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YOUR 2020/21 WELLINGTON PHOENIX SQUAD #1
GK
#2
DEF
STEFAN MARINOVIC
#5
DEF
LIAM MCGING
#6
# 10
DAVID BALL
# 14
# 15
#4
MID
MID
# 11
#8
FWD
MIRZA MURATOVIC
# 16
# 12
MID
MATTHEW RIDENTON
DEF
LOUIS FENTON
MID
CAMERON DEVLIN
JAUSHUA SOTIRIO
FWD
DEF
TE ATAWHAI HUDSON-WIHONGI
RENO PISCOPO
ULISES DAVILA
MID
ALEX RUFER
#7
TIM PAYNE
FWD
DEF
LUKE DEVERE
DEF
JAMES MCGARRY
#9
#3
# 17
FWD
TOMER HEMED
YOUR 2020/21 WELLINGTON PHOENIX SQUAD # 18
FWD
# 19
BEN WAINE
# 23
DEF
# 20
SAM SUTTON
GK
# 21
OLIVER SAIL
DEF
JOSHUA LAWS
MID
CLAYTON LEWIS
COACH UFUK TALAY
1
GK
14 DANIEL BOUMAN
MID
3 LEWIS MILLER
DEF
15 KYE ROWLES
DEF
4 JOSHUA NISBET
MID
19 MATT SIMON
FOR
5 STEFAN NIGRO
DEF
20 ADAM PEARCE
GK
6 GIANNI STENSNESS
MID
21 RUON TONGYIK
DEF
7 STEFAN JANKOVIC
MID
22 MICHAL JANOTA
FOR
8 OLIVER BOZANIC
MID
23 DAN HALL
DEF
10 DANIEL DESILVA
MID
25 MATT HATCH
DEF
11 JACK CLISBY
DEF
26 JADEN CASELLA
MID
12 MARCOS URENA
FOR
29 ALOU KUOL
FOR
MARK BIRIGHITTI
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UOW Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Program Improve your game with an English Premier League club while studying at one of Australia’s leading universities. Study a qualification1 of your choice at UOW’s Wollongong campus, while developing your football skills, with training provided by fully qualified coaches from English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
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WELLINGTON PHOENIX AIM TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST MARINERS The Wellington Phoenix are focusing on picking up a muchneeded three points tonight, as they square off against topof-the-ladder Central Coast Mariners in a highly anticipated re-match. The last time these two teams faced off each other - a late January clash at Central Coast Stadium - the Nix came away with a 2-1 win and their first victory of the season. That match featured a first-half goal from Ulises Davila off of a beautiful assist from Tomer Hemed, before Jaushua Sotorio’s
late strike sealed the win for the Phoenix. Two Phoenix players instrumental in that win will sit out this rematch, with Hemed out due to a hamstring injury and Sotirio nursing a knee injury which will side-line him for the next month. Despite the loss of two key forwards, Wellington is confident of victory thanks to the inspired play of Davila, who has scored a goal in each of his last three matches – leading his team by example, just as he vowed he would do when named Phoenix captain earlier this season.
Another player who stood out for the Phoenix in their first encounter with the Mariners was goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic; his goal-saving effort at the 70 minute mark arguably his best highlight of the young season. Marinovic says that he has been impressed with the team’s performance this season, despite the team’s record. “Generally the direction is good, we’ve just got to turn those good performances into results,” says Marinovic.
Piscopo demonstrating his ability against Sydney FC last round when he was subbed in for his first action of the season.
“Generally the direction is good, we’ve just got to turn those good performances into results.” Meanwhile the Mariners are coming off a solid run in the past fortnight, with a pair of 3-2 wins against Western United and Melbourne City.
“I think the main thing for us is just being clinical in those small moments in each game, and we need some of those to go our way for us to get those results.”
Undoubtedly the Mariner’s danger man will be forward Alou Kuol, who currently sits first-equal in the Golden Boot race with five goals – a remarkable achievement for the Sudanese 19-year-old.
The return of Reno Piscopo also gives the Phoenix another solid attacking and creative threat;
Kuol was the lone Mariner to score against the Phoenix in their first encounter, and his brace
in Central Coast’s 3-2 win over Western United last round was the difference maker. Two other players to watch for the Mariners will be experienced defender Jack Clisby, currently leading the competition in both chances created (18) and cross (53), and forward Matt Simon – who has scored in his past two outings.
“At the end of the day we’re there to try and put up three points in this match and to hopefully build some momentum.”
