Brisbane Strikers star and former A-League player Jonti Richter has welcomed yesterday’s announcement of the FFA Cup, describing it as a different kind of football.

The announcement was met with excitement by staff and players alike at the Strikers, including Richter who played for Brisbane Roar and New Zealand Knights in the A-League’s first two seasons.

While the FFA Cup proper starts in July, NPL Queensland clubs must first qualify for the round of 32 main draw by competing in the recently launched Football Queensland Cup, which has already commenced it’s early rounds featuring community clubs around the state.

Richter, who primarily plays on the right wing for Strikers, is busily preparing for Sunday’s opening match against Redlands United, but said the FFA Cup is warmly welcomed by his teammates, who will relish the challenge of knock-out football.

“In the NPL, and QSL before that, we haven’t really had a knock-out competition apart from the finals, but knockout games are definitely a different kind of football,” Richter said.

“To be playing in a league and a knockout competition – I think that will help strengthen our competition by providing more games, more competitive games, and a bigger variety of opposition.”

Richter explained the FFA Cup would provide a strong incentive and a tremendous opportunity for amateur and semi-professional players to impress coaches of professional clubs.

“Just like you see with the FA Cup, for instance, in England - any time an amateur club or semi-professional club gets to play against professionals it adds an extra dimension”, Richter said.

“And obviously, for a lot of young guys in our side it gives them a chance to test themselves and see what they’re up against or where they want to be.”

“There’s always that thought in players’ minds that, if we can knock these guys off, what does that mean to me in terms of maybe making the step to the next level?”

“There’s maybe a different incentive for myself, but I can see how there’s a massive incentive for any player when we come up against an A-League team.”

Strikers head coach Chay Hews, who is embarking on his first year as a coach after a long a decorated playing career, said the new competition almost made him regret hanging up his boots at the end of last season.

“The good thing is it gives us more games for the boys. It gives us a chance to maybe have a look at the younger guys and give them a run as well,” Hews said.

“But, in saying that, it’s a competition we’d like to go pretty far in. I’d certainly like to do well in it as a coach - I’d love to have played in it as a player!”

“I’m pretty sure the guys will relish the opportunity to try and get through those early rounds and see how far we can get.”

 

Words: Steve Pitman (Brisbane Strikers)
Image: Tony Dadsen