Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Keith Eigeland/Football Queensland

Veteran Palm Beach Sharks defender Kristian Rees will offer his experience to his young teammates ahead of tomorrow night’s Westfield FFA Cup tie against Sydney City Hakoah.

Rees, 34, previously played with Gold Coast United in the Hyundai A-League, following stints with Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United, where he won the competition’s inaugural Premier’s Plate in 2006.

The towering centre back is expected to be partnered in the Sharks defence tomorrow night by former Phoenix teammate Karl Dodd, who joined the club mid-season.

Sharks travel to Sydney tomorrow and Rees explained he will pass on advice to his teammates to make sure they are well prepared for the biggest match in the club’s history.

“There’s a lot of excitement and a lot of young boys in the team, so they’re really excited about it but they just got to stay calm and look at it as another game,” said Rees.

“It will be a tough game and, when you take travelling the same day, you’ve got to be careful of your hydration and your eating and things like that. So I will be having a chat a few of the younger boys.”

Heavy rain on Saturday saw Sharks clash against Brisbane Roar NYL at Perry Park called off an hour before kick-off but Rees said that decision was actually a blessing in disguise for himself and key midfielder Troy Ruthven.

“We had a few boys on yellow cards, I am on four and so is Troy Ruthven, so a wet pitch playing against a sharp Roar youth team was a good chance of sliding in and copping a yellow and missing the cup game,” he explained.

Rees played last season with community club Burleigh Bulldogs in the Gold Coast Premier League before joining Sharks for the current NPL Queensland campaign, and the veteran explained it was the love of the game that kept him involved.

“For me it’s my outlet. I work now but football is in my blood. I’ve done it since I was seven year’s old,” Rees said.

“The biggest thing for me when Gold Coast United finished was the comradery and not being around a good group of boys and having a good laugh. It clears my head and I just love being around it.”

Rees said he wasn’t sure if he will continue to play next season, and was keen to end the season with silverware.

“There’s not a lot of time left in my legs so I’m making the most of it and I really do cherish every minute I’m out there training and playing.”

“I will weigh it up at the end of the year and see how I’m going. It’s hard with work and a young family to get out and train three night a week,” he concluded.

Palm Beach play Sydney City Hakoah at Hensley Athletic Field in Sydney tomorrow night in the Westfield FFA Cup. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30pm.