Report by Tommy Doleman
Sorrento FC and Perth Glory meet in the seventh annual Regional Festival of Football fixture in what is Round 10 of the NPLWA – Men’s competition.
The 4pm kick-off at Albany’s Retravision Stadium is the second fixture in an NPLWA double-header, with Perth RedStar and Hyundai NTC meeting in the NPLWA – Women’s competition beforehand at 2pm.
It is free entry for both matches.
Both Sorrento and Glory have won three games each in the six previous Regional Cup matches with Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and Busselton among the previous hosts. Albany also held this game back in 2020 with two goals from Cameron Teece helping the Gulls defeat the youngsters 5-1.
All four NPL sides will hold an open training session on Friday night at the match venue as part of the week-long event with free workshops, school clinics, coaching and refereeing courses happening throughout.
On the pitch, both teams sit in the bottom half of the division and have had up-and-down 2023 campaigns. Sorrento began with an opening-round win at current leaders Bayswater but have won just two since and sit third bottom.
Glory started the season unbeaten in their first three but have since had mixed form with back-to-back wins over Cockburn and Perth RedStar, followed by recent losses to Olympic Kingsway and Stirling Macedonia.
Kaelan Majekodunmi believes the last two defeats have come down to small details and insists his side can rediscover their momentum in what has been a tight NPLWA season.
“Our coaches are always talking about consistency because that’s what the best teams in the world have,” the Young Socceroos defender said.
“We started the season well and need to get back to that, but it’s only a small difference we need to make to find that improvement and maintain our performances for the whole 90 minutes. We’re well aware of it and are determined to make it count, and hopefully then the results will come.
“The league’s been so close this season and it only takes a couple of games for things to change. We always go into games with lots of confidence with the way we play and believe we can keep pushing to reach a spot, which gives us a chance of winning silverware.
“There are changes (in the squad) every year with Glory as players get pushed up and youngsters below come through to the first team. I feel we’ve done pretty well in terms of adapting throughout the season with players also earning National Team call-ups, but that comes from squad depth and the coaches showing faith in us. It’s a strong group we have and a lot of players are always waiting and buzzing to play.”
Majekodunmi was part of Leicester City’s academy as a youngster before coming to Australia. After a season at local club Carramar, he has had spells with ECU Joondalup and Ashfield.
This is now the 19-year-old’s third spell with Perth Glory, having rejoined the academy in the middle of 2022 following a stint in the first half of last year with Gwelup Croatia.
It is a journey of persistence which saw him earn a call-up to represent Australia in March’s 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan. The Young Socceroos got out of the group stage and were one game from qualifying for the U-20 World Cup, only to be eliminated in the quarter-finals by the hosts who went on to become eventual winners.
“There’s been a lot of hard work and self-discipline behind closed doors. A lot of dedication and putting my head down, no matter which club I’ve been at, and believing there’s always a chance to be seen,” Majekodunmi said.
“From a young age, I was always passionate about the game and it’s something which has always brought me joy, and that’s probably why I’m still playing today.
“It means a lot to me because football can be up and down, but if you stay focused and really want to work towards something then things will come to you and you’ll get an opportunity to try and take. I’m so grateful for everything which has come so far and I just want to continue working hard to see how far I can take my game.”
Majekodunmi will be part of a young Glory squad heading to the Great Southern region this weekend to participate in Saturday’s fixture. He is expecting both teams to be up for the occasion, but says it is about maintaining their principles if they are to take the points.
“It’s a long drive down, but the boys are really looking forward to the experience and the game,” Majekodunmi said.
“We know Sorrento are a tough side who know how to score goals and see out games. It will be physical and there will be a lot of aerial battles, but it’s up to us to let our football do the talking.
“If everyone can win their individual battles and we play our game as we know we can, then I think we can go and get ourselves a good result.”
In other Round 10 action, Bayswater City look to at least maintain their one-point lead at the top of the league when they travel to Olympic Kingsway in the evening kick-off (6pm).
Gareth Naven’s team are seven games unbeaten after a 1-1 draw with Perth RedStar last week, while Kingsway’s improved recent form was derailed 4-0 by Inglewood last week.
Second meets third at Alfred Skeet Reserve as Stirling Macedonia travel to Armadale. Both teams have gathered momentum in recent weeks with John O’Reilly’s team boasting the league’s best attack, while Ian Ferguson’s side have the division’s best defence.
Fourth-placed Balcatta Etna aim to transfer their terrific away form to Grindleford Reserve when they host Floreat Athena. All 15 of Etna’s points have come on the road in 2023, while defending champions Athena remarkably are bottom of the league after five successive defeats. That said, Vas Vujacic’s team are only six points behind this weekend’s opponents.
Perth RedStar and Cockburn City are fifth and sixth respectively and will look to capitalise on any slip-ups above when they meet at RedStar Arena. Both teams met a fortnight ago in the Australia Cup with the Cockerels winning 1-0 and a win would likely put either in the top four at the end of the weekend.
Perth SC also play Inglewood United at Dorrien Gardens in a battle between two sides in the bottom half. Ninth-placed Inglewood are four points off the top four with the Azzurri a further point back, and neither can afford dropped points if they want to stay in touch.
Round 10 fixtures (3pm unless stated)
Armadale v Stirling Macedonia
Balcatta Etna v Floreat Athena
Olympic Kingsway v Bayswater City (6pm)
Perth RedStar v Cockburn City
Perth SC v Inglewood United
Sorrento FC v Perth Glory (4pm, Retravision Stadium, Albany)
- Football West would like to thank the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and the City of Albany for their support for the 2023 Regional Festival of Football.
Football West would like to recognise Hilton Garden Inn Albany as a supporting partner for the 2023 Great Southern Regional Festival of Football.