SUBIACO AFC have been dropped from the NPL WA ladder for the 2019 soccer season but with a new group of players and coaching staff, the team hopes to make an improved comeback.
“Everyone who starts in the state league hopes they make it into the NPL, and we don’t want to shy away from that, but a top four finish would be awesome,” coach Basil Lenzo said.
Mr Lenzo said his team had maintained a spot on the NPL ladder for years but were relegated to the WA State League Division 1 this year, after finishing 12th on the ladder.
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“We have a lot of players that have stayed back to make the wrong right and we’ve pulled together a really good side and really come together over the last few weeks.”
The Stirling resident said the team recruited new players and coaching staff ahead of what will be a “highly competitive league”.
“We have a lot of new players but also a core group of players who stayed,” he said.
“The depth of the squad required improving so we doubled down on making sure we had the depth and more structure around our defensive game so we don’t leak weak goals.
“A balance around experience and youth is what we have tried to focus on.”
The team have been training for five months in the lead-up to the 2019 season and have also played the night series.
“We made it to the quarter-finals and we were disappointed to lose, however it was a good experience for a lot of players who hadn’t had first hand experience,” he said.
The Subiaco AFC will kick off season 2019 against Kingsway on March 23.