Tara Murray
After turning their season around, the Keilor Wolves are eyeing promotion in FV state league 4 west.
The Wolves season got off to a rocky start when coach Slavče Sokolovski departed about round seven and with him a large chunk of players.
Assistant coach Johnny Cvetanoski, who had previously coached the side, stepped up into the head coaching role and they haven’t looked back.
With five rounds to go, the Wolves sit in third spot. The top side earns promotion, while the side that finishes second is set to play off for promotion.
“I had to rebuild the team,” Cvetanoski said. “Most of the players left when the coach left and we’ve had to get in other players.
“We were really struggling at round seven. We were able to recover from where we were.
“We had seven or eight players which I’ve managed to bring in 20 players to top up.”
Cvetanoski said they had added five or six real top line players who have come from higher levels among that group as they were looking to help a side earn promotion.
He said it was a matter of word of mouth and friends getting friends to come along with them.
Cvetanoski said he could have never imagined the turnaround when he took over as coach.
“I didn’t think so,” he said. “I think everyone thought they we were done and dusted.
“It just goes to show the last six to seven weeks what we’ve been able to do.
“Out of the last six games we’ve won five games and drawn one. We are on a high and we are prepared to go for it.”
Surf Coast sits nine points clear of Melton Phoenix on top with the Wolves a further point back with five rounds to go.
Cvetanoski said if things went they’re way in the run home they could still finish top, but it was more likely a battle between them and Melton for second spot.
The Wolves face both Surf Coast and Melton Phoenix in the run home.
“I think for us it will be between us and Melton [for second],” he said. “Our training sessions have been good and our striker Steven Dimcevski, who came from Westgate, is scoring week in, week out.
“The whole team, every player is putting in so much and there’s a good vibe. We want to get promoted.”
The Wolves had the weekend off due to the catch up round. Cvetanoski said it came at a good time with a few injuries.
He said it gave them the chance to refresh ahead of a big back part of the season.
The Wolves start the last five weeks against West Point on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the club, Cvetanoski things were looking good with everything back on track.
