WA Men’s State Team head coach Ivan Zuvela. Photo by Football West/Tom McCarthy
Football West News
WA Men’s State Team head coach Ivan Zuvela has backed his players to deliver another strong showing when they face Perth Glory in Saturday night’s Challenge Cup fixture.
Zuvela has named an 18-player squad for the game at Olympic Kingsway’s Madman Arena.
The match kicks off at 7pm and is part of a State Team v Glory double-header. The WA Women’s side take on Glory at 5pm.
Entry is free. However, supporters will be encouraged to give a gold coin donation for DT38 Australia which raises awareness and provides education of men’s health issues with a focus on testicular cancer.
The WA Men are coming off the back of a 1-0 win over Tasmania last month, with Liam Boland scoring a late winner at Inglewood Stadium.
Now the WA team will face Glory in the second of three fixtures. Next month they head to Indonesia to face Persebaya.
“The boys have been outstanding at training; the commitment they have is first class,” Zuvela said.
“It was the same in the game against Tasmania. The players had so much pride representing their state. There was a desire and commitment to perform for both their teammates and WA.
“That was a high-intensity, fast-flowing game and I’m sure we’ll bring the same attitude on Saturday.”
Saturday’s Challenge Cup match sees Zuvela pit his wits against the club where he was a coach.
“I’m forever grateful for the time I had at Glory. I still have a lot of friends there on and off pitch. It’s a fantastic organisation and I respect them immensely,” Zuvela said.
“I think they’ll be taking it really seriously because the following week they have the first round of the A-League. They will see this as a big match in preparation for what I hope will be a successful season.”
The WA squad sees a number of changes from the win over Tasmania.
Aryn Williams, Mitch Oxborrow, Ryan Finnie, Liam Driscoll, Sean O’Connor and David Ninkovich are all missing. Williams is injured, Oxborrow, Finnie and keeper Driscoll are unavailable, while O’Connor and Ninkovich are guesting in the Australian Championships.
In come Fremantle City pair Chad Nilson and Isaiah Wingell, Luke Desmond from Armadale, Perth Azzurri’s Federico Achilli, and Daniel Jankulsoki, who recently left Perth Glory’s Academy.
“The boys who have come in have been outstanding at training and fitted straight in with the players already involved,” Zuvela said.
David Williams, Zuvela’s assistant for the Tasmania match, is also unavailable due to prior work commitments. Former Rockingham City head coach Cam Lord, who is currently working with the Bangladesh Football Federation, will join the coaching team.
SQUAD
- ADRIAN SINAGRA (GK) (Olympic Kingsway)
- ISAIAH WINGELL (Fremantle City)
- JOSH RISDON (Fremantle City)
- OLIVER ANNIS (Olympic Kingsway)
- JACK CLISBY (Olympic Kingsway)
- LUKE DESMOND (Armadale)
- CHAD NILSON (Fremantle City)
- CHARLIE CHECHLACZ (Fremantle City)
- KADE FEARNALL (Stirling Macedonia)
- SANTIAGO FLORES (Western Knights)
- LUKE BODNAR (Perth RedStar)
- SAM POLLARD (Perth Azzurri)
- FEDERICO ACHILLI (Perth Azzurri)
- LIAM BOLAND (Olympic Kingsway)
- SASA NJEGIC (Dianella White Eagles)
- DANIEL JANKULOSKI (Unattached)
- JACK BAKER (Perth RedStar)
- SAM REILLY (GK) (Western Knights)
