The second tier of football in Canberra and the surrounding region is, once again, shaping up to be a humdinger of a race for promotion to the National Premier League. Here we take a look at how the teams a shaping up ahead of the new campaign.
ANU FC
Ground: ANU South Oval
Head Coach: Tom Crossley
2023 League Placing: 3rd
Finals: Preliminary Final
Australia Cup Qualifying: Quarter Finals
ANU FC are always there, or thereabouts, when the final reckoning is counted come the conclusion of the Capital Premier League season, and there is little reason to doubt that the astute Tom Crossley, and his group, won’t challenge for top honours and promotion to the National Premier League once again. The club often have a large turnover of players, the nature of the University team makes that almost inevitable, but Crossley managed to keep the mainstays of the group together last term and will be keen to do so again. A run to the last-eight in the Australia Cup Qualifying, and a Preliminary Final place, is surely achievable once again, but a better finish to the campaign is necessary. A 0-6 hammering by Yoogali in the penultimate match of the finals series was a massive let-down for all concerned, and Crossley will have been viewing that video nasty in an attempt to make sure there is no repeat this time around. Expect a push for finals, and a concerted go for the title.
In: James GRANDY (West Canberra Wanderers), Christopher JOHN (West Canberra Wanderers), Jonathan JOHN (West Canberra Wanderers)
Out: Matt RICE (Canberra Juventus)
BELCONNEN UNITED
Ground: McKellar Park
Head Coach: Angelos Zaris
2023 League Placing: 5th
Finals: Did Not Qualify
Australia Cup Qualifying: Semi-Finals
The Blue Devils face a second season in succession in the Capital Premier League following their relegation in 2022, this time under new leadership in Angelos Zaris who joins the club from White Eagles. For a club of the stature of Belconnen United, the McKellar Park side have won twenty major top-flight honours in their history, stagnating at this level is simply not an option. There is still a core crop of players from last season, where after reaching the semi-finals of the Australia Cup Qualifying competition, they faded to finish outside the finals places in fifth spot, whilst Zaris has brought in youthful talent to augment the older heads that remain which include the evergreen Dustin Wells. There’s been a raft of big-name departures as the Blue Devils evolution rolls-on, but nothing less than finals, and a promotion tilt will satisfy their demanding, and expectant fanbase.
In: Stefan AVRIC (White Eagles), Joel BAIRD (White Eagles), Jake BISHOP (Tigers FC), Jamie-Lee GUO (Gungahlin United), Tim NGUYEN (Tigers FC), Alex OGBONNA (Sabbatical), Babin PAUDYAL (West Canberra Wanderers), Matt PURCELL (Tigers FC), Sasha VUJIC (Sabbatical)
Out: Taylor BEATON (Retired), Lachlan BROWN, Phil BORGEAUD (Interstate), Will BUCKMASTER, Robbie CATTANACH (Retired), Charlie D’ADDARIO, Bailey DICKINSON (Gungahlin United), David MCCARRON, Liam RAE, Michael SOUTHAM (Tigers FC)
BRINDABELLA BLUES
Ground: Ipan Park
Head Coach: Ray Junna
2023 League Placing: 4th
Finals: Elimination Final
Australia Cup Qualifying: Round 4
Start better! That must be the calling card for Brindabella Blues who, not for the first time, took a while to get into their stride in 2023 before finishing strongly and earning a place in the Finals where they were defeated in the Elimination shoot-out. Should the Blues solve their early season woes they just might be dark horses for a tilt at promotion as Head Coach Ray Junna fields a settled side that has been enhanced by the addition of proven talent at this level. Whilst it didn’t work out for Cuneyt Caglar in the NPL with Tuggeranong United, he has scored plenty of goals at this level and might provide an extra spark for the Blues up top, whilst the recapture of the talented Jack Marjoribanks is a coup for the club. Jacob Ayuel and Daniel Felizzi bring pace, skill, and verve to the squad who have seen promising youngster Jayden Deighan-Smith depart for the Newcastle Jets A-League U23 outfit.
