Come kick-off on Sunday, Cassio knows his friendship with Glory midfielder and former Reds captain Travis Dodd will be put aside.
As Adelaide United prepares to face Perth Glory on Sunday, Cassio knows his friendship with Glory midfielder and former Reds captain Travis Dodd will be put aside come kick-off.
The Reds- difficult season opener over in the west against a Glory side determined to make an early statement has added interest following Dodd-s move to Perth at the end of last season.
Dodd-s decision to head to Western Australia came after he featured in all six previous Hyundai A-League campaigns with Adelaide United, and now what more enticing way to open the teams- respective seasons than to have the attacking midfielder go up against a club that he led to the AFC Champions League Final and the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 decider.
While the 2011/12 edition of the Reds- squad has a host of new faces that arrived after Dodd left Adelaide, one player that has been at the club for the majority of his tenure is Cassio. The reigning Adelaide United Club Champion shared in the majority of games during Dodd-s journey at the Reds, but now they find themselves on opposite sides of the fence and are likely to come up against each other on Sunday.
“I tried to call him (Dodd) a couple of times last week but he didn-t pick up – I think he-s already nervous,” Cassio said jokingly.
“We-ve known each other for nearly five years and we-re close friends, but you know that when you go out there to play, everyone wants to fight for their club and do their best, and I-m pretty sure he-ll do that for Perth and I-ll do that here.”
Cassio-s comments come after Dodd laughingly said earlier in the week he was expecting a hostile reception from his friend and former team mate. More than happy to continue Dodd-s tongue-in-cheek banter, United-s pocket rocket said he would likely give his former team mate some ‘friendly- words come kick-off.
“I-ll try to disturb him as much as I can, but Trav is my boy and he-ll probably try the same with me, he-s already messaged me a few times, but it will be good and I-m looking forward to it,” Cassio said.
“It will be interesting, especially for him. He-ll want to play good and most importantly win, but we have to do our job and it will be a really tough game, but we-ve been working hard for the past four to five months and we-re going there to get a result.”
It will definitely be a game and a match up worth watching. The Reds- match against Perth Glory will be LIVE on Fox Sports and broadcast on ABC Radio.
