ADELAIDE United have ambitions of being the best football club in Australia, and star midfielder Stefan Mauk believes Saturday’s friendly in Mildura can help prepare them for a massive campaign this season.
The Reds are set to face off with Brisbane Roar for the One Agency Mildura A-League Festival of Sport this Saturday at Mildura Sporting Precinct, where 4000 fans are expected.
One of the more consistent clubs in the A-League Men, United are coming off a down season finishing eighth but are aiming to be back at the pointy end again.
A semi-final run in the Australia Cup, won by Macarthur last week, has given them some strong early form.
“Last season was pretty disappointing from our point of view, the previous three years we played in three semi-finals,” Mauk said.
“We have ambitions of being the best club in Australia, we want to win.
“It’s a high standard to set for ourselves but that’s the level we want to aspire to.”
Alongside getting minutes on the pitch against A-League opposition, Mauk is also hopeful they can convert some new Reds fans in the process.
“I think it’s something we’ll definitely try to look at now,” he said.
“Mildura can be great growth area for us as a club, whether it’s enticing more people to come to games or if we visit more regularly.
“If we can help inspire that next generation to support football and Adelaide United it would be amazing.
“Sport is a great way to engage with a community. For us it’s a privilege to do what we do and have these opportunities.”
Adelaide has forged a reputation in recent years of becoming a talent factory, with a number of players finding homes in European football.
The most high profile has of course been teen sensation Nestory Irankunda, the Socceroo who this year signed with German giants Bayern Munich.
Elsewhere, Brothers Mohammed, Al Hassan and Musa Toure have all been stationed in France, and defender Ryan Strain has starred for St Mirren in Scotland.
Of the next generation Mildura fans may get to see in action, striker Luka Jovanovic, defender Bailey O’Neil and midfielder Jonny Yull are all in the Young Socceroos squad.
“It’s something the club has really focussed on in the last few years, giving young player opportunities, especially South Australian youngsters,” Mauk said.
“I think the track record is there now that it can lead to bigger and better things, and for aspiring young players they can see that anything is possible.”
Kick-off for the Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar match is 4.30pm Saturday.
