He’s enjoyed a professional football career spanning 18 years, but Mile Sterjovski is still enjoying expanding his football horizons.
He-s enjoyed a professional football career spanning 18 years, represented the Socceroos at a FIFA World Cup, and won league titles in Switzerland and Australia, but Mile Sterjovski is still enjoying expanding his football horizons.
The well-travelled attacker who has played for Clubs in France, Switzerland, Turkey, England, China and Australia, is currently relishing his first ever visit to Indonesia as part of Central Coast Mariners- 2013 Menpora Cup squad.
The experienced 34-year-old believes a footballer is never too old to broaden his or her knowledge of the global game.
“This is the first time I have come to Indonesia so I am enjoying the experience,” Sterjovski said. “It-s good to play in a tournament like this and test ourselves one month out from the A-League season.”
“It-s a great tournament to have to see where we-re at at this stage of our pre-season.”
Despite being keen to soak up the opportunity to prepare for Hyundai A-League 2013/14 abroad himself, Sterjovski reckons it is the Club-s youngsters who stand to benefit most from the international excursion.
The former LOSC Lille and FC Basel man is highly regarded at the Mariners for his mentorship of Central Coast-s rising stars, and is generous with his time for players eager to improve.
“I think they should just take in as much as they can,” Sterjovski said when asked of his best advice for youngsters on pre-season tours. “They-re coming into a new environment and get to see how different it is to Australia.”
“I have been in this situation quite a few times so any information that they can get from myself or any of the older players is very beneficial for them going forward.”
The Mariners commence their 2013 Menpora Cup campaign against Sriwijaya FC from South Sumatra at Stadion Jalak Harupat in outer Bandung on Friday afternoon (local time).
Sterjovski explained that the reigning Hyundai A-League Champions won-t be taking the 2012 Indonesian Super League winners lightly.
“We-re expecting a hard game,” he said. “As far as I know they won the league back in 2012, so they-re a consistent team and it-s not going to be an easy game for us.”
“They-re obviously used to the conditions here, so that-s going to be a big test for us, but we-re looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we can put up a good game.”
Throughout the 2013 Menpora Cup Sterjovski may well lock horns with numerous players whom he has battled on the international stage before.
Sterjovski played against Sriwijaya FC skipper Ponaryo Astaman in internationals held in Australia in 2005 and 2010, as well as Persib Bandung players Firman Utina (2005 & 2010) and Muhammad Ridwan (2010).
Central Coast Mariners 2013 Menpora Cup Squad:
1. Justin Pasfield (Gk), 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Marcel Seip, 5. Zachary Anderson, 6. Brent Griffiths, 7. John Hutchinson (c), 8. Nick Montgomery, 9. Mitchell Duke, 10. Marcos Flores, 11. Nick Fitzgerald, 12. Liam Reddy (Gk), 13. Hayden Morton, 14. Michael McGlinchey, 15. Storm Roux, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 17. Anthony Caceres, 19. Matt Simon, 21. Mile Sterjovski, 22. Tom Slater
Central Coast Mariners 2013 Menpora Cup Match Schedule:
Friday 20 September, 2013
Sriwijaya FC vs. Central Coast Mariners FC
Stadion Si Jalak Harupat
Kick-off: 3:30pm local (6:30pm AEST)
Twitter: #SRIvCCM
Sunday 22 September, 2013
Malaysia U23 (“Harimau Muda”) vs. Central Coast Mariners FC
Stadion Si Jalak Harupat
Kick-off: 3:30pm local (6:30pm AEST)
Twitter: #HMvCCM
Tuesday 24 September, 2013
Persib Bandung vs. Central Coast Mariners FC
Stadion Si Jalak Harupat
Kick-off: 6:30pm local (9:30pm AEST)
Twitter: #PBvCCM
