Sydney FC tribe and tribulations

Weeks of speculation by both the fans and media has ended after the Sydney FC AFC Champions League 25-man squad was today announced Sydney now have a week to prepare before their first Group Stage challenge against Suwon Samsung Bluewings on March 2.

Coach Vitezslav Lavicka decided to call largely upon the Sydney FC youth team to fill the ACL squad, giving the youngsters valuable senior-team experience and a chance to shine whilst also fostering a developmental ethos within the club. This can only be a good sign leading into next season, which may not begin until October.

Such time will allow Sydney FC to overcome it's most recent hurdle, that of CEO Edwin Lugt's resignation. Lugt, who has held the position for only 18 months, will vacate the position upon completion of the ACL in May.

The former CEO of the Jupiler League (Dutch second tier) stated his intent for integrating the youth team with the first team last year to Goal.com, an intention that is only now, at the end of his reign, being fully employed.

“We had the A-League team with Vitezslav Lavicka, Tony Popovic and Michal Zach on the one hand and the youth league team on the other. There was insufficient connection between the two. Now we’ve decided to change, so we’ve got the youth league team under the A-League team.

“With Steve Corica running the youth league team, he is going to be mentored by the head coach and his assistants. Even if Vitezslav eventually would leave we’ve created a structure that should enable us to fill that position with a coach with similar qualities and philosophy.”

Whilst Dimitri Petratos has already been promoted to the first team through the Hyundai A-League season, six further players have been called up from Sydney's youth: Dylan Mitchell, Luke Austin, Joel Chianese, Blake Powell, Jared Lum and Nathan Sherlock.

In a few hours, the Sky Blue will face off with Sydney United in a bid to test these youngsters along with the key signings of David Williams and Andrew Durante. It is also the final chance Lavicka has to combine these new players with the established senior squad in a competitive, albeit friendly, fixture.