Macarthur FC are on the brink of a historic achievement, but hardly anyone has noticed.
Bulls, who are now coached by EPL legend Dwight Yorke, have advanced to the final four of the Australia Cup courtesy of a 2-0 home win over the Phoenix in Campbelltown last Wednesday.
They will next head to Victoria to take on local National Premier League (NPL) club Oakleigh Cannon FC in the semi final.
Should they dispose of Oakleigh, the Bulls will play the winner of the match between NSW NPL side, Sydney United 58 FC, and A-league’s Brisbane Roar.
If the Bulls win the Australian version of the FA Cup they will automatically qualify for the Asian Cup.
In other Macarthur FC news, the club says it will establish a direct player pathway from junior grassroots football to its Isuzu Ute A-League team with the launch of the Bulls FC Academy side in 2023.
The academy team will compete in the National Premier Leagues NSW next season following a merger between Northbridge Football Club and Macarthur FC.
Having operated as a joint venture for the past two National Premier League seasons, Bulls FC academy will become a single entity from the start of the 2023 season with Macarthur FC managing the technical direction of the football program.
Bulls FC Academy will be run as a non for profit entity. It will oversee the women’s programs from SAP under 10s to NPL first grade women, boys’ NPL pre-academy, the men’s NPL programs from under 13s up to the NPL1 first grade team.
As part of the establishment of Bulls FC Academy, Socceroo legend Mile Sterjovski will remain head coach of the men’s NPL1 team while former Young Socceroo Corey Gameiro to remain technical director of the youth programs.
“Another A-League academy means more opportunities for young kids and another pathway to the top,” says Bulls FC Academy technical director Corey Gameiro said.
“Kids will have the chance to train in an elite environment through our NPL boys program into Mile’s NPL1 team. Once playing under Mile, they are only one tap on the shoulder away from breaking into the A-League.”
Since forming a joint partnership in the 2021 season, three players have been promoted from Northbridge’s NPL team into the Macarthur FC Isuzu Ute A-League Men’s squad.
In A-League news, the Bulls have bolstered their already impressive attacking line-up with the signing of Georgian international striker Bachana Arabuli.
The 28-year-old joins the Bulls after signing a deal for the 2022/23 season, with the option to extend his stay until 2024.
A powerful and mobile centre-forward, Arabuli moves to South West Sydney from the Greek Super League.
Since making his international debut in 2017, Arabuli went on to make seven appearances for Georgia.
“He’s coming in with a terrific goal scoring record. He’s someone we looked at. We like his style, he’s unique, he’s left footed so he gives us a bit of a different dimension,” said head coach Dwight Yorke.
“We feel that he will be another good addition to our squad and that makes us more competitive in all areas of the pitch. We want to create a healthy competition among the players and having Arabuli here will certainly do that,” Yorke said.
He joins a Bulls attack that has emerged as the joint best in the final rounds of the Australia Cup this season, having found the net 12 times on their march to the semi-final of the knockout competition.
