Alen Stajcic has implored the local community to get behind the Mariners and support McHappy Day and the Rural Fire Service by attending Saturday’s clash against Adelaide United.
The Mariners will return home this weekend, taking on Adelaide United at Central Coast Stadium in round six of the Hyundai A-League.
The home game will serve multiple purposes, as the McHappy Day matchday in support of Ronald McDonald House, but also supporting a very current cause with $2 from every ticket sold to be donated to the NSW Rural Fire Service.
“The RFS emergency is a big priority for us,” Stajcic said at Central Coast Stadium on Friday as smoke blanketed Gosford.
“Obviously everyone has been affected by the bushfires including here this morning with the smoke haze around here.”
“All our best wishes go to those impacted and to all the amazing volunteers who have been doing such a super job not just this year, but the last few years and we can’t thank them enough.”
Our man @TommyOar10 is hoping to see the Central Coast Community at #CCMvADL tomorrow to support the boys and the @NSWRFS. #CCMFC
Details ??https://t.co/r0wKerxo36 pic.twitter.com/mhbSbuBkyj— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) November 14, 2019
It will be the first game back home for Stajcic’s side since the #F3Derby back in round two, with almost a month between the two outings in front of a local crowd.
Since then, the Mariners beat reigning Premiers Perth before falling to Melbourne City last weekend and will be looking to pick up a maiden home win of the new campaign.
It’s also a rematch of the FFA Cup semi-final in early October, when a late goal from Riley McGree sunk the Mariners and sent Adelaide through to the cup final.
The Reds are coming into this game off the back of a 1-0 win against Brisbane Roar last weekend, and welcome back a number of players from Young Socceroos duty.
“You know we’re playing our ‘arch nemesis’ from earlier this year in Adelaide who knocked us out of the cup,” Stajcic said.
“We’ve got another game against them here in a month’s time, so it’s almost a three part series.”
“Adelaide are going well, they won the FFA Cup and have won a couple in a row now, so a tough game but definitely a great welcome home and hopefully the fans come out and support us.”
The Mariners also welcome back John Roberts and Dylan Ruiz-Diaz who have been promoted to the squad after scoring for their country, with young defender Lewis Miller also joining the preliminary squad for the first time after inking a scholarship contract last month.
Staj has named his preliminary squad for our meeting with the Reds this Saturday at @CCStadium. #CCMFC #CCMvADL
Read ?? https://t.co/KjUmR28KEB pic.twitter.com/ynZ4CmN25F— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) November 14, 2019
Stajcic will be without Danny De Silva and Kye Rowles though, with both selected for the Olyroos before DeSilva was injured, and Michael McGlinchey will also miss the game while on duty with the All Whites.
“Danny would’ve been out either way with Olyroos, it’s great that we’ve had three players [selected to] go away,” Stajcic said.
“We’ve lost a bit of depth, but it will be a good test to see who comes in and I’ve got confidence that we’ve built up a good rapport and team chemistry amongst the whole squad and whoever comes in will do a good job.”
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Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Ian Zygmunt GORDON, 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Eunsun KIM, 6.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 7.Milan DURIC, 9.Jordan MURRAY, 10.Thomas OAR, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 14.Abraham MAJOK, 16.Dylan FOX, 17.Samuel SILVERA, 18.Gianni STENSNESS, 19.Matthew SIMON, 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 23.Mario SHABOW, 25.John ROBERTS, 26.Joshua NISBET, 27.Lewis MILLER, 30.Dylan RUIZ-DIAZ **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 14.Abraham MAJOK (Promoted), 23.Mario SHABOW (Promoted), 25.John ROBERTS (Return from International Duty), 27.Lewis MILLER (Promoted), 30.Dylan RUIZ-DIAZ (Return from International Duty)
Outs: 8.Michael MCGLINCHEY (International Duty), 15.Kye ROWLES (International Duty), 11.Daniel De Silva (International Duty – Injured)
Unavailable: 22.Jacob MELLING (Injured – Leg)
Adelaide United squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 5.Michaël MARIA, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Riley McGREE, 10.James TROISI, 11.Kristian OPSETH, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 18.Lachlan BROOK, 20.Paul IZZO, 22.Michael JAKOBSEN (c), 23.Jordan ELSEY, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Louis D’ARRIGO, 30.Isaac RICHARDS (gk), 36.Noah SMITH, 37.Jai KING **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 14.George BLACKWOOD (returns from injury), 18.Lachlan BROOK (returns from international duty), 23.Jordan ELSEY (returns from injury), 27.Louis D’ARRIGO (returns from international duty), 37.Jai KING (promoted)
Outs: 35.Al Hassan TOURE (international duty)
Unavailable: 1.Daniel MARGUŠ (international duty), 31.Mirko BOLAND (knee)
Match Details |
Saturday, 16 November 2019
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-Off: 5:00pm (Local) (5:00pm (AEDT))
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referee 1: Lance Greenshields
Assistant Referee 2: Kearney Robinson
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Watch: FOX SPORTS 505 from 4:30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports and MyFootball Live App
Listen myfootballnation.com (Coast FM).
