From Monaro Panthers FC
Monaro Panthers FC have announced a new look Men’s Premier League Coaching Team for next season. In an approach that sees the Club continue to follow the strategy of maintaining stability of the top level coaching staff, Lloyd Hewitt will step-up from a successful couple of years in the U/20 post to take on the role of Head Coach. Lloyd will be assisted by Pepe Lopera, in his 3rd year in this post, whilst Simon Wells, fresh from his FFA A-Licence accreditation, makes a welcome return to Monaro to enhance the senior team.
Continuity of coaching staff is also apparent in the U/20 and U/18 domains with Jim Baxter and his assistant Danny Babic moving to the U/20 grade, and Dom English, Hewitt’s assistant at U/20 level this year will coach the U/18 team. Furthermore, Graeme Plath will be continuing in a mentoring capacity at the club.
Hewitt inherits a balanced and well-structured senior program that will continue its focus on getting the best out of ambitious, hard-working and high-performing players. Central to the Program will be three coaching sessions per week that utilises the FFA National Curriculum to provide a learning and development environment to produce footballers equipped for the modern game. The Program is supplemented with a busy and varied pre-season and entries into the Capital Football U/20 summer competition and Kanga Cup.
On his appointment Hewitt stated: “This is a really exciting time for the Monaro Club; five of our six Premier League outfits made finals in 2016 and we will be looking to exploit this success with the development of a young and hungry squad in 2017. The coaching team brings together a wealth of football knowledge, with experience that spans the local game, Australia and the UK; we will be looking to challenge our players to fulfil their promise and build on the great platform that Graeme Plath has left us. I’m extremely proud to be taking on this role and will be looking for us to be a competitive force in the Club’s 50th anniversary season.”