Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Olympic FC

A trio of young players are the latest additions to Olympic FC’s Senior Men’s squad for the 2015 PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland season.

The club has confirmed teenage striker Dylan Wenzel-Halls has been secured to a senior contract, while Brisbane Roar NYL players Sam Cronin and Costa Psaros will also be part of the squad next year.

Olympic FC Head Coach Jim Bellas said the signings continued Olympic’s emphasis on providing opportunities for young players.

“That’s what it’s all about for us, bringing kids into our first team and then hopefully sending them onto the A-League,” Bellas explained.

“That’s what we want to do but we also have got to make sure that our first team stays competitive,” 2013 Grand Final winning coach added.

“These young players have to earn it and they have to be good enough. We’re not just putting them in because they are young, they have to compete for spots.”

Exciting youth talent Wenzel-Halls (pictured) repeated his new coach’s sentiments when asked what he hoped to achieve in his first full senior season at Olympic.

“It feels really good to be wanted by the club but I know I now have to work hard and learn as much as I can from the senior players,” the 16-year-old goal machine said.

Wenzel-Halls scored a remarkable 52 goals across three PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland age groups last season, progressing from Under 18’s through the Youth Men and ultimately earning a senior debut before netting his first senior goal against South West Queensland Thunder.

He said he was grateful for the opportunities provided by Olympic after previously struggling for opportunities at community club Lions FC.

“I didn’t get a whole lot of game time at Lions but coming to Olympic has helped a lot,” Wenzell-Halls explained.

“At Olympic they said I had the skill to play as a striker and said we believe you can and that’s given me the confidence to really play.”

Wenzel-Halls further explained that the inclusiveness of Olympic between all teams was also a telling factor in not only his success but the club as a whole.

“The first team players get down and help coach and they all talk to you and are really nice.”

“At other clubs (I’ve experienced) they haven’t done any of that and you never saw the first team players and the club just didn’t seem happy,” he concluded.

In other senior squad news, Olympic have confirmed that Luke Howell will not return with the senior squad next year.