Newly appointed FNQ FC Heat Head Coach Peter Tokesi is hoping to replicate his successful tenure in the Queensland State League after being appointed as senior Head Coach of the Cairns-based club.

Tokesi, who guided the Mareeba-based Bulls to a second-placed league finish in the QSL’s final year, replaces Martin Docherty at the Heat helm after Docherty stepped down due to the personal reasons.

While renowned for his coaching exploits in the far north of the state, Tokesi will be most familiar to Brisbane-based football fans from his time in the National Soccer League, playing for Brisbane City before working as an assistant to Frank Farina during Brisbane Strikers 1997 Grand Final winning season.

Tokesi said he was looking forward to his first NPL Queensland season, describing it as “an exciting challenge.”

“The National Premier League, in terms of standards, it’s a very high competition, particularly with more Brisbane teams coming in,” Tokesi said.

“But the challenge is exciting, the players love that and I do too,” he added.

Tokesi identified garnering further support from the far north football community as a priority for the upcoming season.

“I suppose the big challenge is getting the community behind (FNQ FC Heat) and I think we’ll do that with performance on the pitch.”

Tokesi will run his eye over potential Heat talent as the club commences trials and training from Monday.

Words and Image: FNQ FC Heat