The Limestone Coast will be the centre of soccer this weekend as several local clubs host Adelaide sides as they contest the Hahn Australia Cup.
Gambier Centrals, Apollo, International, Portland and Naracoorte United all entered in the Australia Cup and drew against clubs from different divisions in Adelaide with these games being the Preliminary Round 3.
Gambier Centrals v Adelaide Olympic FC
Gambier Centrals are set to face Adelaide Olympic on Saturday at 6.30pm on their home turf.
Olympic currently plays in the State League 1 after being relegated from the South Australia National Premier League last season.
The Lions will look to build on a successful 2024 this year, after making the grand final they will be out to make it back there with this game seen as the first step.
Gambier Centrals Head Coach Scott Dickson is pleased with how his side is looking ahead of the match, with some new additions added to the team.
“We’re going into the season this year with a few new inclusions, it’s a bit of a rebuild after last season and I’m really delighted with the players that have come over to the club and positively contribute to the culture of the club and see us push on all fronts in 2025,” he said.
Dickson will be using this game as a real challenge for his side as they take the pitch against a top quality opponent.
“Because the match sits in that early preseason space I’m really keen to challenge the lads and to see what we can achieve as a group,” he said.
“It’s not just about an early preseason game for us but it’s about being able to stretch yourself and challenge yourself against a high quality opposition.
“When you go into a competition like this you do not know who you’re going to draw so you could get an easier draw or a more challenging draw but at the end of the day you go in it knowing full well that at some point you’re going to come up against a very, very difficult team and that’s exactly what we have drawn.”
Dickson is confident his side will do their best against Adelaide Olympic and will use this game as a learning opportunity.
“It’s one of those games where you’re going out to just do the very best you can and look at how we can monitor growth and how we can take our chances when they present themselves and just do the best we can, it’s all about learning,” Dickson said.
“We’re delighted that we have drawn Adelaide Olympic, a really special club with wonderful history and we’re really looking forward to welcoming them to the region.”
Apollo v Adelaide Croatia Raiders
Apollo are set for a clash against Croatia Raiders this Saturday as they will host the travelling side at their Webb Street home.
The Raiders currently play in the National Premier League South Australia and sit ninth on the table.
Adelaide Croatia has a rich history of winning with a large trophy cabin of silverwear as well as some special players like former Adelaide United young gun Nestory Irankunda who came through the ranks at Croatia and is now currently on loan to Swiss Super League side Grasshopper after being signed by German powerhouse Bayern Munich.
Apollo will be heading into this match and overall season with a fairly new and younger side than last year.
Apollo head coach Daniel Sribar said the senior side is in a partial rebuild with a few new faces.
“We’re looking a lot more youthful than we did last year and that would be seniors and ressies combined,” he said.
“We have had a few faces come and go, both from internal and external so we’re at a point where we’re building.”
Sribar is looking for his side to have a competitive match and give it their all.
“We’re looking to be competitive, I would like to see Apollo show some character,” he said.
“I would like to see our boys to really not take their foot off the pedal and keep going to the end and I would like to see them give it everything they can for the club.”
Overall Sribar hopes to have a competitive match against a quality side in the Raiders.
“I’d like to say that we will be competitive, but at the end of the day it’s also NPL vs Limestone Coast Football League, so there is a big difference,” he said.
“But it’s a bit like English football with the magic of the cup so they might come and not travel in a full squad and anything is possible.”
Kick off for Apollo’s match will be at 4.30pm on Saturday at Webb Street.
International v Adelaide Titans
International Soccer Club is set to host the Adelaide Titans at Casadio Park on Sunday at 2pm.
The Titans currently play in the State League 2 in Adelaide where they have been a successful club.
Inter are coming off a great season last year which resulted in them taking home the premiership with this match set to be a great challenge for the reigning champs in their preseason.
Inter Head Coach Tony D’Agostino said his side is looking good ahead of the match despite being less prepared than most of the Adelaide clubs.
“We’re in our preseason and just getting into some matches whereas teams in Adelaide are already nearly starting their season so it’s always a disadvantage to us in country areas but we know that and we knew that going into this cup,” he said.
“We have been working pretty hard at it, the players have all been turning up and we have had extremely good numbers and they’re all keen.
“Getting to play at home gives you a bit of an advantage because the players who are not usually available due to work can now play and we should have a pretty full squad.”
D’Agostino is hoping to have a good showcase of the talent from the Limestone Coast and aims to highlight Inter’s depth.
“For me the recognition of what we have down here as players is the big thing that we want to highlight and the Limestone Coast has a good standard of football,” he said.
“I think it’s been building over the years and people are starting to recognise that by the different things that are happening down here.
“So what we want to do as a club personally is to highlight that we are one of the powerhouses of South East football and hopefully that one day we will build up and be known as a club that can compete with the Adelaide teams and what we’re doing is as good as the metro areas.”
D’Agostino believes if his side plays at their best then they will have a good shot at coming away with a victory.
“If we can play to our best I think we should be able to match it with them, they are a good team and I do not really know much about them,” he said.
“I have read about some of the players so they’re not going to come out here expecting to lose and they want to progress like we want to, so were expecting it to be a really tough game.
“If we can match them and hold with them then we have got an opportunity of winning this game.”
Portland v Croydon Cougars
The Portland Panthers are set to take on the Croydon Cougars this weekend in the Hahn Australia Cup.
Croydon currently play in Division 2 of the SAASL and have been a competitive club with several good players in the competition.
Portland Head Coach Troy Jensen said his side is looking solid heading into the match with good player availability.
“We’re looking very strong, everyone’s pretty well available which is good so we will go in full strength,” he said.
Jensen believes the match will be a good experience for his side as they go up against a robust opponent.
“It should be a good experience for the players to go up against a decent quality opposition,” he said.
“It will be good to see how teams from higher leagues prepare themselves for the match and the standards they set for themselves.”
Heading into the match Jensen believes his side will go in as underdogs with a chance of an upset.
“I think we will go in as underdogs, but it’s 11 on 11 at the end of the day so anything can happen,” he said.
“So I think we’re in for a chance for a shake up.”
With the game in Portland, Jensen hopes to have a good crowd for the match.
Naracoorte v The Cove FC
Naracoorte United are set to face The Cove FC this weekend in the Hahn Australia Cup.
The Cove FC hails from the Adelaide suburb of Hallett Cove.
The Cove have been a successful club lately, being crowned champions of the State League 2 last season, which resulted in being promoted to the State League 1 this year.
Narracoorte, on the other hand, struggled a lot last season in the Limestone Coast Premier League, going winless for the season.
Despite being underdogs in this match, Naracoorte will be looking to get off on the right foot and start their preseason well as they head into the 2025 season.
