A wall-like defence is leading Brimbank’s gutsy state league 4 soccer campaign this season.
After a mid-table finish last year, Brimbank is fifth on the ladder and right in the hunt for a championship and promotion.
Through the first half of the season, the Stallions have conceded just 13 goals – the second-lowest number in the competition.
Club president Sam Raniolo is rapt with the players’ defensive commitment.
“Overall, we’ve turned it around quite a lot from last year,” he said. “The boys are travelling really well and we’re very happy. Our defensive line is probably what’s winning us these games.”
The knowledge that opposition sides are struggling to score has freed up the Stallions’ midfield and strikers.
Raniolo says the players in those roles are performing with a lot more confidence this season, and he highlights rising star Trevor Ssemakula as a talent to watch.
Ssemakula is his side’s leading goalkicker – and he’s just 15.
“Trevor is a young African kid who has been with our juniors for the past four years,” Raniolo says.
“He has just taken the team by storm this year. He’s even attracted some attention from Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory, with a few trials arranged.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are. If you are good enough then you’re given a go.”
Raniolo is also full of praise for first-year Stallion coach Zoran Kitanovski, saying he’s done an outstanding job guiding the side’s next generation of stars.
“The younger ones are all listening to Zoran and he’s getting on really well with them,” Raniolo said.
“We have some really good depth in our squad this year, which has helped a lot. The boys are really playing as a team and playing for each other.”
It was a tough weekend for Brimbank, which went down 3-1 to Surf Coast.
But the club gets the chance to cement a place in the state league 4 top two in the next fortnight with back-to-back winnable matches.
The Stallions will take on struggling duo Keilor Wolves and Laverton Park in rounds 15 and 16.
