By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE Victorian National Premier Leagues season begins this Thursday night with Heidelberg United taking on South Melbourne.
The following night the Melbourne Knights will start their NPL campaign at home to Northcote City as part of what will be a blockbuster opening weekend of top flight Victorian soccer.
Knights coach Andrew Marth – entering into his second full year in charge at Somers Street – is looking forward to seeing how his side will stack up in the newly formed league.
The Knights have been busily putting the final touches on their squad and have recently announced the signings of Daniel Visevic, Antun Kovacic and Rodrigo Covarrubias.
After finishing the home-and-away season second in the old Victorian Premier League last year, Marth said he has enough confidence his squad will at least be able to match the feats of 12 months ago.
“If we can achieve what we achieved last year we’ll be exceptionally happy, but I firmly believe we’ve probably got a better squad than last year,” Marth said.
“We’ve made some crucial signings so we’re looking forward to it. It’s exciting times.”
Meanwhile the nearby Green Gully Cavaliers will host top flight newcomer, Werribee City, on Sunday.
Cavs football manager Raymond Mamo acknowledged the long and difficult process in getting the NPL ready in time for the upcoming season, but said his club and its more youthful group of senior players are itching to get out on the park.
“We originally thought (the NPL) wasn’t going to happen this year, so I suppose it’s caught us and caught all of the clubs a little bit off-guard,” Mamo said.
“In relation to preparation, I suppose most clubs are in the same boat and didn’t play too many pre-season games this year. So we’ll wait and see how that’s going to have an effect on the team, but overall the boys have been training really hard.
“Now we’re all just looking forward to kick-off so we can put all of this behind us and just concentrate on playing.”
Green Gully opted not to go for any major signings this summer, instead topping up its senior squad from within its under-21s program.
