FOR the past four Hyundai A-League seasons, Pedj Bojic has been an ever-present at right back for the Central Coast Mariners.
FOR the past four Hyundai A-League seasons, Pedj Bojic has been an ever-present at right back for the Central Coast Mariners.
Always keen and ready to demonstrate his combative, committed brand of football, it-s fair to say that Bojic has also enjoyed one of his best seasons as a professional this campaign.
With two goals and six assists from 26 matches, Bojic – who juggles his full-time football commitments with his personal training business – will have the honour of joining the Central Coast Mariners 100 club when he takes to the field against Perth Glory on Saturday.
Bringing up a ton of appearances in any competition is always a special moment, but Bojic doesn-t believe reaching the milestone in such an important match will add any extra pressure for him this weekend.
“It can (add pressure) if you think about it now but come game day you-re not worried about it,” Bojic said. “You-re just out there trying to get the result to get to the Grand Final.
“A hundred games has come around quick for me. I have excellent memories here from the last four seasons … it-s been an amazing journey.”
An integral part of Graham Arnold-s backline, Bojic will be one of the men tasked with stopping an in form Shane Smeltz and the powerful Billy Mehmet in the Grand Final Qualifier.
And while the 28-year-old former Northampton Town defender has the utmost respect for his opponents, he says he and his teammates are eager to consolidate their strong record over their opponents at Bluetongue Stadium.
In nine meetings with Perth Glory at Gosford-s idyllic bayside arena the Mariners have never lost to the purple-whites. Indeed, eight of the nine clashes have ended in favour of Central Coast, with Glory earning just a point from a possible 27 from their travels to Bluetongue.
“We know what they-re about,” he said. “Smeltzy-s a quality finisher, we know his history in front of goal and obviously we have to do our job defensively as a unit.
“Mehmet-s a strong guy (too) so we-ve got to make sure we win our one-on-one duels and nullify them.”
“[But] it-s a great record for the Mariners and we want to capitalise on that and build on that too so they don-t get a win,” he said.
Central Coast Mariners Chairman, Mr Peter Turnbull, and Director, Mr Bob Graham, will present Bojic with a memento of his 100 Hyundai A-League games as a Mariner at the match.
Bojic joins teammates Alex Wilkinson, John Hutchinson, and Adam Kwasnik in the Mariners 100 club.
