It’s Round 12 in the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s competition and this week the league celebrates its history with Heritage Round.
This weekend's fixtures hold special significance as we honour the rich and diverse history of our great clubs. We hope you can join us in celebrating Heritage Round, which will feature some absolute cracking clashes, including the Match Of The Round that sees ladder-leaders APIA Leichhardt Tigers host a surging Sydney United 58 FC. This match will be live streamed on Saturday at 7:45pm on the NPL New South Wales Facebook Page so make sure to check it out!
It will be another big week of football with Sunday to feature five big matches.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC v Sydney United 58 FC, 7.45pm Saturday at Lambert Park
Heritage Round will kick off with a bang as league leaders APIA Leichhardt Tigers host Sydney United 58 on Saturday evening.
APIA has been playing quality football in recent weeks and will be hoping to make it three wins from as many games on Saturday.
Built around a hard-working midfield thanks to the efforts of Sean Symons and stifling defence with the rise of youngster Paul Galimi, APIA will look to break down Sydney United 58’s skilful attack.
United 58 go into the game with seven wins from their past eight games.
Mark Rudan’s outfit have rediscovered their killing instinct after a slow start to the year and, lead by the mercurial Panny Nikas as well as Matt Sim, will hope to continue their incredible resurgence.
This clash has the potential to be one of the matches of the season.
Sydney Olympic FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, 3pm Sunday at Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney Olympic FC returned to the winners circle last week against Sutherland Sharks and will be out to make it two in a row when they host Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Belmore Sports Ground.
Olympic has yet to find consistency this season despite showing glimpses of their ability throughout the first half of the season.
With the loss of inspirational skipper Yianny Spyrakis through injury as well as the departure of Max Burgess who looks to have signed a contract in Europe, the Blues will look towards the rise of Jinya An as well as Yu Kuboki for that kicker as well as unleashing the talents of young Tass Mourdoukoutas.
This week they host the resurgent Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Bonnyrigg claimed their second win of the season last week and are building in confidence after a horror start to the year.
Young striker Hasan Jalloh has been one of the star talents of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and will be a difference maker if the White Eagles are to spring an upset.
Jalloh along with Luke Ivanovic have been the finds of the season and will hope to continue their good form into this match especially after losing two more players to injury last week in the form of Zac Mackenzie and Martin Lo.
Manly United FC v Sutherland Sharks, 3pm Sunday at Cromer Park
Manly United will be out to rediscover their early season form when Sutherland Sharks come to Cromer Park on Sunday.
The boys from the Northern Beaches will be looking for nothing short of a victory against the Sharks after a frustrating 1-1 draw with Hakoah Sydney City East last round.
Nikola Taneski has really hit his goalscoring straps this season while the fantastic service supplied by Scott Balderson has been another highlight of the Manly squad.
Sutherland have not had a great first half of the season and new coach Grant Lee has an almighty challenge ahead of him if his is going to resuscitate the Sharks spluttering season.
If the Sharks can put together a 90-minute performance an upset is a real possibility.
Once again that push will come from their Japanese import Tomohiro Kajiyama who will hope to lead the Sharks attack to victory on Sunday.
Blacktown City FC v Hakoah Sydney City East FC, 3pm Sunday at Lilys Football Stadium
Blacktown City FC held strong last round against a relentless Sydney United 58 to record a hard-fought draw and will be looking to go one better when Hakoah Sydney City East come to Lilys Football Stadium
Mark Crittenden’s City side have been pace setters this season and will be determined to make up for their last gasp 1-1 draw with Hakoah in Round 1.
James Andrew has been an inspired signing for Blacktown this season and will once again be an attacking for City on the left wing especially with the injury to Danny Choi that will sideline the star till August.
Hakoah Sydney City East will look to once again build on their reputation as PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition giant killers with another upset result.
They’ve proved to be a tough team to beat and will yet again push Blacktown City to their limits.
Any slip up from Blacktown and Hakoah will surely punish their opposition's mistakes.
Wollongong Wolves v Parramatta FC, 3pm Sunday at WIN Stadium
Wollongong Wolves are desperate for a win to turn their season around and a clash with bottom side Parramatta FC is the perfect opportunity for Jacob Timpano’s side to secure all three points.
Wollongong have failed to live up to their preseason billing so far but with 11 rounds to play the Wolves have plenty of time to make their mark.
It is advice which could also apply to Parramatta FC.
Franco Cosetino’s team has struggled this season and been on the wrong end of some big score lines
WIN Stadium is a tough away trip and against a desperate Wollongong team it could be a long afternoon for Parramatta.
Rockdale City Suns FC v Sydney FC, 5pm Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre
After three straight defeats Rockdale City Suns will be out to end their recent slump with victory against Sydney FC on Sunday.
Paul Reid’s team has fallen back to reality after setting the pace for the rest of the competition during the first six rounds of the competition.
The goals have dried up for the Suns and with it so have the results. Rockdale will need to rediscover the magic touch in front of goal if they are to return to the top of the table.
The young Sky Blues will be hoping to capitalise on Rockdale’s form slump and their fast and expansive attack will be difficult to contain,
Another loss for the Suns could do serious damage to the team’s confidence and would drop them well off the pace in the chase for the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition Premiership.