed.
It’s believed that the top two teams are set for promotion.
“It’s a really tough competition,” he said. “You have to just look at the ladder and some of the playing squads which have boys that have been at NPL level.
“There is good quality out there in the league and more competitive than the next tier up from what I’ve seen.
“It holds us in good stead to challenge and we’ll see what happens.”
Barbieri said it’s hard to make wholesale changes to the squad late in the season, but backed in the group that he has at his disposal.
“It’s a good group and we’ve had a reasonable season up until now,” he said. “I want to instil my style and philosophy into the game.
“The boys have been good the last couple of weeks since I’ve taken over.
“I have a new set of ideas and bit of experience helps. Hopefully it’ll put them on the right path.”
Westgate was set to face fifth placed Sydenham Park on Saturday night, after deadline.
The Reds were three points behind entering the match.
Barbieri said there were no easy games in the competition.
“You need to show up and make sure you perform on the day,” he said.
“The are looking forward to it.”
