Central Coast Mariners will travel overseas and to a number of regional destinations in New South Wales over the next three months as astute mentor Graham Arnold prepares his squad for the Club’s Hyundai A-League Championship defence.
Central Coast Mariners will travel overseas and to a number of regional destinations in New South Wales over the next three months as astute mentor Graham Arnold prepares his squad for the Club-s Hyundai A-League Championship defence.
The Hyundai A-League-s Mariners will commence their pre-season match schedule locally on Tuesday 27 August against the New South Wales Premier League-s Central Coast Mariners Academy at Pluim Park, Lisarow.
A further three games will follow in late August and early September, before the Mariners jet abroad to compete in the 2013 Menpora Cup in the Republic of Indonesia.
At the invitation of Indonesian-based match promoters, the Football Association of Indonesia and the Indonesian Government, the Mariners will initially compete in Group B of the eight-team tournament.
Group B of the 2013 Menpora Cup will be based in the East Javan city of Malang, and will feature Indonesian Super League heavyweights Arema Indonesia, Persipura Jayapura from West Papua, and Persiba Bantul from Yogyakarta.
Group A of the 2013 Menpora Cup will be based in the city of Bandung, and will include popular local club Persib Bandung, the Hyundai A-League-s Adelaide United, Sriwijaya FC from South Sumatra, and the Indonesian U23 National Team.
The winners of each group will compete in the Final, worth US $75,000 to the victor.
Central Coast will round out their pre-season schedule with a clash against Newcastle Jets at Scully Park, Tamworth on Sunday 29 September.
Mariners boss Arnold said that he believes a good schedule of matches has been put in place to ready his squad for season nine of the Hyundai A-League.
“From a football perspective we-re very happy with the schedule of games that has been arranged for the team,” Arnold said.
“We have the chance for locals to see the team in action against Mariners Academy, Spirit FC and Bankstown, will get the opportunity for a camp style situation in Indonesia, and will enjoy taking the Club-s brand to major regional centres in Bathurst and Tamworth.”
“The priority for us, as it always is, will be getting minutes into the legs of as many players in our squad as possible so we-re in a strong position physically, mentally and tactically come round one against Wanderers.”
Central Coast Mariners will commence their Championship defence at Gosford-s Bluetongue Stadium against Grand Final foes Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday 12 October, 2013. Kick-off is 5:30pm.
Central Coast Mariners Pre-Season Match Schedule:
Tuesday 27 August, 2013 – Pluim Park, Lisarow
Central Coast Mariners Academy vs. Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: 7:00pm (AEST)
Thursday 29 August, 2013 – Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Gladesville Spirit vs. Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: 7:00pm (AEST)
Wednesday 4 September, 2013 – Jensen Park, Sefton
Bankstown Lions vs. Central Coast Mariners (Doug Turnbull Cup)
Kick-off: 7:00pm (AEST)
Saturday 7 September, 2013 – Carrington Park, Bathurst
Central Coast Mariners vs. Brisbane Roar
Kick-off: 4:00pm (AEST)
Friday 13 September, 2013 – Menpora Cup, Malang, Indonesia
Persipura Jayapura vs. Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: 3:30pm (WIB)
Sunday 15 September, 2013 – Menpora Cup, Malang, Indonesia
Central Coast Mariners vs. Persiba Bantul
Kick-off: 3:30pm (WIB)
Tuesday 17 September, 2013 – Menpora Cup, Malang, Indonesia
Arema Indonesia vs. Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: 6:30pm (WIB)
*Thursday 19 September, 2013 – Menpora Cup, Malang, Indonesia
Group A Winner vs. Group B Winner
Kick-off: 5:00pm (WIB)
Sunday 29 September, 2013 – Scully Park, Tamworth
Newcastle Jets vs. Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: 2:00pm (AEST)
*Match dependent on Club’s 2013 Menpora Cup Group B Results
