bulldogmariner
Well-Known Member
MILE Sterjovski doesn't yet know whether green and gold or purple will be required next month as a potential club and country clash looms.
Perth Glory kick off their A-League season against Adelaide United on August 7 with their second match of the campaign away at Wellington Phoenix on Sunday August 16.
Sandwiched between those two fixtures the Socceroos are due to play a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Limerick on August 12.
If he is called upon for that match in Ireland, it is likely teammates Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns could also find themselves heading to Ireland.
Glory's marquee man says it is an issue for Pim Verbeek and Dave Mitchell to discuss but there is no disguising his desire to help his new club get off to a good start.
Speaking today at the official launch of the NAB Young Player Of The Year Award, he said: "Personally, I think it's important that we (Glory) get a good start in the A-League in August so I'm not sure if we'll be involved. I haven't spoken to Pim about it yet but we'll see what his thoughts are, what David Mitchell's thoughts are and hopefully we can come up with a solution for a small problem."
Aside from that issue Sterjovski is settling in well at Glory and is delighted with the squad the club has put together.
He says they are aiming high and makes no apologies for setting lofty targets. He said: "We've a great squad on paper and we just have to get it right on the pitch. I had to look for a club that was right for me. I haven't regretted it one bit.
"They (Perth) have brought in some really good players and we're looking forward to a successful season. "I set a goal for our team and that's to make the finals. Once we make the finals anything can happen from there. (Can we win the league?) Definitely. If you can't aim high then there's no use playing. We can win it for sure."
While the bulk of the A-League clubs are housed on the east side of Australia, Sterjovski wants to do his bit for the west.
"There's obviously much more of a buzz about football now (compared to before he left for overseas). It's good to see. I think there's more of a buzz on the east coast than there is on the west but we're looking to change that this season at Perth," he said.
Sterjovski, who revealed that he made financial sacrifices to return home, is not concerned that marquee status could be a burden.
He observed what happened to John Aloisi last year but believes it isn't about an individual. "There's pressures associated with marquee but as long as the team is working hard and doing well, that's what matters. If we're successful I'm sure I'll be successful," he said. He added that he had never made career decisions based on money.
However this is not only going to affect Perth but also Jason Culina at Gold Coast and any other fringe Socceroos that Pim is looking at ahead of 2010 World Cup.
Perth Glory kick off their A-League season against Adelaide United on August 7 with their second match of the campaign away at Wellington Phoenix on Sunday August 16.
Sandwiched between those two fixtures the Socceroos are due to play a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Limerick on August 12.
If he is called upon for that match in Ireland, it is likely teammates Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns could also find themselves heading to Ireland.
Glory's marquee man says it is an issue for Pim Verbeek and Dave Mitchell to discuss but there is no disguising his desire to help his new club get off to a good start.
Speaking today at the official launch of the NAB Young Player Of The Year Award, he said: "Personally, I think it's important that we (Glory) get a good start in the A-League in August so I'm not sure if we'll be involved. I haven't spoken to Pim about it yet but we'll see what his thoughts are, what David Mitchell's thoughts are and hopefully we can come up with a solution for a small problem."
Aside from that issue Sterjovski is settling in well at Glory and is delighted with the squad the club has put together.
He says they are aiming high and makes no apologies for setting lofty targets. He said: "We've a great squad on paper and we just have to get it right on the pitch. I had to look for a club that was right for me. I haven't regretted it one bit.
"They (Perth) have brought in some really good players and we're looking forward to a successful season. "I set a goal for our team and that's to make the finals. Once we make the finals anything can happen from there. (Can we win the league?) Definitely. If you can't aim high then there's no use playing. We can win it for sure."
While the bulk of the A-League clubs are housed on the east side of Australia, Sterjovski wants to do his bit for the west.
"There's obviously much more of a buzz about football now (compared to before he left for overseas). It's good to see. I think there's more of a buzz on the east coast than there is on the west but we're looking to change that this season at Perth," he said.
Sterjovski, who revealed that he made financial sacrifices to return home, is not concerned that marquee status could be a burden.
He observed what happened to John Aloisi last year but believes it isn't about an individual. "There's pressures associated with marquee but as long as the team is working hard and doing well, that's what matters. If we're successful I'm sure I'll be successful," he said. He added that he had never made career decisions based on money.
However this is not only going to affect Perth but also Jason Culina at Gold Coast and any other fringe Socceroos that Pim is looking at ahead of 2010 World Cup.
