Winning a football match is always special, but when you put one over your old club in the process, it feels doubly so. That was the outcome for Croatia defender Tony Spaseski on the weekend as his current team, Canberra Croatia, outscored his olde teammates, Tigers FC 4-0 at Deakin Stadium.
“I think it was one of the better performances not just from myself, from the whole team,” Spaseski said of the victory played in wet and wild conditions. “I had probably a couple of difficult weeks, the last few, especially with that loss against Gungahlin United, conceding five really hurt but we are definitely happy with keeping a clean sheet this week.
The build-up to the game was focused on improving defensively from the erratic nature of the concession of five at home to the Gunners and the earlier season loss to Tigers, which Spaseski admitted, although preferring to focus on how the team have been performing as a whole.
“That was one of the build-ups of the whole week” Spaseski commented. “They got one over us and it really put a dent in our 100% record at the time, so yeah everyone was very happy to come back and look for revenge.”
“We have been flying at the moment, I think a couple of the senior boys really, with the contribution of a mix of different age groups, the senior boys are really carrying us over this, and we are very confident going ahead in the season.”
Even as a defender, Spaseski was able to get two assists in this game, contributing excellently to most areas of the game.
“It’s kind of ironic because the whole build up this week was to be really defensive,” he said. “We’ve got Jack Peraic-Cullen on the left side of me, and then I happen to get some assists and it’s like, how ironic is that? It was against our plan, but it just happened to be how the game built up, and defensively we started catching break so I’m happy with that.”
Spaseski enjoyed his stint at his former club Tigers but he’s happy to have beaten them with no hard feelings off the pitch.
“Once they turned us over, obviously I’ve got nothing but respect for Cooma. The whole committee with them, Nicky, Harry, and Nick Tanini are fantastic, but it was good banter with them as well after. To get one back over them so build up the trifecta the next game will be definitely a good one to watch.”
Spaseski highlighted how top tier Croatia, and the team are right now, noting how well they are doing this season and the excellent quality of the players allowing them plenty of strength in reserve on the substitutes bench,
“It’s actually like I don’t think I’ve been part of a squad where it’s like the old saying, it’s like you’re taking off a Ferrari and bringing on a Lamborghini, just have no give with anyone,” Spaseski said of the squad depth.
“I think that’s what the big thing for us this year has been. I had a bad performance with the cup final against Queanbeyan, and week after I see myself looking at the bench. You’ve always got someone behind you, begging for that position, working hard, so really the intensity of training, everything’s just top notch so I’ve just never really experienced that before.”
Canberra Croatia are next in action this weekend when they meet Monaro Panthers in a top-of-the-table clash at Deakin Stadium with the match commencing at 17:30. You can watch this game, and all matches from the NPL olive and free on the capital Football YouTube channel.
Words: Maddie Shrewsbury
