Plenty on the line in Gosford
Brother versus brother, a start for a rising young star, one team’s hopes of winning the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 premiership and the other’s hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon – Saturday night’s match between the Wellington Phoenix and the Central Coast Mariners will be a fascinating one.
In a match pivotal for both sides – the Phoenix hoping to end the season on a high by ensuring Perth Glory take the wooden spoon and the playoffs-bound Mariners aiming to top the regular season table – Ross Aloisi will wear the captain’s armband in the Phoenix’s final match of the season at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford while younger brother John will captain the Mariners for the first time.
Despite both Aloisi boys enjoying hugely successful careers in Australia, in international colours and abroad, neither has played with or against each other at senior level.
“It’s the first time we’ve played against each other in a competitive game – apart from the backyard – so it’s going to be pretty interesting,” Ross Aloisi said. “Our parents will be there, along with the kids and the rest of the family, so it’ll be pretty exciting.”
Ross said some sibling rivalry had developed during the Christmas break.
“We were at my sister’s house at lunchtime on Christmas Day and we were just joking around saying that it was all going to come down to the last game of the season. I said ‘it’d be funny if we knocked you off and you didn’t win the premiership’, and he was like, ‘c’mon – do us a favour’.
“But there’s no chance of either side giving anything but 100 per cent. John’s team is level with three others [Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets and Queensland Roar] on 31 competition points and really want to win the premiership. For the Phoenix, we want to put on a good performance for the team and for our fans. Obviously we want to try and win the game so we don’t finish bottom. I think that’s important for the club.”
Ross Aloisi said the Phoenix still had plenty to play for in what had been an exciting and promising debut season in the Hyundai A-League. The possibility of the Phoenix playing in the O-League and the World Club Championship was added incentive.
“It’s important that we perform well and the players are focused for this game. It’s the last game of the season and I’ll be doing my best to get the team to win.”
With the Phoenix already looking to the future, Costa Barbarouses is likely to get his first start of the season against the Mariners.
Aloisi had big raps on the 18-year-old Wellington striker.
“[Phoenix coach] Ricki Herbert is playing Costa because he believes he can foot it. Obviously it’s going to be new to him but he’ll play with a lot of enthusiasm. I think it’s fantastic that another Wellingtonian is playing in the side and Costa is a talented young guy and a real favourite with the fans. Hopefully Costa can perform and we can win the game.”
Barbarouses was quietly excited about the prospect of starting the game against the Mariners.
“I’m looking forward to playing from the start for the first time this season. Hopefully my fitness is all right and I can bring something to the team.”
He did not believe there would be too much pressure on him.
“I just want to go out and put in a good performance so I can be ready for next season, when I want to have a big impact on the league. It’s been a bit frustrating training all the time and not getting a lot of game-time, but I understand that it’s a new team and that it’s all been put together in a short timeframe.
“There’s a lot of things I’ve learned and it’s been great to be involved in a professional environment.”
Herbert said there was a good chance Costa would start Saturday night’s match.
“It’s important for the club to recognise and encourage young talent and the selection of Costa is confirmation that we want to build a positive environment at the Phoenix and foster the development of the game.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for a young guy to highlight what is possible for a kid playing football in New Zealand and for me that’s important. There’ll be no pressure on him; we’re going to go out there and enjoy it and play the game with smiles on our faces.”
Meanwhile, Barbarouses’ fellow under-20 teammate Greg Draper has travelled with the squad to Australia as backup for Brazilian midfielder Daniel, who sustained a minor ankle injury at training on Thursday.
Saturday night’s match kicks off at 9pm (NZDT) and will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 3.
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Mark PASTON (gk), 2.Jeremy CHRISTIE, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 5.Karl DODD, 6.Tim BROWN, 7. Ross ALOISI, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Michael FERRANTE, 11.DANIEL, 16.Kristian REES, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ahmad ELRICH, 19.Greg DRAPER, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 21.FELIPE, 23. Costa BARBAROUSES. *one to be omitted
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Matthew TROTT (gk), 2.Matt SIMON, 3.Paul O’GRADY, 6.Andre GUMPRECHT, 7.John HUTCHINSON, 10.Tom PONDELJAK, 13.Tony VIDMAR, 15.Andrew CLARK, 16.Nigel BOOGAARD, 18.Alex WILKINSON, 19.Adam KWASNIK, 20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 22.Sasho PETROVSKI, 23.Mile JEDINAK, 25.John ALOISI, 26.Alvin CECCOLI. *one to be omitted