Sydney FC W-League coach Alen Stajcic is confident the Sky Blues can overcome the loss of internationals Ellyse Perry and Emma Kete when they take on Melbourne Victory in the W-League grand final at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Sydney FC W-League coach Alen Stajcic is confident the Sky Blues can overcome the loss of internationals Ellyse Perry and Emma Kete when they take on Melbourne Victory in the W-League grand final at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Perry will miss the decider due to her cricket commitments, which see the defender depart Australia on Friday for the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
Kete, who has played 42 international for New Zealand, will miss the match after she was sent off in last weekend-s thrilling 3-2 win over arch rivals Brisbane Roar.
While the absence of Perry and Kete is a blow for Sydney FC, Stajcic is certain the Sky Blues have the depth and talent to cover for the missing pair.
“The loss of Ellyse Perry and Emma Kete is a blow but we have a good squad with sufficient depth and talent to be able to cover for their absence in the grand final,” Stajcic said. “Melbourne Victory is a tough team, especially playing them in Melbourne, but we have the quality and experience to be able to rise to the challenge, which is what playing in a grand final is all about.
“We will go down there on the back of two very good wins and with the self belief we can win on the road after we beat Brisbane away from home to make it into the grand final.”
Stajcic also wished Perry and the Australian team luck in the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
“It-s a shame Ellyse couldn-t play before departing for the (cricket) World Cup but we all know her situation in juggling both sports so she goes to the World Cup with our best wishes and we wish her and the Australian team the best of luck,” Stajcic said.
“Ellyse has done well throughout the W-League season to manage her schedule for Sydney FC and NSW Cricket and like the rest of the girls in the team she has given Sydney FC everything all season.”
The W-League grand final will take place at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon and Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata has asked Sky Blues fans travelling south for Saturday-s A-League clash to support the W-League team on Sunday.
“It is a unique opportunity for the Sydney FC fans who had booked to go to Melbourne to watch the A-League team play Melbourne Victory to wait back in Melbourne and cheer home the W-League team on Sunday,” Pignata said.
W-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL DETAILS
Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 27 January 2013
3.30pm kick off
Sydney FC are now offering BLOCKBUSTER 4-Packs for the final four home games of the regular season. The massive games include clashes with the reigning A-League Champions Brisbane Roar, the current top two in the standings Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United, plus another Big Blue and the fierce rivalry against Melbourne Victory, all at Allianz Stadium. Prices start from just $90 to see all four games as Sydney reach the exciting run-in to the A-League Finals Series.
