The first silverware is within the grasps for Perth Glory in the PS4 National Premier League WA, with Bobby Despotovski’s Under 20’s needing a win at Cockburn City on Saturday, in the final game of the season at Dalmatinac Park, to ensure the 2015 league title.
Despotovski, who will take the reins of the Perth Glory Women’s team in the Westfield W-League next month, said his players deserve a great deal of credit for the successful season.
“First and foremost I have to thank all the players for their hard work during the season, they have been magnificent,” he said.
“The season has been fantastic, and I’d like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity.
“We set out to do better than last year when we were beaten in the top four semi-finals, and I think we have arhieved what we have set out to do and I couldn’t be more happier.”
The former Glory legend, knows Saturday’s opponents are well coached and is expecting a tough game, but knows a win will give them the title.
“Saturday’s game against Cockburn is a must win for us to become under 20’s Champions, but we know it’s in our own hands now,” he said.
“We will treat this game the same as any other game, and we will try to stick to our game plan, and hopefully we get over the line.It will be a tough game, like the first game was against them, and Alex Tanevski scored a brace to win it 2-1. We expect the same application from Cockburn so we have to be much better than the first round game if we are to get anything out of the game.”
For striker Tanevski the season has already been a huge success. He leads the under 20 top goalscorer list, and is hoping to add a couple more on Saturday to help the side to the title.
“For me personally it’s been a big season, I’ve got 26 goals and hopefully I can help the team win by adding a few more against Cockburn,” he said.
“It’s been a great season for us so far, we’ve worked very hard together as a team throughout the season and we’re going to have to continue with more of the same on Saturday to get the three points and bring home the title,” he said.
Despotovski, who will return as the under 20’s Coach for next season, said the club’s development has been first class and thanked them for the opportunity to be a part of it, before he turns his thoughts to coaching the women’s side.
“Like I’ve already said the players have been outstanding this season and they have been a pleasure (well most of the time) to work with,” he joked.
“I’d also like to thank my assistant Steven McGarry for his contribution during the whole season, the players and I really appreciated his help. Steven and I would also like to thank all of the parents for bringing their kids to training three times a week and Saturday games, we know it’s not easy, but at the end of the season when the team is in such a good position, it’s all worth it.”
Despotovski also thanked the rest of the Coaches in the NPL programme for their support over the season, and had a special thanks to his family.
“I liked to say thanks to the under 18 coaching staff Callum Salmon and David Butterfield and all the players that helped us during the course of the season. Likewise John Gibson, the head of youth development at Perth Glory, and Jacob Burns, for providing a clear path for our players to step up and be involved with the NPL first team”.
“Finally I have to thank my wife Lidija and my three children Kristian, Tomas and Sebastian for all of their support over the course of the season, and we hope to end the season on a high and give the club a trophy to celebrate come Saturday.”
The under 20’s kick off at 1pm on Saturday, at Dalmatinac Park in Spearwood.
