In conjunction with Capital Football the Central Coast Mariners have appointed Canberran, Ivan Slavich as the club’s Business Development Ambassador in the nation’s Capital to help create awareness of the Mariners brand and upcoming Hyundai A-League matches at GIO Stadium.
The Central Coast Mariners have joined forces with the ACT Government and Capital Football to bring two Hyundai A-League matches to Canberra this season with the nation’s capital set to host the Yellow & Navy on Saturday 12 November and Sunday 5 February.
In April, Central Coast Mariners Chief Executive Officer Shaun Mielekamp alongside Capital Football Chairman Mark O’Neill and ACT’s Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the return of the Central Coast Mariners to Canberra’s GIO Stadium.
The two matches include a Remembrance Round fixture on Saturday 12 November against Wellington Phoenix followed by a fixture against Adelaide United on February 5 at GIO Stadium.
The Mariners have a longstanding relationship with Canberra that saw the Yellow & Navy host two Hyundai A-League home matches in 2009 where they boast an undefeated record against Perth Glory & the reigning Hyundai A-League Champions, Adelaide United.
Since the Mariners most recent two pre-season trips to Canberra, Ivan Slavich has been operating as the man on the ground for the Mariners and has now been officially appointed to help drive match promotion, club branding and corporate awareness of the Central Coast Mariners in the nation’s capital.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to next month’s match at Canberra’s GIO Stadium
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been asked by the Mariners to be their Business Development Ambassador in Canberra and the region,” Slavich said. “For so long I have been yearning for a Hyundai A-League team in Canberra and now we have it.
“Football is the number one sport in Canberra by a country mile, there are more registered players than all the other codes combined.
“Just look at how excited the football community is about our very own Canberra Olympic FC taking on Sydney FC, we are so proud that they have gone this far in the FFA Cup and can’t wait to see our boys beat Sydney FC.
“All other men’s sporting codes in Canberra have a team to go for. Union fans have the Brumbies, League have the Raiders and AFL have the Giants, now football fans have Olympic FC and the Mariners in the Hyundai A-League.
“I am committed to showing the Canberra community that this is our team and hopeful that we can all get behind the ‘Capital Coast Mariners’ for the two games to be held in Canberra on November 12 against Wellington and on February 5 against the reigning champs, Adelaide.
Slavich was instrumental in Canberra’s bid for a Hyundai A-League team in 2012 and plans to leverage the support built via Canberra’s passionate and vocal football fans to get behind the Yellow & Navy.
“I can’t stress how important it is for football fans and local businesses to support our Capital Coast Mariners, if we want permanent fixtures here in Canberra, we need to see big crowds at these games and vote with our feet,” Slavich said. “We are also re-establishing our fan base that we built for the ‘A League 4 Canberra bid’ called Capital Punishment, we will combine with the Mariners Yellow Army to cheer on the boys,” Slavich said.
Match details
Hyundai A-League Round 6
Saturday 12 November 2016
Match: Central Coast Mariners
vs. Wellington Phoenix
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 5:35pm (local time)
Match details
Hyundai A-League Round 18
Sunday 5 February 2017
Match: Central Coast Mariners
vs. Adelaide United
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 5:00pm (local time)
