Victory beckons in North Queensland
The Melbourne Victory continue their 2006/07 Hyundai A-League preparations on the road in June, when they travel interstate for the North Queensland Challenge Trophy.
After a number of pre-season matches against local sides, the Victory will step-up a gear against greater opposition including the Qantas Young Socceroos, Chinese Super League team Changchun Yatai and fellow Hyundai A-Leaguers, the Central Coast Mariners.
The Challenge Trophy starts on June 17 and will give Coach Ernie Merrick a better indication of how well the Victory are shaping-up for the new season.
“The team is looking good. We’ve had a lot more time to prepare the squad compared to last year and our fitness levels are definitely better,” Merrick said.
“This tournament will provide us with more match fitness and we’re looking forward to a solid hit-out against some very good sides,” he added.
The games will be played in Rockhampton, Townsville, Ingham and Ayr, with all four teams playing each other once and the final being decided in Townsville on June 24 between the two top teams.
The trip will also provide another chance for Melbourne to work on its team cohesion with their new Brazilian summer signings of Fred and Claudinho, as well as welcoming back newly capped Socceroo Kristian Sarkies, who will join the team after an extended stay with Guus Hiddink’s men in Germany 2006.
16-year-old midfielders, Bonel Obradevic and Paul Giannou, will also head north as part of the Victory’s ongoing development programme with the Victorian Institute of Sport.
The trophy is sure to produce some top-class football as all the teams are playing with legitimate incentives.
The Qantas Young Socceroos have just qualified for the AFC Youth Championship to be played in India in October. The top four teams of the Championship will then qualify for the 2007 FIFA World Youth Cup in Canada so positions are well and truly up for grabs.
Changchun Yatai F.C. have just been promoted to China’s top division after a fantastic 2005 season in the China League (second division) and are currently sitting in 3rd position (14 June).
They are coached by Athens 2004 Olympic Assistant coach, Chen Jingang, and contain two Honduran internationals. They will be using the tournament to ensure they maintain the pressure at the top of the Chinese Super League Table.
The Central Coast Mariners will be expecting a warm reception after the club impressed a lot of people with some good football during a fantastic 2005/06 season.
They narrowly finished runners-up after losing 1-0 to Sydney in the inaugural Grand Final in front of 41’000 spectators, while Lawrie McKinna was named the Hyundai A-League Coach of the Year.
The Challenge Cup will play a vital part in the Mariners preparations as they try and go one-better this year.
Match Schedule
Round 1 – Melbourne Victory vs. Central Coast Mariners
-Saturday, 17th June, 6:00pm kickoff in Rockhampton
Round 2 – Melbourne Victory vs. Changehun Yatai FC (Chinese Team)
-Tuesday, 20th June, 5:45pm kickoff in Townsville
Round 3 – Melbourne Victory vs. Young Socceroos (Under 20’s)
-Thursday, 22nd June, 7:00pm kickoff in Townsville
Playoffs – Saturday, 24th June in Townsville
-1 vs. 2 – 8.00pm kickoff
-3 vs. 4 – 5.50pm kickoff
Flight Details
Depart Melbourne Airport – check in at 5.00am on Thursday 15th June on flight QF600
Arrive at Melbourne Airport - 7:15pm on Sunday 25th June on flight QF631