Canberra Croatia entered the 2023 season with traditionally lofty ambitions and took to the field with a renewed sense of determination to eclipse the solitary trophy they won in 2022.
The previous campaign saw the League Champions storm to victory, claiming their 25th league title under the guidance of Head Coach, Dean Ugrinic.
With his appointment as Croatia’s man at the helm in 2020, Ugrinic brought with him the same success that has shadowed him for his 20-year coaching career, winning the 2022 Coach of the Year award.
“For me, Dean is the best coach in the league by far…he’s on a different level,” said Assistant Coach, Andy Rakic. “I’m happy to be his sidekick.”
Rakic himself, having grown up with, and played for Croatia, embodies the type of enthusiastic and success-driven personalities that associate themselves with the club and reflects this desire for success in 2023.
“I think their goal would be like every team in the competition. Not only win the league or win the Grand Final, I think we want to try and get the whole treble.”
Having won nine trebles in their history, the flow of multiple trophies in one season is not uncommon at Deakin Stadium, although this flow was upset last season after a Grand Final loss and an early Australia Cup Qualifying exit.
“It was disappointing to lose that [Grand Final] after winning by so many points,” Rakic said. “You could see how frustrated we were after the game.
“The early cup exit was just disappointing, it was hard…all credit to Woden, they came out with guns firing.”
In response to this loss, Rakic notes how highly the club values a deep run in the Federation Cup, and the proceeding qualification into the Australia Cup.
“For this club it’s the most important [thing], they [the club] really want to go far in this FA Cup [Federation Cup/Australia Cup]”
“To them [the club] it is more about the Australia Cup than the league…that is where you are up against all these other big teams, and possibly A-League teams [will be] coming to your club and bringing a crowd out.
“That’s what it’s all about…to put the name of this club out on the big stage.”
Looking ahead to 2023, Croatia have been hampered by key departures, particularly in midfield. Deakin’s young star Matej Busek has left the club after a successful season which saw him appear in the team of the season, as has stalwart Luke Pilkington.
“We lost him [Busek] to Central Coast Mariners…we are happy for him, that is the aim of our club- that is to build players up for this next level. Matej took that, he is signed over there, so he is doing well.
“The biggest loss to us was Pilkington,” Rakic said.
“He injured his knee…so that was the end of his career which was a shame because he was our key midfielder.”
“He, Matej and Ryan Keir, which was probably the best midfield in the league, now to try and fill those positions in is very hard, because they were already gelled into the system.”
In the void left by such important players, Dean Ugrinic has brought in Argentine Francesco Greco, who has impressed in preseason, and Tigers FC dynamo Daniel Sparrow.
“Those two are very good players…some say we’ve got a better team than we got last year.” Rakic said.
“Once they gel into the system, we’ll be able to comment on that, but last year’s team was phenomenal.”
In defence, the loss of promising talent Cassidy Tanddo will hurt, but keeping the likes of immensely experienced captain Matt Grbesa, and established youngster David Seselja offers a degree of stability for a second consecutive title charge.
The retention of Croatia’s dynamic attacking duo, in Golden Boot winner Daniel Barac and league stalwart Stephen Domenici, offers positivity heading into the new season. The club have added depth in attack, bringing in such talents as Kaz Patafta, Alessandro Pena, and Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu.
With the success of Croatia’s hugely talented U18 squad, Rakic notes of the continuing opportunities that will be afforded to the club’s youth players.
“Dean loves to give his young boys a chance… I am saying 17-year-olds, 18-year-olds, we have 16-year-olds that are all getting a chance, and that is what the club’s about, building these young players up.”
With so many personnel changes, Ugrinic’s side must be afforded time to gel, while tactically, Assistant Coach Andy Rakic insists that the club’s approach will stay unaltered, attributing the success of last season down to the Head Coach’s managerial style.
“Dean goes week by week, there are things we work on, ways we want to play, but it all comes down to the opposition,” he said.
“He studies the team, we watch videos, he knows the way these other teams play, he knows what to work on.”
Croatia will back up their title defence on BarTV Sports, where you can watch every Capital Football NPL match live.
Words: Sam Watson