The Wellington Phoenix takes on the Central Coast Mariners tonight at WIN Stadium from 4.05pm AEDT (6.05pm NZ Time). Did You Know? • Wellington Phoenix have won their last six A-League matches against the Mariners; a seventh consecutive win against them would make it outright their longest winning run against a single opponent (also W6 vs Newcastle Jets from 2010 to 2012).
Phoenix defender Tim Payne says that despite getting the win over Central Coast last month, the team are wary of facing a Mariners team that is vastly improved from last season.
• Wellington Phoenix have made 428 successful passes per game this A-League season, the second-most of any team in the competition behind Macarthur FC.
“We have confidence facing them again given the fact we beat them last time around, but they’re flying high, they’re top of the league – so their confidence will be high as well and they’ll want to get one back on us,” says Payne.
• Ulises Davila has scored three of Wellington Phoenix’s four last A-League goals; in fact, he now has scored 0.47 goals per game from his 32 appearances, the best rate for any Phoenix player in A-League history (>10 apps).
“At the end of the day we’re there to try and put up three points in this match and to hopefully build some momentum.”
OFFICIAL APPAREL PARTNER WELLINGTON PHOENIX For all your club and school teamwear please contact: LIAM ROBINSON LIAM@PALADINSPORTS.COM (02) 9938 8818 WWW.PALADINSPORTS.COM WW
GET TO KNOW: CLAYTON LEWIS Find out more about the Phoenix midfielder, Clayton Lewis, as he embarks on his first A-League campaign. Born in Wellington, Clayton attended St Pats College from 2010-2014 and began his playing career with Wellington Olympic. After a stint at Wanderers SC, he signed with Auckland City in the national league before signing a contract with then-League One club Scunthorpe United in the UK. After three seasons at Scunthorpe, Lewis returned to New Zealand and re-connected with Auckland City for their 2019/20 season. Lewis signed with the Wellington
Phoenix in October 2020 on a one-year contract. This is his first season in the A-League. International Career Lewis has significant All Whites experiences under this belt, having made 14 international appearances during his career – including scoring four goals while playing in the New Zealand Under-20 team and participating in both the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Lewis made his international debut for New Zealand on 31 March 2015 against South Korea, playing 54 minutes in a 1–0 loss.
One on One with Clayton Lewis: We asked Clayton some rapid-fire questions about football, living in Wollongong and what he gets up to when he’s not in training.
but then I kind of thought that I wasn’t growing very fast so I didn’t I could make a career out of that. But I still love playing and watching basketball.”
What’s your living situation in Wollongong at the moment?
“I love playing darts at well, they’re the two sports I enjoy watching.”
“So I’m flatting with James McGarry at the moment, we live right by Wollongong beach and it’s a really nice place to live - and it’s close to the uni [University of Wollongong] so it’s close to training too.” “I knew James pretty well before joining the Phoenix, we grew up playing in the same age groups together and were teammates in the Under 20 World Cup.” If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?
“I grew up playing basketball,
Why did you chose 23 as your playing number?
“23 April is my brother’s birthday and that was a big part of that wearing that number and it being his birthday date makes it extra special for me.” Who is your sporting hero?
“Both my parents actually played football so growing up I was watching them a lot - so I tried to take after them as much as I can.” “Growing up I watched a lot of football, I support Liverpool so
Steven Gerrard was a player I really admired and wanted to emulate.” Who is the funniest person in the squad?
“I think that’d have to be our captain, Ulises Davila. I think he’s one of those guys that even if you’re down he’ll kind of pick you up and get you laughing again. So he’ll probably be one of the funniest in my opinion.” What do you like doing in your spare time?
“To be fair I just like relaxing, being able to come home and take my mind off of football for a little bit playing playstation or chilling on the laptop watching whatever. I’m watching a show called ‘Shetland’ at the moment, it’s a Scottish crime show, that’s ok. But I always revert to watching action TV series like ‘Shooter’ and those types of shows, just whatever tickles my fancy really.” “In terms of music, I’m quite open and enjoy all sorts - I’m actually one of those guys who likes older music.” “And on the playstation, I try and team up with the boys and play Fortnite, and I’m big on basketball so I play a lot of 2K21 too. Your go-to breakfast?
“Oats and blueberries has been
my go-to breakfast this season, it’s given me enough energy in training so I’ll still with that for the time being.” What’s the most precious thing you bought with you from NZ?
“It’s just the little things, like a photo of my partner or of my family that are precious to me - it’s hard being away from family, so you tend to cherish those things more.”
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