With the first of the competition’s high-profile marquees set to feature against two-time Hyundai A-League Champions Brisbane Roar tomorrow night, vice captain Shane Stefanutto has urged the public to be at Suncorp Stadium for the round four clash.
With the first of the competition-s high-profile marquees set to feature against two-time Hyundai A-League Champions Brisbane Roar tomorrow night, vice captain Shane Stefanutto has urged the public to be at Suncorp Stadium for the round four clash.
Western Sydney Wanderers and their international marquee Shinji Ono will line-up against the Roar having not yet scored a goal in their inaugural campaign but Stefanutto admits the new boys are better than their record suggests.
“I think they were really good against the Mariners in their first game and they-ve been unlucky since,” he said.
“With these start-up teams, you-re never quite sure what you-re going to get on the day but I-m sure they-re excited to come to Suncorp.
“It is a little unknown so I think the best thing to do is not to concentrate on what they-re doing but on what we-re doing.
“I think everyone is making a point of how they haven-t scored yet so I think that-s a motivating factor as well.
“In the A-League, it-s never going to be an easy game and we-re preparing for a really tough match.”
Japanese football legend Ono should prove a tough test for Brisbane-s defensive stocks and Stefanutto said there was one particularly excited member of the Roar camp.
Yuji Takahashi, on a season-long loan from Japanese club Kyoto Sanga, is a huge fan of his fellow countryman and is expected to be on the bench after making his Hyundai A-League debut last weekend against Wellington Phoenix.
“The young boy Yuji is very keen to say hello to him!” Stefanutto said.
“I know him from his Feyenoord days and he-s a fantastic player.
“I hope all the Japanese public in Brisbane come out to watch him because like this year with Del Piero and Emile Heskey, these are special times for the league and special times for Brisbane with these personalities, superstars, whatever you want to call them to be coming to Brisbane.
“It-s a fantastic opportunity for the public to get out and see not only the Brisbane Roar but the travelling party as well.”
Besart Berisha shrugged off suggestions of a mid-week injury, taking full part in this morning-s training session, meaning the Brisbane striker could equal a club Hyundai A-League goal-scoring record of 25 if he finds the back of the net against the Wanderers.
Brisbane Roar host Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday, 27 October. Kick-off at Suncorp Stadium is at 6.45pm Tickets available from Ticketek.
