When Sydney FC’s youth side runs onto the field to face Adelaide United this Saturday there be plenty of rising stars on display but the player that will attract the most local interest will be home-town-hero, Brendan Gan.
When Sydney FC-s youth side runs onto the field to face Adelaide United this Saturday there be plenty of rising stars on display but the player that will attract the most local interest will be home-town-hero, Brendan Gan, who-s set for his first start in Sky Blue.
The twenty-year-old will make his debut for the youth side in familiar surrounds, returning to Seymour Shaw Park where he was a stand-out for the Sutherland Sharks in the last New South Wales Premier League season.
Gan sat out Sydney-s first game with a grade one groin strain, but he-s raring to return to his old stomping ground.
“It-s just so exciting that this is going to be my first game,” he beamed. “And it-s at my home ground. There-s going to be heaps of people going down there so hopefully I can perform well. I-m just that excited that I want to get out there now.”
The attacking midfielder-come-striker is over his injury concerns after a few weeks on the treatment tables and was impressed with what he saw from his new team-mates in their come-from-behind win over Queensland.
“Our preparation has been awesome,” he added. “We absolutely dominated last week so I think Sydney FC is in for a great season.”
Sydney beat out a host of suitors to sign Gan, who comes to the club with the State Premier League-s prestigious player-of-the-year gold medal around his neck.
“I was going to the awards to have a good time and support the boys. I knew Sutherland had won a few of the major awards – and then to be notified on the night of the gold medal, it-s one of the highlights of my life. It-s a pretty prestigious award, so it was very exciting and a definite highlight.”
Despite the benefit of his Premier League experience, Gan knows everyone starts with a clean slate in the new National Youth competition.
“You could say I-m prepared, but now we-re up against a bunch of eleven players who are quality players,” he said “We-ve all been signed to play in this competition so we can-t really think just because we-ve been playing first grade that we-re going to pump these guys, that-s not the way it-s going to be.”
“The players are out there to win contracts, A-League spots, and have a bit of fun at the same time. Hopefully we can use our Premier League experiences in the Sydney squad and take it out there against these other sides.”
Saturday-s match will be the first of five Youth League fixtures that will be taken to Sydney-s football community, with one more match set down for Seymour Shaw Park and three at Cromer Park in Manly.
Entry to Saturday-s game in the Sutherland Shire will be free of charge, with gates opening at 1:30pm.
The round three clash with Adelaide kicks-off at 2pm.
National Youth League
Round 3 – Sydney FC v Adelaide United
Saturday, October 11 2:00pm
Seymour Shaw Park
The Boulevarde
Miranda
Gates open at 1:30pm – Free entry to all
