Tara Murray
Westside Strikers are aiming for promotion in Football Victoria state league 4 west this season.
After two interrupted seasons due to COVID-19, the Strikers are hoping some luck will go their way and allow a full season.
The club was sitting second when the season was called off last year.
President Sam Raniolo said they believe that they can do good things this season.
“It’s been really good and they’ve been training since the beginning of January,” he said.
“We’re trying to get everyone up and fit. It was a disappointing two years, we thought we had a good chance of challenging for promotion.
“Hopefully it will be better this year.”
Raniolo said they had signed all the players from last season and added two key signings.
He said they needed to strengthen the side.
“You never know what will happen with Covid.”
Having retained their squad Raniolo said they were keen to ensure they were still a side at the top of the ladder.
“We are aiming to get promoted this year into state league 3,” he said.
“The club deserves to be in state league 3 with the amount of juniors we have.
“This season we have 27 junior sides, a senior, reserves, masters and a thirds side.
“We weren’t sure what was going to happen after Covid, but the kids have come back.”
The Strikers were set to get their first taste of a match for 2022 in the Australia Cup on Saturday.
The cup was previously known as the FFA Cup.
The Strikers were set to play Seaford United, which forfeited the match in the lead up.
It means the Strikers are straight through to the next round.
“We had been looking forward to it,” Raniolo said.
“We’re not into the second round and we’ll look to have another practice match.”
