Welcome to A-Leagues Life, where KEEPUP brings you all the latest news and goings on at your club. This is how the week is shaping up across the A-Leagues and beyond.
Wherever Adelaide United go, Red Wig Steve isn’t too far behind.
Steve Cervaro is a constant in the Adelaide active section at home and away games and is almost impossible to miss with his aforementioned red wig.
However, on Friday night following the Reds’ 3-2 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium, things took a turn for the worst. Red Wig Steve was involved in an incident on his way back to the hotel and had his wig stolen, detailing the incident on his Instagram page on Saturday.
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“R.I.P Red Wig, last night unfortunately will be remembered for the wrong reason. After the game and celebrated with the players we all parted ways. I was honoured to be invited by the RBTV for a post game interview. I had a great time and met many wonderful people,” he posted on his Instagram.
“Then I left the stadium and started the walk back to the hotel. Walking through the park with other people around I noticed a group of casual youths. I was on high alert especially 2 of them started to follow directly. They asked me for a photo which I said no and I’ve never said no before. As other people asked for photos which I said yes, these 2 youths asked again.
“I let my guard down. As the photo was taken the guy jumped and attacked me knocking me to the ground. They bolted with the wig.”
In the same post, Cervaro also thanked the RBB (Red and Black Bloc) leadership group, who walked him back to his hotel and even ordered him a new red wig.
“As I got to my feet I had lost my glasses. People ran to help me out. There was a lady who witnessed the incident who happened to be the wife of the guy who interviewed me on RBTV. She rang her husband and within seconds the RBB leadership group arrived. They were AMAZING,” he continued.
“They did not leave my side. They even walked me to my hotel room lift. I won’t lie last night has ROCKED ME to the limits. There’s sooooooooooo many people from the RBB I want to thank but THANK YOU to the RBB leadership group for looking after me.
“They have already paid and ordered a new Red Wig. Much love and respect for you all. Please please please refrain from labelling the RBB as 1 whole group. Unfortunately those who attacked me are wannabes fans.”
Former A-Leagues forward scores a whopping nine goals in 17-0 Australia Cup win
Don’t rub your eyes, pinch yourself or think there was an extra digit left in the scoreline.
Avondale began their 2023 Australia Cup campaign with a whopping 17-0 victory over Men’s State League 3 north-west (Victorian sixth tier) side Diamond Valley United in the fourth round of Victorian Australia Cup qualifying on Tuesday night.
Diamond Valley’s job was made all the more difficult when five players – including their goalkeeper – had to pull out last minute and were replaced by reserves. Avondale, meanwhile, played a close to full strength lineup.
Nine of those goals – yes, nine – were scored by ex-Western United and Central Coast Mariners striker Manyluak Aguek, who scored six of them before half-time.
Rounding out the scorers were Liston Diaz (two), Dillon Jakupi (two), Yusuf Ahmed (two), Yitay Towns and Blake Carpenter.
However, Aguek was the star of the show at BT Connor Reserve.
The 23-year-old started his career at Caroline Springs George Cross, before having stints at South Melbourne and Kingston City which led to him being signed by Western United’s academy in 2020.
In a shortened 2021 NPL3 Victoria season, Aguek scored 12 goals in 14 games for the academy side and even earned his Isuzu UTE A-League debut off the back of his exploits, making two substitute appearances at the tail-end of the 2020-21 season.
“My playing style is just; score goals, celebrate for the fans and enjoy yourself,” Aguek told the Western United website in 2021.
Aguek then made the move north to Central Coast Mariners in the 2021 off-season – where he only featured once last season – before heading out on loan to Avondale for the 2022 season.
He has since returned to the Avengers on a permanent deal in 2023, scoring two goals in six appearances this campaign, including one last weekend against Melbourne Knights – making it a whopping 10 goals in only four days!
The attacker also had a brief one game stay in the U21 side where he slotted an astonishing five goals against Moreland City.
His form has also caught the attention of the South Sudan national team, having been called up to their preliminary squad for the March window of African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Bouzanis’ Reading edge closer to Championship drop zone after points deduction
It’s going to be a tough road to the finish of the Championship season for Reading goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis and his teammates after the Royals were slapped with a six point deduction.
Reading were slapped with the punishment overnight for breaching the English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules. The latest sanction relates to the club’s failure to meet the terms of a business plan which was agreed following a precious breach in 2021.
The initial breach resulted in a six-point deduction, with an additional suspended six-point penalty for this season – which came into effect overnight after the most recent failure to comply with the plan.
They are the first EFL team to be subject to a review by the newly formed independent Club Financial Review Panel and will be required to agree to a new budget for next year’s season.
Reading have also been under a transfer embargo since the European summer of 2021 due to the initial breach.
Paul Ince’s side now sit in 20th on the table on 40 points, only a point above Huddersfield Town (39) who are currently in the relegation zone along with Blackpool (35) and Wigan Athletic (34). They have also gone winless in their last six games.
Bouzanis, a former Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers goalkeeper, has made eight appearances in all competitions this season for the Royals.
Roar defender announces her retirement
Brisbane Roar defender Jessie Rasschaert has announced her Liberty A-League retirement.
Rasschaert made her top-flight debut in 2019 with Canberra United at 32 years of age, before joining Brisbane at the beginning of last season. The 35-year old made 31 appearances over two seasons at the Roar – scoring one goal which came in a 1-0 win over Adelaide United this season.
“This decision hasn’t been an easy one to make, I love soccer, it’s been part of my life since I was eight years old,” Rasschaert said.
“But the time finally feels right to close the book on this part of my life so I can start to focus more on other things like my work and family.”
Rasschaert said she’s proud of what she’s been able to achieve throughout her A-League Women’s career with both Canberra and Brisbane – while balancing motherhood and being a physiotherapist.
“I’m not going to lie, its hard juggling soccer, work and being a mum,” she said.
“It gets a little hectic at times, but somehow you manage to balance it all and I am proud of what I have achieved in my short professional career.”
Rasschaert will continue playing the game locally in NPLW Queensland.
Extension for Wanderers midfielder after breakout season
Western Sydney Wanderers’ Liberty A-League season came to an end on the weekend, but they are already getting to work on restructuring their squad.
Midfielder Bethany Gordon re-signed until the end of the 2023-24 season, after a breakout campaign with the Wanderers – where she made 18 appearances and scored two goals.
“I’m from Western Sydney, (I am) very proud to be from Western Sydney, so to be able to represent all of the members and fans that come and watch our games, it’s what I’m here for,” she said.
“Putting the jersey on for the first time, I obviously felt a connection with it, but throughout the whole season that connection has grown. From seeing the members and fans come in, and where we’ve gone from round one to round 20, it’s definitely grown even further.
“I’m hoping to build on what we’ve had at the back end of the season, wanting to progress with the team, with the staff and hopefully be there in the end of the season happy with where we’ve finished.
“Moving forward, we want to build as a group together, staff and players, and it’s going to be a good season ahead.”
Meanwhile, striker Sheridan Gallagher had her contract mutually terminated after making 21 appearances and scoring two goals in two seasons at the club.