In: Jacob AYUEL (Tuggeranong United), Daniel FELIZZI (Queanbeyan City), Cuneyt CAGLAR (White Eagles), Ben CARLING (Canberra Olympic), Jack MARJORIBANKS (West Canberra Wanderers)
Out: Jayden DEIGHAN-SMITH (Newcastle Jets U23), Emmanuel EZENWA, Dhuel NYARNHOM, Luke OLIVER (Interstate)
CANBERRA JUVENTUS
Ground: Anslie Oval
Head Coach: Jono Zalunardo
2023 League Placing: 8th
Finals: Did Not Qualify
Australia Cup Qualifying: Round 4
Canberra Juventus have ambition. A debut season in the Capital Premier League ended with the ‘newbies’ in bottom-place but having gained the experience of what it takes to be successful at this level. With that new-found knowledge in mind, Head Coach Jono Zalunardo has approached the transfer market to add more steel, creativity, versatility, and goals to his squad. Nathan Duck led from the front with thirteen goals in 2023, bit the next nearest scorer only managed two and that means the addition of Nick Roufagalis from West Canberra Wanderers and Petar Regulic, formerly Varga, a Goalscorer of renown a few years back, will hopefully ease the burden on the prolific Duck. The signature of midfield general Adrian Macor from Australia Cup Qualifying Finalists Canberra Olympic is a massive statement of intent, and his influence should be massive. Expect Juventus to be much more competitive this time around.
In: Frazer BURNS (Tuggeranong United), Jordan CACHIA (White Eagles), Nicholas CACHIA (Monaro Panthers), Adrian MACOR (Canberra Olympic), Peter PHILLIPPA (Tuggeranong United), Petar REGULIC (Unattached), Matt RICE (ANU FC), Josh ROBERTS (Interstate), Ari ROUFAGALIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Nick ROUFAGALIS (West Canberra Wanderers)
Out: Caleb CULLEN-RUA, Jason DENHAM, Geordie FREEMAN, Andre JUGOVAC (Monaro Panthers), Noah LOGAN (Canberra Olympic), Nathan MATTHEWS (Sabbatical), Van NGUYEN (Coaching), Bradley OLIVERA (Coaching), Brodie SIMSONS (Interstate), Thai TRAN (Retired)
QUEANBEYAN CITY
Ground: High Street
Head Coach: Goran Josifovski
2023 League Placing: 2nd
Finals: Runners-Up
Australia Cup Qualifying: Round 3
Every year Queanbeyan City are touted amongst the favourites for Capital Premier League success and promotion to the top-flight and a place in the National Premier League where they, and their loyal and vociferous supporter-base, feel like they belong. However extenuating circumstances often decree that this ambition falls by the wayside, last year it was a run of seven matches that yielded a paltry six points from a possible twenty-one. As usual, City will enter the season as one of the heavy favourites and, with the teams around them appearing to be in a state of flux, there may never be a better opportunity to turn the promise into a reality. The signing of midfielders Hayden Tunney and Dejan Santrac adds energy and guile, whilst snapping up Misko Naumoski from Gungahlin United will offer balance on the left, a goal threat and a set-piece expert.
In: Liam GILMORE (Interstate), Bruno HERRRA (Tigers FC), Steven KRESKAS (White Eagles), Misko NAUMOSKI (Gungahlin United), Hayden TUNNEY (Canberra Olympic), Dejan SANTRAC (White Eagles)
Out: Daniel FELIZZI (Brindabella Blues), Goran MUKEVSKI, Connor NOLAN, Nik NOVESKI
WAGGA CITY WANDERERS
Ground: Gissing Oval
Head Coach: Andy Heller
2023 League Placing: 6th
Finals: Did Not Qualify
Australia Cup Qualifying: Round 4
All change at Gissing Oval as Wagga City Wanderers approach the 2024 campaign with several new signings, mostly snapped up from the local competitions in, and around, Wagga Wagga. This includes a trio of players from South Wagga and Lake Albert FC, respectively. Replacing the talismanic figure of Jake Ploenges up top will be a tricky test, the striker plundered a dozen league goals in 2023, leading the line with his physicality and energy but in the returning Jacob Ochieng, and the influence of Morris Kadzola, Wanderers may have the answer. New Head Coach Andy Heller will have a plan devised for that scenario and will also have to juggle the usual travel requirements for an interstate-based team that will be spending many hours on the coach, or in the car, in 2024. As always, will be tough to beat at home and belligerent when playing away.
