Macarthur FC head coach Mile Sterjovski is a softly spoken man, but there’s plenty of steel and determination behind that façade.
At his first interview this morning since the club announcement that he has signed a two year extension to coach the Bulls, the former Socceroo revealed that he has already started putting into place structures that will bring improvements in the longer term.
“Although some of the results haven’t gone our way, I’ve seen an improvement in the way we want to do things,’’ he tells the South West Voice in Macarthur.
Sterjovski, who took over the reins about a third of the season in, says it’s been a learning experience in some respects.
“You’re always learning in this position, learning about characters, and how things should be done,’’ he says.
“We are looking to doing things a lot better next season, be more consistent with our performances.’’
The Bulls, who will be in their fourth season in 2023-24, have experienced a large turnover of players, especially after the inaugural season, so we ask the coach if he’s happy with the current squad and will there be large scale changes in personnel at the end of this one – season three.
“We’re waiting to finish up the season, and we’ll have a good talk with the whole club, all the staff, to see where we’re at,’’ says Sterjovski.
“I think with every club there’s a chance of players moving on, and players coming in.
“We’ll analyse everything at the end of the season and move on from there.’’
One of the positives at Macarthur FC over the past three seasons has been the retention of a steadily increasing group of talented youngsters such as Lachie Rose and Jed Drew and others.
We asked Sterjovski if he sees that as an important component of building a club for success into the future.
“Definitely – having been part of the Bulls academy for a number of years I did recognise quite a few good players,’’ he says.
“It’s all about timing. We want to try and promote our youth, and give them a chance, but it has to be done right, at the right time.’’
Tomorrow night (Saturday, April 29) the mighty Bulls will run out on to Campbelltown Stadium for their last game of the season against Wellington Phoenix and there’s a lot riding on it.
Not that Sterjovski is fazed when asked a curly one by the Voice: At this point in time, on the eve of the last game of the season trying to avoid the wooden spoon, are you grateful there’s no relegation in Australian football?
The coach responds with a straight bat – no surprises there.
“At the moment I am not even thinking about that because it doesn’t affect us,’’ he says.
“We just want to win every match – we’re going to do our best to win tomorrow night and that’s all the focus has been on.’’
- The match is scheduled for a 5pm kick-off.
