News 
 Local News 
 Sport 
 Football - Soccer 
 It's a win, win situation for Wolves 

It's a win, win situation for Wolves

15 Aug, 2008 05:00 AM
Wollongong FC's Ilija Prenzoski, Tynan Diaz, Balla Conde and Alfredo Esteves will have different roles in tonight's qualifying final, but all agree on the venue - it's a winner.

The Wolves will play Sydney Olympic at WIN Stadium, and the foursome believe the venue is the perfect stage for the showcase match.

Esteves is itching for a chance in the starting side after playing second-fiddle to established centre-back duo Danial Cummins and Ben Blake for most of 2008.

With Cummins out suspended and Michael West injured, tonight is Esteves' chance to press his claims for a starting spot throughout Wollongong's finals campaign.

"It was a couple of months ago that I last played 90 minutes," Esteves said.

"I'm competing against other good players - that doesn't make it easy for me but it doesn't mean that I'll quit any time soon.

Tonight will be Esteves' first run at WIN, except for a 45-minute training session on Wednesday night.

"This is a perfect stage - we have to play good soccer tomorrow and hope there will be a good crowd."

Prenzoski, the Wolves' leading goal scorer, last played at WIN for the Illawarra Football Association against the Australian under 20s in October last year.

Although WIN's wide expanses are a far cry from Crehan Park, Prenzoski believes the billiard-table like surface will help his side's short passing game.

Prenzoski said the Wolves also owed Olympic "one" after the Belmore Park-based outfit won both league encounters earlier this year.

"We got a belting in the first game and we lost to them on the last kick of the second game, so we owe them one," he said.

Diaz - the Wolves' set-piece master - has fond memories of WIN; his last match there was the 2004 Illawarra Premier League grand final, when he scored a goal in Port Kembla's 4-0 rout of Picton Rangers.

"This ground is brilliant. I've played here a few times and it has been good to me," Diaz said.

"We trained on it last night and it was good ... it is amazing just how big it is.

"I did a lot of corners and free kicks last night, for a player like me out wide it's going to be a big night."

Tonight's match was the first step in the Wolves' campaign to claim their rightful place at the top of the heap, Diaz said.

"As far as proving we can be champions, we've got the stuff and we're going to prove it tomorrow night," he said.

Conde, who will pull the strings for Wollongong in midfield, is bracing for a taxing encounter against the physical Sydney Olympic outfit.

"For me, Sydney Olympic are the toughest team to play against in this league," Conde said.

The former Guinea international hopes a big crowd will cheer the Wolves on.

"We can't win it without them," he said.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

Print
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size

comments


No comments yet. Be the first to comment below.

post a comment


Screen name  *
Email address  *
Remember me?
Comment  *
 
We invite and encourage our readers to post comments. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as our editor has approved them. When posting comments you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
Wollongong FC players (from left) Alfredo Esteves, Balla Conde, Tynan Diaz and Ilija Prenzoski are relishing the chance to play at WIN Stadium against Sydney Olympic tonight. Picture: ORLANDO CHIODO
Wollongong FC players (from left) Alfredo Esteves, Balla Conde, Tynan Diaz and Ilija Prenzoski are relishing the chance to play at WIN Stadium against Sydney Olympic tonight. Picture: ORLANDO CHIODO
Related Coverage
ARTICLES

Most popular articles


Cool Blue Air Conditioning Pty Ltd
 


Illawarra Mercury







Weather brought to you by:

Weatherzone

Classifieds

Front Page

Current Issue
Privacy Policy | Conditions of Use | Advertising Terms | Copyright © 2012. Fairfax Media.
 SEND...
 SAVE...
 SHARE...