Adelaide United’s Head of Youth Football and Head Coach of the Club’s Youth Team, Airton Andrioli, expects another season of growth and development from an electrifying group of footballers.
The best young South Australian talent will open the 2023 RAA National Premier League against South Adelaide Panthers at ServiceFM Stadium, Gepps Cross.
Members of Andrioli’s previous squads have made a notable impact on the United senior team already this season, including Ethan Alagich, Nestory Irankunda, Panashe Madanha, Luke Jovanovic, Asad Kasumović, and Jonny Yull among others.
The squad will have to deal without Fabian Talladira and Sotiri Phillis who are with the Subway Joeys squad in Turkey for the U17 Antalya Youth Cup.
Musa Toure is waiting in the wings, and naturally, South Australia’s fine goalkeeping pedigree extends to young gloveman Ethan Cox while Steven Hall continues his recovery from a knee injury.
The level-headed coach was hesitant to single any players out when prodded, but the proof is in the pudding for Andrioli, who has a close relationship – and football philosophy – with first team Head Coach, Carl Veart.
“Our rapport comes from a number of years working together at FSA (Football South Australia) and we believe in the same things and have a great passion for youth football and training the next generation,” Andrioli said.
“Sometimes we don’t even need to talk – I know exactly what my role is and that is to prepare the players for him and for this Club, and he carries on this philosophy.
“It’s a very good set-up that we do have and I’m watching all the players coming through, and the coaches, so we’re always keeping an eye out across all the league so every young player can get an opportunity.”
United’s youth squad has been training for 14 weeks totalling almost 50 sessions, in what has been an intense body of work and conditioning that is almost identical to A-League level.
This includes movement up and down the ranks within Andrioli’s squad, a fact he notes is all a part of the process.
“Pre-season’s gone really well and the players have worked really hard up until this point,” Andrioli acknowledged.
“The progression of players up and down is all part of the challenge, but everyone is on the same page, and we promote that winning mentality regardless.
“It does put players in a situation where they have to think weekly, and also the major benefit of the NPL and our involvement is that it replicates the top Australian level here, which is so good for the development of these players.
“We do play in a certain way that is similar to our A-League team so when boys come down to play with us, and they often find out very late they are playing, they can adapt very quickly and think on the run.”
Andrioli expects a tough contest against South Adelaide first up, but it is one that his charges are relishing.
They will then face Comets away, before a tantalising derby against reigning champions, Adelaide City, in Oakden.
“We know that Panthers can be a tricky team to play, in a similar way to a lot of teams in this League that might sit back a bit.
“We’ll try and play the way we want to play and bring the game to them and wait for that transition moment.
“While we scored a lot of goals last season and we were pleased where we finished, though we conceded the same amount so we’ve been talking in detail about rectifying that.
“We want to be able to defend better, and with another year under our belts, I’m confident we can show this against several experienced players in this competitive competition.
“Results will take care of themselves if the players keep working hard and display the winning mentality throughout our Club.”
Full list of registered Adelaide United 2023 NPL Seniors and Reserves:
| Ethan | Alagich |
| Nathan | Amanatidis |
| Jay | Barnett |
| Bernardo | |
| Luka | Blazevic |
| Giuseppe | Bovalina |
| James | Carrocci |
| Yiorgos | Coutsoumbes |
| Ethan | Cox |
| Harry | Crawford |
| Luke | Duzel |
| Joey | Garuccio |
| Steven | Hall |
| Cameron | Harris |
| Nestory | Irankunda |
| Luka | Jovanović |
| Asad | Kasumović |
| Panagiotis | Kikianis |
| Lewis | Killoh |
| Fergus | Lynch |
| Henry | Lynch |
| Panashe | Madanha |
| Jean Paul | Mbembe |
| Patrick | McGregor |
| Bailey | O’Neil |
| Oscar | Page |
| Giorgio | Parhas |
| Sotiris | Phillis |
| Jake | Porter |
| Fabian | Talladira |
| Musa | Toure |
| Bae | Versace |
| Kane | Vidmar |
| Ryan | White |
| Jonny | Yull |
Match details:
2023 RAA NPL SA – Round 1
Adelaide United vs South Adelaide
Saturday, 18 February 2023, Kick-off: 3:00pm (ACDT)
ServiceFM Stadium
The South Australian Produce Market and State Government have partnered with Adelaide United to hold a charity football match to raise funds for primary producers and small related agricultural businesses impacted by natural disasters including the Murray River flood.
The match will be a curtain raiser for Adelaide United’s match against Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday, 19 February 2023 at Coopers Stadium, kicking-off at 12:30pm (ACDT).
To purchase tickets and donate, click here.
To donate, click here.
