Tara Murray
Keilor Park has gone with a mix of youth and National Premier League experience in this year’s FV state league 1 north-west season.
The side has started the season with a disappointing 1-2 record, not getting the results with the majority of the playing squad new. Last season Keilor Park was sitting seventh last season when the season ended.
Coach Paul Falzon said the club had continued with its balanced strategy of bringing on youth development players combined with seasoned ex-NPL players.
“The 2022 senior team has experienced an influx of new players from NPL 21 and senior teams, with close to over 75 per cent of new players from the 2021 season,” he said.
“Players such as Noah T-Chinnama, Bagiou Yousif, Connor Bencich and Callum Freeman, all joining us with previous NPL experience.
“Our youth policy has seen that seven players in our 2022 squad have joined us from under-21 NPL squads.
“This year’s squad is exciting to watch, it is a very fast, high press attacking play looking to score at every opportunity.”
Falzon said they had made a concerted effort to inject new players and boost the coaching department.
As part of the long term plan of the club, they’ve set up a development program with their reserves side.
“[We’re] effectively creating an under-21 youth team to ensure we have a sustainable crop of players coming through to the senior side.”
With the new side, the club has set their ambitions high. A win against Sydenham Park, another contention, showed they are on the right track.
Falzon said they were looking at promotion this year.
“We feel that we have a side that will be at the top end of the table
“The expectation is also to have a deep list of players that will be ready to step into senior football and that Keilor Park Soccer Club is a destination club for both junior and senior male and female players”
Overall, Falzon said things continue to progress and the club is growing.
They have more than 430 players at the club this season.
“We have multiple teams in every age group from under-7s to under-20, which we are proud of after two tough COVID years.
“Our female program continues to be a success with a 100 per cent increase in female participation with Football Federation Victoria formally acknowledging the club’s effort through Female February.
“We take pride in developing inclusive programs for the local community and this year we are proud to be running the Go Soccer Mums program with over 30 mothers of our players training and enjoying the game of soccer.
“Just another example of the great things that happen out of our club.”
The Eagles beat Corio 2-1 on Saturday.
