Rex
Mar 23 2005, 09:24 AM
SBS
A-League club Sydney FC will play its first ever game this week - taking on NSW Premier League outfit Manly United in a trial match at Cromer Park.
German World Cup winner Pierre Littbarski's team has been in training for four weeks and the match on Friday is another important step in the club's preparation for the World Club Championship qualifiers in May and the inaugural A-League season, due to kick-off in August.
"We have all worked very hard over the last three months putting together a framework and doing a lot of behind the scenes operational activities to make sure Sydney FC has a solid base but Friday is special," said club Chief Executive Officer Andy Harper.
"Friday signifies the first time Sydney FC has played a game of football and it is incredibly exciting for everyone involved."
The self-confessed 'glamour club' of the A-League will be without two of its internationals in David Zdrilic and Clint Bolton, who are on Socceroos duty for the national team's friendlies against Iraq and Indonesia.
Defender Mark Rudan said he and his teammates were 'buzzing' at the thought of taking the field for their new club in this new era of football in Australia.
"The first game of the season is exciting every year but when it is the first game for a club and it is the first time some guys have played a competitive game for a while it is even more exciting," he said.
"We have been training hard and it looks like we have a pretty good team but we are all looking forward to playing some games to see how we work together as a team."
The Sydney FC v Manly United match kicks off at 5.00pm on Friday at Cromer Park, South Creek Rd, Dee Why.
A-League club Sydney FC will play its first ever game this week - taking on NSW Premier League outfit Manly United in a trial match at Cromer Park.
German World Cup winner Pierre Littbarski's team has been in training for four weeks and the match on Friday is another important step in the club's preparation for the World Club Championship qualifiers in May and the inaugural A-League season, due to kick-off in August.
"We have all worked very hard over the last three months putting together a framework and doing a lot of behind the scenes operational activities to make sure Sydney FC has a solid base but Friday is special," said club Chief Executive Officer Andy Harper.
"Friday signifies the first time Sydney FC has played a game of football and it is incredibly exciting for everyone involved."
The self-confessed 'glamour club' of the A-League will be without two of its internationals in David Zdrilic and Clint Bolton, who are on Socceroos duty for the national team's friendlies against Iraq and Indonesia.
Defender Mark Rudan said he and his teammates were 'buzzing' at the thought of taking the field for their new club in this new era of football in Australia.
"The first game of the season is exciting every year but when it is the first game for a club and it is the first time some guys have played a competitive game for a while it is even more exciting," he said.
"We have been training hard and it looks like we have a pretty good team but we are all looking forward to playing some games to see how we work together as a team."
The Sydney FC v Manly United match kicks off at 5.00pm on Friday at Cromer Park, South Creek Rd, Dee Why.