By Joffa - 30 Aug 2013 10:19 PM
Matt Bartolo, FFA
NPL Club Profile | Olympic FC
Friday, 30 August 2013 8:25 PM
Club Olympic FC
Founded: 1967
Colours: Red and White
Home Ground: Goodwin Park, Yeronga
Recent Honours: 2003 Division 1 Grand Finalist, 2004 Division 1 Grand Finalist, 2006 Division Grand Finalist, 2008 Silver Boot Winners, 2013 Silver Boot Finalist, 2013 Premiers.
Coach: Jim Bellas
Key players: Tim Smits (26 goals), Daniel Byrne (Captain and 19 goals)
Olympic FC were nothing short of dominant throughout the 2013 Queensland National Premier League season after claiming the league title in style to book their ticket to the inaugural NPL finals series.
Olympic won 18 of 22 matches scoring a staggering 90 goals along the way to ending the regular season with an eight point lead over runners up Brisbane City.
Such was their dominance that the clubs two top scorers, Tim Smits and captain Daniel Byrne, combined to score more goals (45) than each of half of the clubs in the competition.
Jim Bellas’s side will take on the winner of NSW representatives Sydney United 58 FC and ACT representatives Canberra FC, a prospect their head coach is relishing.
“We are very excited about the NPL Finals,” said Bellas.
“We won the premiership and we always want to win everything that we compete in. In saying that we know that this series will be very difficult.”
Olympic has every right to be confident after scoring on average over four goals a game throughout the season.
“We had much of our team from last year return and then we were able to strengthen a number of key positions.
“Matt Mundy and Tim Smits have both played for the Roar and Jake Mclean came to us from their youth side, each of them adding a lot to our side.
“Danny (Byrne) has been a club man for 7 or 8 years and he is our captain and adds so much to our side.
“When you increase your depth you have players fighting for positions and ultimately are increasing the level they play at.”
With three of the other four sides alongside Olympic now decided (Sydney United, Canberra FC, South Hobart FC being the others), Bellas’s attention has turned to scouting their potential opponents.
“We will be watching them over the internet and I might fly down to watch the game (Sydney United vs Canberra FC).
“We know it will be a difficult task but hopefully we will be able to show everyone just how far football in Queensland has come.”
With five sides competing in the inaugural NPL finals series Olympic FC have a first round bye in the competition and will be preparing for their first match with just about the hardest opponent they could find.
“The week prior to playing our first match in the tournament we are lining up against the Brisbane Roar.
“It means we have a hard game heading into the match that will hopefully give us confidence to go out there and win it.”
Although the clash with the Roar is only a friendly, Bellas hopes one day that his side will have the opportunity to play the A-League side on a meaningful occasion in years to come.
“A nation wide cup competition would certainly make football in Australia better across the board.
“Every club below the A-League would need to lift the bar to compete and players who were aiming to get recognised would rise to the occasion.
“It would definitely be difficult to beat a team like the Roar but hopefully the competition could help develop the league directly below it and ultimately lift its standards.”
Before the NPL finals get underway Olympic will look to add another trophy to their cabinet as they play the Brisbane Strikers on Saturday September 1 for the right to play in the Queensland NPL grand final.
Olympic’s NPL finals series clash with the winner of Sydney United and Canberra FC will take place in Queensland on the weekend of 5/6 October.
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/NPL-Club-Profile--Olympic-FC/73871?
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By T-UNIT - 1 Sep 2013 1:27 AM
Yawn.
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