The Broken Hill Soccer Association (BHSA) season will soon be upon us. After a long break, the teams stepped out for the first of their two trial match weekends ahead of the season proper.
The big questions ahead of this season proper centre around last year’s champions, St Joes. Can Joeys repeat their heroics, go through another season undefeated, and become the double invincibles?
But that’s not all there is to ponder.
There is also the question of West operating under a new regime, yes George Bugeja remains the head coach, but with a new hierarchy around him – how will they perform this season?
Celtics’ coaching staff have been undergoing a mentorship program with their much larger and slightly more famous namesakes from Scotland. What will the Celtic way of playing look like in 2023?
And finally, the Mighty Goats of Alma – can they pick themselves up off the canvas after losing last year’s Grand Final?
We’ve talked to each of the club coaches to see how they’re travelling ahead of what is set to be a sensational season of Broken Hill soccer.
ST JOES – FOUR MAN COACHING COMMITTEE
St Joes are going with a new type of coaching team this season. After being unable to secure a full time senior men’s coach, the club has elected to go with a four man coaching committee. Pat Nash, one of the members of the four-man coaching panel explains.
“It’s been a tough period to try to fill the head coach role at the club. We looked at our group and realised we have quite a few strong leaders that have been a part of the senior squad and have a little bit of time, but can’t commit full time.
“So, we took it upon ourselves to put together a four-person leadership group to steer the A-grade squad and the senior teams in the right direction this year.
“It will be myself, Matt Muscat, Thomas Kolze and John Littlewood.”
WEST PANTHERS – GEORGE BUGEJA
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Club legend George Bugeja remains at the helm of the West Senior Mens side, and he is looking to take the next step, and bring some silverware to the club he loves so much.
“Things are looking much better than last year. We are getting good numbers to training, a lot of B-Grade players, which helps me out so much in terms of keeping players fresh. I am probably getting 35 players out training across the squads, which is excellent.
“We have Shane Hayward back, he has committed to playing soccer this year, he has helped strengthen our defensive line.
“I’m hoping Johnny (Bugeja) will come back for a run and with young Joey (Josef Niedermier) from Menindee, up front, I think they’ll do quite well together.”
CELTIC UNITED SC – ARRON CURNICO
There is a certain amount of positivity around training in the Celtic squad. Numbers are up, and with the mentorship program with Glasgow Celtic already bearing fruit, it could be an exciting season for a club that has struggled over the last few seasons.
“Over the preseason we have picked up quite a few handy players. It has been really good, it should make us, and the competition a lot more competitive. We have had 5 or 6 young players come across to play with their mates, and that is really exciting for us,” says Arron.
“Now it is just a matter of stamping the Celtic identity and way of playing on this new group of players. A few bits and pieces, just getting the old and the new to gel.
“If anyone is interested in playing under 17s or women’s this season, we have a few spots available, so please come on down to training.”
WILL HEBBARD – ALMA GOATS
The Mighty Goats has been the side that has pushed St Joes the most over the last 12 months. They will be looking to take the next step under head coach Will Hebbard, and with perhaps the most exciting young squad in the league, the sky could well be the limit.
“Things are shaping up much similar to last season,” says Will.
“Obviously, we got a lot of talented young people coming through the ranks, so hopefully we can go one better this year. The Mens A-Grade premiership has been a bit elusive for us the last couple of years.
“I think it’s going to be a close competition this year across all four clubs. That’s what everyone sort of wants anyway because it just makes it a bit more passionate when we go down on the weekends.
“JJ (Hebbard) is about 6ft 2 this season, he is so quick, so threatening and really mature for his age out there on the pitch. And we’ve got another guy called Julian Anton who’s come from away, he scored a hattrick last weekend at the trials.
“The boys have already nicknamed him King Julian.”
With the four clubs on the up, the competition may be closer than ever before. Be sure to head down to O’Neill Park and Norm Fox Oval this weekend to catch the last of the trial games from 11.30am before the beginning of the BHSA season proper.
