Teenage defender Kye Rowles says the Central Coast Mariners owe it to the fans to end a tumultuous Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season on a high over the next three weeks.
And if they can manage a win on Saturday in Brisbane, it will put a huge dent in his former club’s finals hopes in the process.
Rowles, 19, is in his first season in Gosford after joining the club from Roar where he got his first taste of professional football.
In an injury-plagued season, the Australian U-17 representative has made eight appearances but shown he has the ability to be a star of the future for the club.
After earning 90 minutes against the Champions, 19-year-old Kye Rowles is ready to face his former club, @brisbaneroar this Saturday! #CCMFC #BRIvCCM pic.twitter.com/fdHkYPDocA
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 27, 2018
While the Mariners’ finals hopes ended a few weeks ago, Rowles said there was no way the side would be going through the motions over the final three rounds.
“This is the most important time of the season,” he said.
“We all want to prove that we can hold our own in the league and show our worth. Hopefully I can play the rest of the games this season and show to not only myself but everyone else that I am valuable to the Mariners.
“We definitely deserved more this season, so do the fans.
“These next three games are for the fans and to repay their faith. Hopefully we can end on a high and have a few positives going into next season.”
The first of those final three games is on Saturday afternoon against the Roar at Suncorp Stadium.
John Aloisi’s side is currently one point outside the top six and will – privately at least – see a clash against the ninth-placed Mariners as a great chance to pick up maximum points.
And while Rowles is indebted to the club for giving him his shot in the Hyundai A-League and AFC Champions League, he would love nothing more than to get a win against them.
“I can’t wait to verse the old club. Hopefully, I can do my best and I’ll definitely give it my all,” he admitted.
“For me, when the draw came out the games against Brisbane were the most eye-catching. Hopefully we can get the win.
“I might message a few of the boys from Brisbane as we get closer and I’m sure there will be a few little words exchanged on the pitch.
“I’ve loved every minute of my time here on the Coast,” Rowles added.
“Even when I was injured, the culture of the club and the boys here, the staff and the fans, it feels so tight and I couldn’t ask for a better place to be.”
