Special Feature: Sasho Petrovski Unplugged

26.05.11 11:49

Football NSW Media Manager Mark Stavroulakis catches up with one of the characters and well-known figures of our game South Coast Wolves’ legendary striker Sasho Petrovski and asks him a few questions on all things football.
MS: How have you settled into your new role at the South Coast Wolves this year?

SP: I have settled in just fine, I’m enjoying training and playing 90 minutes and nothing has really changed since I left.

The people around town are still talking about this club and especially what the team achieved in 2000 and 2001 during our golden period in the National Soccer League and there’s a real buzz about it.

MS: Your initial thoughts of the standard of football of the NSW Premier League?

SP: It’s always hard to judge and I cannot give you clear answer but from what I have seen there is some very good up and coming players that could play in the A-League simply because of the benefits you get when you a professional player.

For example, the training facilities, great stadiums you play are the best and training to play everyday lifts the performance of players so naturally the standard rises.

In the NSW Premier League, you don’t have these luxuries you have to do things the hard way with a lot of issues stacked up against you but I suppose it is all about overcoming the issues and being prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed.

MS: Trevor Morgan as a coach?

SP: One of the reasons I wanted to play for this club is because of the coach.

He is a pleasure to work with and I think he is a young and up and coming coach that can take any team to the next level.

He knows what he is doing and talking about. Trevor has all the write methods and tactics and ingredients and his man-management with the players is the best. That’s why I love working together with Trevor.

MS: The team in general, in your words, how have they travelled?

SP: The team is doing it tuff at the moment because we are yet to find our form and consistency but I have no doubt that as soon as we find the balance we will surprise all the teams we play against.

MS: Any promising youngsters we should be keeping a close eye on?

SP: Yes we do have a lot of promising youngsters and I’m not going to name them because we do not want them to be targeted by bigger clubs just yet. If there is some genuine interest the best way is to come along and watch and see for yourselves.

MS: Objectives for season 2011

SP: Our objectives for this season are to be as high up the ladder as possible.

MS: You have ambitions of playing in the A-League once more?

SP: I have had a great career at the highest level and achieved everything I set out to do with all the clubs I served and much more so there is nothing left for me to prove except for passing on my experiences to help the next generation of players and coaches and just keep enjoying this transitional period.

MS: Your Top 5 picks for 2011

SP: My Pick for top 5 is Sydney United, Sutherland Sharks, Sydney Olympic, South Coast Wolves and Apia Leichhardt Tigers.

MS: The inclusion of players like yourself, Mark Rudan and Ufuk Talay to name a few, is this good for the league seeing former stars playing in our competition?

SP: Absolutely, they have served the game well and it’s good to see the local boys come back and pass on their experiences on to clubs that gave them the opportunity to make it as great players.

MS: How long can we see Sasho Petrovski playing in the NSW Premier League?

SP: Age should not be a barrier as long as you are good enough I will continue to play for as long as I want!

MS: The South Coast region is a large area with a number of good players running around the region, do you believe South Coast should have an A-League side?

SP: I think if we have a business plan and a club structure with A-League standard I believe so. This is the plan but we will have to wait and see at the moment we are concentrating on building the best local team to represent the region in NSW’s elite competition.

MS: The Illawarra Premier League is very competitive, what’s your opinion on that and are the Wolves and the local clubs assisting each other?

SP: The Illawarra Premier League is a great competition with great talented players.

We are assisting with each other but I believe it could work better if we have special conditions like the A-League do to allow some players the freedom to taste our league as an injury replacement or a 3 to 6 week loan/guest period just to see the difference in levels.

MS: You are the Operations Manager at the club also, tell us about that?

SP: As I am in my transitional period in life, this opportunity was too good to refuse simply because it keeps me involved in football and it’s what I love doing.

I have great passion to try and do whatever it takes in making things work whether it’s in the office or out on the field.

MS: Sasho, thank you for your time and good luck with the rest of the NSW Premier League season both on and off the pitch.

SP: Thanks Mark, great to chat to you and thank you for the continued support.

-By Mark Stavroulakis

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