Central Coast Mariners are set for a super Sunday of pre-season action, with the Club playing two matches in two countries today.
Central Coast Mariners are set for a super Sunday of pre-season action, with the Club playing two matches in two countries today.
In Malang, Indonesia, Phil Moss will lead half of the Mariners squad in the Final of the 2013 Menpora Cup. Central Coast will take on hometown favourites Arema Malang at the Kanjuruhan Stadion from 6:00pm (9:00pm AEST).
Meanwhile at Scully Park in Tamworth, Graham Arnold will guide a combination of the Club-s first team stars and Foxtel National Youth League squad members in the Club-s final friendly against a Hyundai A-League opponent before the commencement of the 2013/14 campaign. Kick-off is at 2:00pm AEST.
Having arrived in Malang late on Friday after spending 12 days in Bandung, Moss said the change in scenery had lifted the 12 players remaining in Indonesia for the showpiece fixture of the eight team international invitational competition.
“We had almost two weeks in Bandung so it-s good to see a different city, and we know that we-re here for a Final so the intensity has certainly lifted a notch or two,” he said.
“I think it-s a great test, a great challenge for the boys. And it-s exactly what we want at this stage of the pre-season – 90 minutes for just about every player, including the ones who have gone home with Arnie (Graham Arnold) to play against Newcastle.”
“Next week when we all come into training every player will be on just about the same minutes leading into the Western Sydney game round 1, so we-re very happy.”
Moss is no stranger to the passion Indonesian fans possess for football, having coached Manly United at the Bang Yos Gold Cup in Jakarta in 2006.
He said he is thankful for the opportunity provided to him by Arnold to lead the Mariners in such an important pre-season match.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “Arnie has gone home and he-s entrusted me with the squad for the Final, so that-s a big vote of confidence from my boss.”
“I am just looking to steer the ship the way he does. These boys are so well drilled by Arnie – they know their jobs with and without the ball and in transition both ways, so I-ve just got to steer the ship.”
Both the pre-season Tamworth test and Menpora Cup match in Malang can be viewed online, and Moss said he hopes supporters rally around the team throughout the massive day of match play.
“I believe both games are available on live stream so it-s a fantastic opportunity for Mariners fans to have a Mariners feast,” he said.
“We hope that we got a lot of support. We have been playing some really good football over here – against Persib it all came together with the ball and defensively we are always strong.”
“I am expecting the same in the Final – it will be a great hostile environment so a great experience for all of us, and I am sure the boys who go to play Newcastle with Arnie will do the Club proud as well.”
Central Coast Mariners Squad for 2013 Menpora Cup Final: 1. Justin Pasfield (Gk), 3. Joshua Rose, 5. Zachary Anderson, 7. John Hutchinson (c), 8. Nick Montgomery, 10. Marcos Flores, 11. Nick Fitzgerald, 15. Storm Roux, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 19. Matt Simon, 21. Mile Sterjovski, 22. Tom Slater
Central Coast Mariners Squad for Newcastle Jets friendly: 2. Joshua Forbes, 4. Marcel Seip, 5. Jacob Esposito, 6. Brent Griffiths, 9. Mitchell Duke, 11. Steve Whyte, 12. Liam Reddy (Gk), 13. Hayden Morton, 14. Michael McGlinchey, 15. Dillon Vorster, 17. Anthony Caceres, 22. Jesse Curran, 23. Adam Kwasnik, 24. Liam O-Dell, 25. Nathan Verity, 26. Josh Bingham, 27. Dominic Ferguson, 30. David Bradasevic (Gk)
Sunday 29 September
Newcastle Jets vs. Central Coast Mariners
Scully Park, Tamworth, NSW, Australia
Kick-off: 2:00pm AEST
Watch Live: Please click here ($5 Mariners Members, $10 Non-Members)
Sunday 29 September
Arema Indonesia vs. Central Coast Mariners – 2013 Menpora Cup Final
Kanjuruhan Stadion, Malang, Indonesia
Kick-off: 6:00pm local (9:00pm AEST)
Watch Live: okezone.tv/streaming/3 (Free)
