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WELLINGTON PHOENIX TO CONTEST THE SISTER CITIES SHIELD FOR FOURTH TIME The Wellington Phoenix will look to reclaim the Sister Cities Shield tonight, when it takes on Western Sydney Wanderers at WIN Stadium for the first time this season. This match will mark the fourth annual Sister Cities Shield fixture between these two A-League clubs, with the Wanderers the current Shield holders following their 1-0 win during last season’s re-start in July. Prior to this, the Phoenix had won the shield in 2019 while the Western Sydney Wanderers were
the inaugural Shield winners in 2018. The Sister Cities Shield recognises the Sister Cities relationship between Blacktown City in Western Sydney and Porirua, a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. The Wanderers will represent Blacktown City – their spiritual home, with the Phoenix representing Porirua.
“We’ll fight hard to get the victory tomorrow night and keep this wonderful tradition going.”
In 1984 a formal sister cities agreement was first signed to promote cultural and commercial ties between the two cities – and over the last 35 years, there have been a wide range of activities covering sporting, education, cultural and the arts which have enhanced the experiences of both communities. Wellington Phoenix General Manager, David Dome, says that it is not just three points on the line tomorrow night when the Phoenix and Wanderers face off. “This match is a special representation of the fantastic partnership between our two cities, and it’s also a chance for our club to claim the Shield back after losing it to the Wanderers last
season. “Being the holder of this Shield also comes with a measure of pride for the club, so we’ll fight hard to get the victory tomorrow night and keep this wonderful tradition going.” The Mayor of Blacktown City, Tony Bleasdale OAM said last season that he thinks it is fantastic that the relationship between the two cities can be celebrated both on and off the football pitch. “The Sister Cities Shield is a fitting way to acknowledge the strong relationship and link that these teams have with their respective communities and I encourage all the fans to get behind their team!”.
YOUR 2020/21 WELLINGTON PHOENIX SQUAD #1
GK
#2
STEFAN MARINOVIC
#5
DEF
#6
DEF
LUKE DEVERE
DEF
#7
FWD
# 10
MID
# 11
CHARLES LOKOLI-NGOY
# 14
ALEX RUFER
# 15
MID
CAMERON DEVLIN
FWD
JAUSHUA SOTIRIO
MID
DEF
#8
RENO PISCOPO
ULISES DAVILA
FWD
#4
TE ATAWHAI HUDSON-WIHONGI
MID
TIM PAYNE
DAVID BALL
# 13
#3
LIAM MCGING
JAMES MCGARRY
#9
DEF
FWD
MIRZA MURATOVIC
# 12
MID
MATTHEW RIDENTON
# 16
DEF
LOUIS FENTON
YOUR 2020/21 WELLINGTON PHOENIX SQUAD # 17
FWD
# 18
TOMER HEMED
# 21
# 19
BEN WAINE
DEF
JOSHUA LAWS
FWD
# 23
DEF
# 20
SAM SUTTON
GK
OLIVER SAIL
MID
CLAYTON LEWIS
COACH UFUK TALAY
2 ZIGGY GORDON
DEF
17 KEANU BACCUS
MID
4 DYLAN MCGOWAN
DEF
18 GRAHAM DORRANS
MID
5 DANIEL GEORGIEVSKI
DEF
19 JORDAN MUTCH
MID
6 TASS MOURDOUKOUTAS
DEF
25 PHILLIP CANCAR
DEF
7 BRUCE KAMAU
FWD
27 NICOLAI MÜLLER
FWD
8 JORDAN O’DOHERTY
MID
29 DANIEL WILMERING
DEF
9 BERNIE IBINI
FWD
30 DANIEL MARGUSH
GK
10 SIMON COX
FWD
33 MARK NATTA
DEF
11 KWAME YEBOAH
FWD
34 PATRICK ZIEGLER
DEF
12 MITCHELL DUKE
FWD
38 ALI AUGLAH
FWD
13 TATE RUSSELL
DEF
39 THOMAS AQUILINA
DEF
14 JAMES TROISI
MID
40 NOAH JAMES
GK
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MW9 MATCH PREVIEW: WELLINGTON PHOENIX VS. WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS The Wellington Phoenix take on the Western Sydney Wanderers tonight for the first time this season, as they attempt to pick up their maiden victory at WIN Stadium – and to re-claim the Sister Cities Shield back for Wellington.
But fans will be heartened by the availability of both Cameron Devlin and Joshua Laws for this match - as well as imposing forward Charles Lokoli-Ngoy, who has been named in tonight’s squad following his signing earlier in the week.
Injuries have been a recent concern for the Phoenix, with centre back Luke DeVere requiring knee surgery following an injury he sustained during the Central Coast Mariners clash last Sunday.
Lokoli-Ngoy proved himself a capable goal scorer in the Phoenix pre-season, slotting home three goals for Wellington under the moniker of ‘Triallist’, and he says he can’t wait for a return to A-League action.
He joins forwards Tomer Hemed and Jaushua Sotirio on the injury list, while David Ball sits out due to suspension.
