By Ewen McRae
New Sydenham Park coach Denii Lisolajski is ready for the challenge of taking the club to the NPL.
Lisolajski has stepped up to the senior coach role after three years working with the juniors and reserves, and following a stint as senior coach at Keilor Wolves, where he earned them promotion.
He has signed a three year deal at Sydenham Park.
Lisolajski said taking the reigns at Sydenham Park had been a long term goal since his playing days in the old VPL.
“I’ve been a fan of the club since I was a kid. All my school mates used to play here and I remember telling my Dad even then that one day I would be coaching this club,” Lisolajski said. “When I finished my VPL days the first club I went back to was Sydenham, but there was some things I wanted to do before I put my hand up for the senior role at the club. One was to coach at another senior team, and then I wanted to coach at a junior level at Sydenham and help develop players in the reserves … then it felt like the right time to step up.”
The senior side finished the 2018 State League one north-west season in fifth place and Lisolajski said it was a frustrating season at times.
“Like every other year it was a bit of a roller coaster,” he said.
“We were doing well, then lost a crunch game a couple of months out and it fell apart a bit from there.
“Defence is something we will work a lot on ahead of next season.”
While he conceded it would be tough to cut players he has had a long association with, Lisolajski said he’s not afraid to make the tough calls to make the club stronger.
“I’ve got no issue making decisions that need to be made … I make decisions for the club, not for my own profile or for anyone else, it’s all about making the club stronger because we are a big club and we deserve to be in the NPL.”
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