Perth Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi says the club is looking at this weekend’s clash with Sydney FC as a fresh start to its Hyundai A-League campaign.
Velaphi looks set to become the third Glory goalkeeper used this season after both Frank Juric and Jason Petkovic were in goal for the first seven matches, conceding 20 goals between them as the club sits bottom of the table with just one win to its name.
But after a torrid week both on and off the track following last round’s 4-0 loss to Melbourne, Velaphi says he and his team-mates will relish the pressure this weekend as both the Glory and Sydney look to end the mini form slumps that have derailed their seasons.
“I think there’s pressure every week, no matter where you go to, who you play,” Velaphi said before training on Tuesday.
“You just got to step into it as another game and do your best and enjoy the experience I think.”
“You look at the first seven rounds, (they were) probably not the greatest but we’ve got a positive attitude and we realise it’s time to pick things up a bit.”
“So I think that kind of starts this week and we’ve been working really hard over the last 10 days and now’s our time to show it to the supporters and to the people that knock us about a bit,” he said.
Twenty-one-year-old Velaphi may not have shown his wares in the senior squad so far this season, but the Australian Olympic team representative captained the Glory in the first two National Youth League matches, keeping two cleans sheets and helping the side into equal top spot on the table.
Although he knows it’s a step up from that competition to facing the likes of John Aloisi and Mark Bridge, Velaphi is confident the games he’s played have prepared him for whatever Sydney can dish out.
“I think, the Youth League’s very positive,” said Velaphi. “And, people in my situation, not being able to play in the first team, get a few runs in the youth team and obviously being able to push for the first team is fantastic.”
“Sydney (though) is another quality outfit, (but) I think we’ll just work out at training, get some tactics that will help minimise their (striker’s) impact and I think we’ve just got to concentrate on our game as well.”
“(For) you can’t really worry about the other players, you’ve got to concentrate on your own performance ’cause that’s what you can control and that’s what we got to go out and try and do.”
The Glory’s under-fire defence could be bolstered by the return of former Socceroo Hayden Foxe for this weekend’s encounter at Members Equity Stadium.
Foxe hasn’t played this season after aggravating a previous foot injury during the Pre-Season Cup clash with Melbourne. But the veteran defender turned out for a half in the Jamie Harnwell testimonial match win over State League side Sorrento on the weekend and should play if he pulls up well from that performance.
Brazilian playmaker Amaral also trained on Tuesday and appears to have recovered from a hamstring strain, while Velaphi’s Youth side team-mate Adrian Trinidad looks likely to be included in the senior side after scoring a brace for the Glory in their 2-0 win over Melbourne’s National Youth League side.
