Striker Sasho Petrovski gives his thoughts ahead of the Newcastle-Central Coast F3 derby this Friday night.
Jets striker Sasho Petrovski believes the F3 Derby is a game that both players and supporters alike look forward to every year.
“It-s always nice to play a local derby. The rivalry is always there and the occasion is a special one so just looking forward to another one I guess,” he said.
“It-s more built up around the supporters. Obviously the supporters clash in these kind of games so it brings out the best of the players on the field.”
Tomorrow night-s encounter marks a crucial juncture in the Jets season where anything but maximum points could prove to be a fatal blow in their current season.
There is little doubt the Jets have been playing attractive football without result, and surely it is time for the luck to turn and Petrovski believes there would be nothing better than to kick-start the season with a victory against the arch-rivals.
“[We-ve been] unlucky with the results so far this season, but playing a derby game we-ll definitely step up and bring the best out of each and every one of us because you want to win for the supporters and psychologically get one over them (the Mariners) for the rest of the season, so the derby is the occasion for us to turn things around.”
“The bounce of the ball at the moment isn-t bouncing our way and we are conceding too many bombs against us. Every goal other teams score seem to be an individual brilliantly scored goal, so it-s just at the moment we-re lacking in the individual brilliance, so when we get that out of our players, we-ll bounce back and start winning games.”
Petrovski has spent time playing for both Sydney and the Central Coast, but says the reason for his move right up the F3 was for another challenge.
“Coming here and trying to build this club. They were going through a building phase where they lost so many players and to recruit maybe eight or ten new players coming in and create success and their ambition to develop into a good club. Newcastle is a great club and is a great city to live in. They have great support, so the history behind it was an attractive place to come to.”
“That-s what I look for in joining teams and clubs and knowing that you want to be wanted. The Jets definitely wanted me and it took a few days to wrap the deal up for myself to come here and enjoy the place for a further two years so I have to thank them for that and I want to repay them with as many goals as possible. We-ve got a great squad here and we-re looking forward to bouncing back this week against the Mariners.”
When asked what needs to change for the Jets to turn their season around, Petrovski offered a blunt assessment.
“We need to show a bit more commitment. I think overall we-ve been playing fantastic football. We-ve just got to be a bit more desperate and a bit more committed and stay focussed for the full 90 minutes, that-s all it is and remain disciplined, so there-s three or four key areas for us that we have to perfect at the moment and we-ll do it. I reckon we-ll do it, definitely.”
