Phoenix skipper Ross Aloisi has an inside tip for fans. A 17-year-old Kiwi winger named Costa Barbarouses is going to light up football in this part of the world and could even move overseas.
“What I see is a potential player who will move overseas. He’s got that quality and I know under Ricki he’ll be coached well. I mean I’m 34 and I’ve learnt a ton of stuff, imagine what this boy will learn under Ricki?” Aloisi tells au.fourfourtwo.com.
“Costa’s very, very raw - looks like he’s never been coached before. But he’s very quick, good on the ball and comfortable. The more I see of him the more I like him, and I like him a lot.”
Fans on the Central Coast will get to see Costa, Ross and the new Phoenix for a first time this Saturday in Gosford. And it's free.
They play a pre-season cup fixture with the Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford this Saturday (July 14). Kick off is at 6pm, gates open at 5pm. Admission is free of charge, with all spectators encouraged to donate to local charity Give Me 5 For Kids at the gate.
“Gee, every time I give Costa a wrap he ends up doing something stupid!” laughs the Phoenix captain. “He’s a really, really nice kid though and he he’s an exceptional talent,” he says of the teen recently named in FourFourTwo's Ten Best Players Outside The A-League feature.
Aloisi says he’s settled into Wellington very well and can’t wait for game one of the A-League against, ironically, Melbourne Victory. Last time the fiery Aloisi played, he was red carded against the champions in last February’s grand final.
“We won’t be defensive, that’s for sure,” vows Aloisi. “Especially with the players we’ve brought in, we’ve got a lot of offensive minded, exciting and fast players.”
However, New Zealand’s biggest football star, Blackburn’s Ryan Nelson is unlikely to be in a Phoenix shirt any time in the short term after the tall defender signed a long term deal with the EPL outfit.
“Costa’s very, very raw - looks like he’s never been coached before. But he’s very quick, good on the ball and comfortable. The more I see of him the more I like him, and I like him a lot.”
Fans on the Central Coast will get to see Costa, Ross and the new Phoenix for a first time this Saturday in Gosford. And it's free.
They play a pre-season cup fixture with the Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford this Saturday (July 14). Kick off is at 6pm, gates open at 5pm. Admission is free of charge, with all spectators encouraged to donate to local charity Give Me 5 For Kids at the gate.
“Gee, every time I give Costa a wrap he ends up doing something stupid!” laughs the Phoenix captain. “He’s a really, really nice kid though and he he’s an exceptional talent,” he says of the teen recently named in FourFourTwo's Ten Best Players Outside The A-League feature.
Aloisi says he’s settled into Wellington very well and can’t wait for game one of the A-League against, ironically, Melbourne Victory. Last time the fiery Aloisi played, he was red carded against the champions in last February’s grand final.
“We won’t be defensive, that’s for sure,” vows Aloisi. “Especially with the players we’ve brought in, we’ve got a lot of offensive minded, exciting and fast players.”
However, New Zealand’s biggest football star, Blackburn’s Ryan Nelson is unlikely to be in a Phoenix shirt any time in the short term after the tall defender signed a long term deal with the EPL outfit.