In: Wyatt ADAM (South Wagga), Natheer AL-HASSAN, Lachlan BRACKEN (Wagga United), Caelan GRAY (South Wagga), Angus HOCKING (South Wagga), Chris KAVANAGH (Horndean, UK), Jacob OCHIENG (Sabbatical), Mohamad RAHIMI (Lake Albert), Nathan SINGH (Albany), Adil SULAIMAN (Lake Albert), Muzban SULAIMAN (Lake Albert)
Out: Tyler ALLEN (Interstate), Chase DONNETTO (Leeton), Nick FORSYTH (Coaching), Alvaro KELECHI (Interstate), Jake PLOENGES (Coaching), Charlie WITT (Interstate), Kyle YEATES (Coaching)
WEST CANBERRA WANDERERS
Ground: Melrose Synthetic
Head Coach: Bernie To
2023 League Placing: 8th (NPL, Relegated)
Finals: Did Not Qualify
Australia Cup Qualifying: Quarter Finals
A new dawn at West Canberra Wanderers as Bernie To steps into the breach of a club that slumped to relegation into the Capital Premier League after failing to secure as much as a single point in a devastating 2023 National Premier League campaign. The Wanderers became the third team after Tuggeranong United and Belconnen United to suffer the ignominy of demotion to the second tier and will begin the new campaign with a new-look group. That’s in the main due to the departure of almost every player that pulled on the red and black stripes last term as the club that celebrates its tenth Anniversary this year seeks a rebuild, and a renewal of fortunes. Being successful in the CPL requires speed, stamina, and steel, a combination that will be vital for a twenty-one-match campaign. The sooner the group are able to foster a team spirit, and playing style, the better they will be, although a title tilt, and immediate return, might be a bridge too far this soon.
In: Toby CANELL (Northern Rangers), Bradley CASHMORE (ADFA Vikings), Virgil MOUTAUD (Yangcheon TNT FC), Nathan READMAN (Weston Molonglo FC), Jamie SPINKS (ADFA Vikings), Jamie VAN DEN BERG (ADFA Vikings)
Out: Thomas BARBATANO, Valentin CHEVREAU, James GRANDY (ANU FC), Daniel GROVE (Tuggeranong United), Christopher JOHN (ANU FC) Jonathan JOHN (ANU FC), Lewis KAMINSKI (Wollongong United), Jack MARJORIBANKS (Brindabella Blues), Panos MOROGIANNIS (White Eagles), Kristian NEL (Tigers FC), Ibrahim OBEID (Tigers FC), Babin PAUDAYL (Belconnen United), George PAVESE (Giffith), Jem POWER (White Eagles), Roy ROMEO, Jayden RIPPON (Gungahlin United), Tahn RAINBIRD (Sabbatical), Nick ROUFAGALIS (Canberra Juventus), Patrick SHORE (Canberra Olympic), Philip TALESKI (Monaro Panthers), Harry TRUMAN (Canberra Olympic), Liam VICKERS (White Eagles), Jay VLAZLOVSKI, Joshua YOUNG
WHITE EAGLES
Ground: Woden Park
Head Coach: Dom English
2023 League Placing: 7th
Finals: Did Not Qualify
Australia Cup Qualifying: Round 3
A seventh-place finish in the Capital Premier League was certainly not on the agenda for White Eagles, a proud club with a storied history who are determined to try and force their way back into the top-flight, a place where they feel their club needs to be. To achieve that lofty aim, the club needs to add more firepower to the squad, the loss of nine-goal leading scorer Zac Lawrence to Tuggeranong United in the National Premier League, leaving a gaping whole up top something that a team that went five games without a goal at the tail-end of 2023 can ill-afford. There’s a change in the leadership as Dom English, part of a coaching partnership at West Canberra Wanderers last season, strides out on his own to lead this proud club which boast a great following and a wonderful matchday experience. Whilst the fans might expect a challenge for the finals, a new-look squad make take some time to gel.
In: Riley ANGELOSANTE (Tigers FC), Braulio MELO, Bruno MELO, Panos MOROGIANNIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Jem POWER (West Canberra Wanderers), Liam VICKERS (West Canberra Wanderers)
Out: Stefan AVRIC (Belconnen United), Joel BAIRD (Belconnen United), Jordan CACHIA (Canberra Juventus), Cuneyt CAGLAR (Brindabella Blues), Callum COOK (Tuggeranong United), Steven KRESKAS (Queanbeyan City), Zac LAWRENCE (Tuggeranong United), Dejan SANTRAC (Queanbeyan City)
*Team In and Out are subject to confirmation and are compiled utilising the player’s club from 2023. If there is no destination next to the players name, their club or whereabouts for 2024 are unknown.
