by John Fotinos
Bring on the new season is the refrain from many at Heidelberg United. Through a plethora of on & off field movements at the club, fans of the club have a heightened sense of anticipation coming into this pivotal season.
With a new coaching panel taking the reins, it promises to be a new look and style of play. Head coach John Anastasiadis leads a panel of vast experience, assisted by Savvas Patikkis, goalkeeper mentor Sam Frangos & technical director Nick Deligiannis – all working towards building a strong & resilient squad capable of success in 2024 and beyond.
Among many new team members, the club has looked to boost all lines – signing goalkeepers Yaren Sozer (from A-League Central Coast Mariners) & Ryan Govan (from Redland NPL Queensland). The defensive stocks have been bolstered with the signing of central defender Ben Collins from Melbourne Knights.
Ben Collins
AustraliaYaren Sozer
Ryan Govan
The midfield has been strengthened with the procurement of the dynamic Asashi Yokokawa ( from Albirex Niigata – Singapore) & young tyros Nicholas Stefanidakis (from Hellenic – NT), Nathan Konstandopoulos (from A-League Melbourne Victory) & Nicholas Olsen (from Becamex Binh Duong– Vietnam)
Asashi Yokokawa
JapanNicholas Stefanidakis
Nathan Konstandopoulos
Nicholas Olsen
New signings Ben Davine (from FC Bulleen Lions) and forward Leo Mazis (from Dandenong Thunder) aim to boost the forward line strike power of the club.
Ben Davine
Leo Mazis
With experienced campaigners like the durable skipper Adrian Zahra, Adrian Fetahagic and Jamal Ali defending the lines, the team will look to natural improvement from younger defenders Deion Nikolaidis, Johnny Apostolopoulos and Matty Tsalikidis in 2024.
The midfield line is a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging younger players in Dominic Falla, Mohammed Aidara, Anthony Theodoropoulos, Eoin Ashton & Anthony Lesiotis – who along with the new signings will be the engine room of the team in its quest for honours in 2024.
The front half will feature seasoned performers of the calibre of Josh Pin, proven goal scorer Kaine Sheppard & the gifted talismanic Sean Ellis – augmented by the new signings, seeking to provide opposition defences a torrid time during the season.
It all begins in earnest this Saturday (10/02/2024) for Heidelberg united with a Round 1 away trip to a tricky venue (Paisley Park) against Altona Magic at 6:15pm.
Heidelberg United FC – Senior Mens’ Squad List 2024
Goalkeepers:
1 – Yaren Sozer
22 – Ryan Govan
Defenders:
9 – Adrian Zahra
29 – Matty Tsalikidis
4 – Jamal Ali
13 – John Apostolopoulos
5 – Ajdin Fetahagic
3 – Ben Collins
12 – Deion Nikolaidis
Midfielders:
6 – Anthony Lesiotis
10 – Dominic Falla
16 – Asahi Yokokawa
20 – Mohammed Aidara
18 – Anthony Theodoropoulos
8 – Eoin Ashton
15 – Nicholas Stefanidakis
11 – Nathan Konstandopoulos
21 – Nicholas Olsen
Forwards:
19 – Sean Ellis
14 – Kaine Sheppard
17 – Josh Pin
7 – Leo Mazis
24 – Ben Davine
