MILDURA City Soccer Club coach Simon Trembath said he “wants to put silverware in the cabinet this year” as his side prepares for its opening Football Federation Australia (FFA) Cup qualifying round encounter next weekend against Shepparton South.
The side is gunning for a home win next Saturday – three years after losing the qualifier to Yarra Jets in 2018.
Trembath said the national FFA competition starts with the “real grassroots football” of regional teams shaping up against metropolitan sides.
“Having the opportunity to play against another regional team is really good and Shepparton has a really strong competition there so it will be a really good contest for our team,” Trembath said.
“It’s the perfect way to start our campaign this year.”
Trembath said the energy in the group was the best he had seen in his four years as senior coach.
“I think we’ve got a high-quality squad that’s really balanced across the park,” he said.
“We’ve got the potential to do well in the FFA Cup and local competitions as well.
“In the early rounds we go up against some of the larger regional teams and some of the metropolitan teams … we know as the competition advances the level of the teams you’re playing against increases,” Trembath said.
“So the objective is to go as far as we can but we’re really mindful of taking each game as it comes and seeing where it takes us.
“We want to win trophies too, that’s also a goal for the year.”
The coach said Mildura City was itching to get back to the park as the last game they played was at the end of 2019, nearly 18 months ago.
“The energy at training has been really great with the boys … there’s been a real buzz about the season,” he said.
“We know the hard work we’re putting in now always pays off throughout the year,” he said.
The club is hoping for a good turn-out after the community has been starved of sport to view over the past 12 months due to COVID-19.
“I expect from our club we’ll receive some really fantastic support.
“And I expect to see some lovers of the game and people who are affiliated with other clubs who want to come and watch a good game to kick off the season,” Trembath said.
Trembath said the all-regional game was an exciting opportunity for both teams – and the competition.
