Focus On Youth Pays Dividends

Illawarra Mercury

Friday August 24, 2007

By PAUL ZALUNARDO

PORT Kembla's decision to focus on youth development may pay further dividends when the club meets Tarrawanna in Sunday's Bert Bampton Cup final at Terry Reserve.

Midfielder Alex Stojanoski is the only member of Port's starting side not to have played first grade this year, with eight of those players having started.

The club's conscious decision to promote its young players also has propelled Port into equal-fifth place on the Premier League first grade ladder only three weeks out from the finals.

Even with Johnathan Ramos out injured and Tynan Diaz on holiday, Port will start Sunday's under 23 final as favourites.

A vastly improved Mark Picciolini and inspirational midfielders Shane Manning and Michael Robinson give the team plenty of power and skill.

"Both Manning and Robinson are seasoned first-graders, what you see is what you get, they don't let you down," Port coach John Fleming said.

He said the unity in the club was the key to the strong season it was enjoying.

"We had a swimming session the other night and I noticed that the one-ness of this group is tremendous," he said.

"They are competitive as a group, not as individuals.

"There is a great sense of camaraderie among the team, I am hoping we can keep this going until the end of the season."

Tarrawanna youth grade coach Gary Fernie said the injury clouds hanging over Arvi Lehtsalu and Fadi Baghdadi meant he would have to wait until Sunday morning before settling on his starting side.

"Port will be in the same position with both clubs having to play on Saturday," he said.

"But Arvi and Fadi are my two biggest problems, both of them would be pretty doubtful."

Fernie acknowledged that Port would have plenty of firepower for the showdown.

"Mark Picciolini and Matt Sini are both dangerous players," he admitted.

But Tarrawanna also have plenty up front, with Ricky Zucco and Nathan Minutillo both enjoying superb seasons.

Sunday's enthralling cup final will kick off at 3pm.

TARRAWANNA: Brad Jardine (gk), Arvi Lehtsalu, Fadi Baghdadi, Matthew Miller, Luke Everingham, Beau Cropper, Vin Musumeci, Kyle Sutton, Alan Costabile, Ricky Zucco, Nathan Minutillo. Substitutes: Michael Todd, Serhat Pakyuz, Kyle Wolsky, Reece Cochran, David Freeman, Kane Formosa, Daniel Dacunta.

PORT KEMBLA: David Chambers (gk), Daniel Giorgio, Fabian Cappetta, Shane Manning, Ryan Olander, Jacob Borg, Michael Robinson, Alex Stojanoski, Leo Quinones, Matt Sini, Mark Picciolini. Substitutes: Carlo Stella, Nicholas del Turco, Chris Christodolou, Julian Cesta-Incana, Adam Rodriguez (gk).

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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