“I had a good pre-season with the Nix, and it’s been my goal to get back into the A-League and I really
like the way they play,” says LokoliNgoy. “My goal is to score goals and help them in that department, and to assist the team with whatever they need me to do.” Ulises Davila’s recent form has also provided a boost for the Nix, with the first-time captain scoring three goals in his last four matches. Davila will again be cheered on by a large contingent of Mexican supporters, who are travelling from Sydney in support of the A-League’s first ever Mexican player.
“My goal is to score goals and help them in that department, and to assist the team with whatever they need me to do.” Meanwhile the fourth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers
come into this match on the back of a six-game unbeaten streak; their most recent win coming against Melbourne Victory last Wednesday which saw two late goals to Graham Dorrans and Yeboah. Dorrans will sit this match out due to suspension, but both Dylan McGowan and Nicolai Muller are returning from injury. And two Wanderers who have caused headaches for the Phoenix in the past – Simon Cox and Daniel Georgievski – will also look to feature heavily in this match. These two sides squared off three times last season, which the Phoenix emerging winners in two matches; the first a rousing 2-1 win at Eden Park, Auckland in Dec 2019 which saw Davila and Jaushua Sotirio each scoring electrifying goals.
Davila would score again in the rematch a month later - a 2-0 win at Sky Stadium – before falling 1-0 to the Wanderers during the season re-start, thanks to a second half goal by Kwame Yeboah.
The Sister Cities Shield recognises the Sister Cities relationship between Blacktown City in Western Sydney and Porirua, a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand.
Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay says that despite the depleted squad, the team is confident about picking up the win.
The Wanderers will represent Blacktown City – their spiritual home, with the Phoenix representing Porirua.
“Last season we were fortunate to not have a lot of injuries and it helped us maintain consistency in the squad. “At the moment the injuries make things hard, and I could make all the excuses I want around it – but at the end of the day that’s how opportunities are born for some of our players who haven’t been getting game time – it’s an opportunity for them to step up.”
at the end of the day that’s how opportunities are born for some of our players who haven’t been getting game time – it’s an opportunity for them to step up.” This match also marks the fourth annual Sister Cities Shield fixture between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix, with the Wanderers the current Shield holders.
The Wellington Phoenix square up against the Western Sydney Wanderers tonight at WIN Stadium from 6.10pm AEDT (8.10pm NZ Time). Did You Know? • Wellington Phoenix have won their second-most aerial duels per game this A-League season (16.2), second only to Brisbane Roar (18.3). • Wellington Phoenix’s Ulises Davila has had 17 shots from outside the box this A-League season, four more than any other player in this campaign. • The last match between these two teams - in July 2020 - marked the first time in five tries that the Western Sydney Wanderers had not conceded a loss to the Wellington Phoenix.
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: CAMERON DEVLIN Wellington Phoenix midfielder Cameron Devlin recently took over the Nix Twitter Page (@WgtnPhoenixFC) to answer a few questions from fans: Do you have a nickname and why isn’t it Scrappy Doo? Some of the boys call me scrappy doo! Haha, but also, little fella, angry little man or just Dev.
Who is the best player you’ve ever played with? Ulises Davila (Wellington Phoenix) and Milos Ninkovic (Sydney FC). Nix players doing 100m sprints - who’s winning and who’s losing? Josh Sotirio 100% is winning.
Who’s your favourite alltime Phoenix player?
Who is the biggest jokester in the squad?
Tim Payne. Favourite player. Watching him get up and down the line is a thing of beauty!
Bally (David Ball) would like to think he is. Coming into training is his time to crack his ‘Dad’ jokes and give it to all the boys. It is
up for debate whether the boys actually find him funny or not though... Who is the best and who is the worst dancer in the team? Worst dancer would have to be Bally (David Ball). We give it to him for having ‘Dad moves’. Maybe one day he can show you for a goal celebration. Best dancer I’ll say is Reno Piscopo (Rezman). He wants to be Tik Tok famous. Who is your footballing idol? Steven Gerrard.
You always seem to be smiling all over the park while playing, why is that? Passion, happiness? I think for every footballer, playing competitive games is our favourite part of the job. So I am always having fun out there and just enjoying doing something I love with my mates. It is my happiness out there. Do you have to work on the mental side of your game to keep that positive energy? I think any footballer has to be mentally very strong, everyone
has their challenges but the most important thing for me is to be happy off the pitch and away from football. Spend time with family & friends, enjoy life and always smile! I believe for me, being happy mentally away from football brings all my positive energy on to the football pitch! What’s your favourite thing about Wellington? Prefab (a café in central Wellington). The boys and I spent so much time playing cards and drinking coffee here. I miss Bridget and all her amazing staff. Of course, I also miss our amazing fans! The Devlin family are trying to show up in numbers and match your voice and energy in Wollongong! Did Steven Taylor ever ask you to go jet skiing with him? Haha unfortunately never had the pleasure. Him and his little English crew were inseparable. What a legend he is!!
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