Central Coast Mariners Foxtel National Youth League (NYL) Head Coach Patrick Zwaanswijk has finalised his squad for the 2013/14 season, with a host of locally groomed youngsters set to don the Coast’s colours this campaign.
Central Coast Mariners Foxtel National Youth League (NYL) Head Coach Patrick Zwaanswijk has finalised his squad for the 2013/14 season, with a host of locally groomed youngsters set to don the Coast-s colours this campaign.
No less than seven players who featured in the Club-s Academy system in 2013 have been re-signed or promoted to the Mariners- Foxtel NYL ranks.
Speedy utility Dillon Vorster, goalkeeper David Bradasevic as well as defender Joshua Forbes and midfielder Steve Whyte will again play for the Club-s second side in season six of Australia-s premier youth competition.
Meanwhile, locals Liam O-Dell, Nathan Verity, and Daniel McFarlane are set for their first season with the Mariners in the Foxtel NYL.
Zwaanswijk said he is pleased with the way his 15-player squad has taken shape ahead of the junior Mariners- first game of the new Foxtel NYL season against Adelaide United Youth in Tuggerah on Sunday 27 October.
“Our main focus has been on signing as many young local players as we possible, so we have the best chance to develop them into Hyundai A-League professionals over the next few seasons,” Zwaanswijk said.
“We are taking a three-to-four year approach with a number of these boys, so it-s really up to them to apply themselves and try to make the most of the chance they have earned.”
The Mariners- Foxtel NYL side will also feature talented attacker Patrick Dixon – formerly of the Australian Institute of Sport – and winger-cum-striker Joshua Bingham. Bingham won the Wollongong Wolves- Grade 20 Player of the Year and Golden Boot Award in 2013.
Midfielder Jesse Curran, right fullback Jacob Esposito, and attacking midfielder Adrian Vlastelica will also play for Mariners Youth, as will versatile midfielder Dominic Ferguson, goalkeeper Tonu Liiband, and 16-year-old former Sydney Olympic player Lachlan Everett.
“We-ve put together a team that is full of boys who are eager to learn, and who we believe are very strong mentally,” Zwaanswijk said. “We don-t head into this Foxtel NYL season with many experienced players, however while we will naturally aim to win matches the primary key performance indicator for us is the development of the boys.”
Zwaanswijk has a further 11 train-on players he utilises for sessions on the Central Coast and in Sydney-s northern suburbs. Currently, the Mariners- Foxtel NYL side trains twice a week in Tuggerah, and once at Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga.
Central Coast Mariners 2013/14 National Youth League Squad: Adrian Vlastelica, Daniel McFarlane, David Bradasevic (Gk), Dillon Vorster, Dominic Ferguson, Jacob Esposito, Jesse Curran, Joshua Bingham, Joshua Forbes, Lachlan Everett, Liam O-Dell, Nathan Verity, Patrick Dixon, Steve Whyte, Tonu Liiband (Gk)
Central Coast Mariners Youth vs. Adelaide United Youth – Foxtel National Youth League Round 1
Sunday 27 October, 2013
Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence, Tuggerah
Kick-off: 10:30am
Admission: Free
