Fit and firing
Tuesday, 30 June 2009

One of the keys to Perth Glory’s success this season won’t be from a big name on-field signing but an off field move to bolster the club’s medical and fitness department.

For the first time in club history the Glory have a full time Physiotherapist and Strength and Conditioning Coach who are working hand in hand to ensure the players are at peak fitness for a vital campaign.

Experienced football fitness man Peter Cklamovski has already made his presence felt during the club’s gruelling pre-season programme which has included several new elements including kickboxing.

Cklamovski has worked with Australian national sides and comes to Perth from Greek club Panahaiki. He said he has been impressed with the level of fitness the players have already achieved and is happy that the squad is tackling everything he is throwing at them with both feet.
PGFC Peter Cklamovski
Glory Fitness Coach Peter Cklamovski

“We’ve done a lot of testing and there is science behind everything we’re doing from a fitness and conditioning perspective,” he said.

“There is not one area in particular that the squad is specifically lacking, each of the boys has individual areas that they can improve in and that forms part of their overall fitness schedules that we’ve put together.

“Overall the objective for the players is to be fitter, faster and sharper, we’re very confident that is what we’ll achieve this season.”

Australian teams have a lengthy pre-season compared to European standards and the Glory, who will be heading into week 10 of their programme leading into the match against Wolverhampton, have carefully set-out each component to ensure they’re peaking for the start of the season.

"We still have some work to do but we've had a really good start to pre-season,” Cklamovski said.

“We’ve moved into game mode now and that is going to be very important for us to get 90 minutes in week in and week out before round one.

“The boys felt pretty good in the match against Adelaide and pulled up well, that's a reward for all the hard work they've been putting in,” Cklamovski said.

While the players have shown quick feet on the pitch they’ve still got some way to go before translating that into the kickboxing ring.

"They certainly try their best but I'm not sure their careers are going to be in boxing or kickboxing," Cklamovski joked.

"The sessions challenge them physically and mentally in different ways and they have fun and so that's the whole point behind it and I think it will pay dividends for us.

Wolves at the door but Glory new boys are ready

6th July 2009, 11:00 WST

Perth Glory’s four big-name signings hit the pitch together for the first time today at the club’s training base in Mt Claremont.

Socceroos duo Mile Sterjovski and Jacob Burns, Serbian striker Branko Jelic and English defender Andy Todd all joined in the skills session this morning as the team prepares for Friday’s glamour friendly clash with EPL new-boys Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Todd trained with the team last week but missed Saturday’s training hit-out with WA Premier League outfit Cockburn City, while the three other major signings had their first run with Glory today.

Accustomed to wintry conditions after years in Europe, the quartet would have felt at home in the wind and rain at McGillivray Oval.

Goalkeeper Tando Velaphi, who also missed the Cockburn game with a hamstring complaint, was restricted to jogging laps as he bids to prove his fitness before the Wolves game.

More to come …

PERTH
SHAYNE HOPE

Hopefully the "more to come..." will be "BTW we signed Chris Coyne.".

Lol i reckon I've been refreshing that story all day waiting for updates!

oh ... and for further goss.

apparently ... and i say APPARENTLY .... bobby has the new glory gear at his shop as of today

it's what i heard, so if im wrong ... it aint my fault ... lol

Burns feels the heat of Glory's expectation

6th July 2009, 13:15 WST

Perth Glory midfielder Jacob Burns admits he is feeling the pressure to perform ahead of the 2009/10 A-League season.

Burns is one of four big-name signings brought in this season, along with Socceroos teammate Mile Sterjovski, Serbian striker Branko Jelic and English defender Andy Todd, as coach Dave Mitchell hunts a maiden A-League finals appearance.

The quartet hit the pitch together for the first time today at the club’s training base in Mt Claremont.

“For sure, I think there’s pressure on all of us,” Burns said.

“(Club owner) Tony Sage has put his hand in his pocket and really wants to have a go at it and put Perth back on the map where they were when I was around (last time).

“They were such a tough force and I think with a good blend of experienced players and young players coming through that we can get up there again, get the crowds back and get a real buzz in the city again.”

After spending more than a decade in Europe, Burns said it would take time to re-adapt to the style of game in the A-League.

“Over in England, Poland and Romania, with each country and each league you have to adapt and it’s going to be the same coming back here,” Burns said.

“It was our first session out there for us boys coming back from Europe and there’s always that physical presence in Australia and the pace of the game.

“Hopefully we can add to it and play our style of football as well.”

While focused on the task at hand with their new club, both Burns and Sterjovski have an eye on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and hope to be selected in Pim Verbeek’s squad for sport’s biggest showpiece.

Sterjovski said he felt returning to Australia and the increasing standard of the A-League could provide a boost for his selection chances.

“I think the league’s getting stronger every season and you can see there’s more high-quality players coming into the league,” Sterjovski said.

“I think it’s only positive for the league and it’s making the league stronger all the way across. It’s going to be a good competition.

“Personally I wasn’t playing enough games overseas and to come back here, to be playing regular football, it’s an important thing for me and I can only see it as a positive thing.”

Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi, who missed Saturday’s hit-out with Cockburn City due to a hamstring complaint, was restricted to jogging laps as he bids to prove his fitness before the glamour friendly with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.

PERTH
SHAYNE HOPE

Damn.
it'd suck if we were miossing tando.

will peep it right now for ya

Confirmed, grabbed one for myself :)

I think they normally sell named and numbered shirts through the glory website.

Perth Glory Myspace can exclusively confirm that Colchester United defender Chris Coyne is on his way to Perth Glory after putting pen to paper on a 3 year deal.

Coyne has rejected several offers from Europe, Asia and Australia to become Perth Glory's third current Socceroo.

Expect an official announcement from the club later in the week.

Hey Lads

At Jim Kidd in Harbour Town they have got the new glory shirts sizes small to extra large at a rather suprising price of $99.99. I couldnt believe it and purchased one right away!

This from Perth Glory myspace in a bulletin.


jesus awesome hey if its true.

Hey Lads

At Jim Kidd in Harbour Town they have got the new glory shirts sizes small to extra large at a rather suprising price of $99.99. I couldnt believe it and purchased one right away!