WA AMATEURS READY FOR MALAYSIA TOUR



The MySolar State Amateur team will face an “unknown” challenge when it travels to Kuala Lumpur to play three games against Malaysian opposition.



The State side, featuring Amateur Gold Medal winner Lee Jones, from Joondalup United, and Goalkeeper of the Year Jamie Serra, from Whitfords City, will leave Perth on Saturday for matches against Putrajaya SPA, KL POS Malaysia and Selangor FA.



Coach Steve Dimitrovich said the players were ready for the challenge against top quality Malaysian opposition.



“I hope we’ll go up there and win three games but we’re going into the unknown,” he said. “You can ring up people and find out how teams have been going but until you play them you don’t really know what you’re up against.



“But I know we’ve got a good squad and I’m confident in the style of football we’ll play and what we can achieve.”



Southern Spirit star Felim Rugel has been forced to withdraw from the squad because of a quadriceps injury and has been replaced by Chris Wylie from Perth Royals.



Dimitrovich was confident the squad, which was assembled after an extensive trial period, would perform well in Malaysia.



“It was hard to leave people out because of the quality of players we had but decisions had to be made,” he said.



“I think whenever someone represents the State you don’t have to use too many words to get them up for it. And this will be the first time in the State team for a lot of these guys, so it makes it even more interesting to see how we go.”



WA takes on the Malaysian University of Technology (UiTM) on October 28 (kick-off 8.30pm) and Premier League sides KL Pos Malaysia (October 30, 5pm) and Putrajaya SPA (November 1, 5pm).



Football West director Rob MacKay said the Board was keen to continue organising overseas tours for the State Amateur team beyond this fourth international trip.



“The previous travelling teams have done WA proud and I can't see any reason why this trip will be any different,” MacKay said.



“The team have been working extremely hard under the watchful eye of Steve Dimitrovich and his assistant Matt Ball for some months now.”



“On behalf of the Chairman, Liam Twigger, and the Board of Football West, I wish the team, coaches and officials all the best for an enjoyable, competitive and safe trip.”



SQUAD

Jamie Serra (Whitfords City); Kevan Towers, Lee Shepherd (Kingsley); Adam Rogers, Lee Jones, Stuart Hartmann (Joondalup United); Alex Brain, Steven Henry, Eamonn Kelly (North Perth United); Mohamed Komadaric, Ago Mujic (BB United); Asa Nicholson (Hamersley Rovers); Chris Wylie, Jason Winter, John Cafferkey, Darren Coleman (Perth Royals).

Coach: Steve Dimitrovich. Assistant: Matt Ball. Team Manager: Graeme Marinkovich