O'Connor Knights promote youth for Olympic NPL clash after 'disappointing' false start

There will be cevapi rolls aplenty when the Knights make their long-awaited return to top-tier soccer for the first time in 13 years against Canberra Olympic at 3pm. It will also be the Knights' homecoming at their ground at O'Connor.

"We are very happy about finally playing on our home ground for the first time since 2009, because all those other sporting organisations that played at O'Connor over recent years, only we carried the name as part of our club," Knights coach Miro Trninic said.

"For us it's a very big day and hopefully the weather is going to hold up."

The mood for the Knights' NPL return was soured slightly last weekend when the Wanderers had their first round match against the Knights postponed, as Capital Football's COVID-19 regulations allow, if four or more players are ruled out due to the illness.

However the Knights, short several players too, were frustrated by the move which kicked off a "chain reaction" in the lower grades.

"I don't think it was fair," Knights coach Miro Trninic said. "We dropped one player from the first team and they dropped seven, and because of that we lost the under-23 game 3-0. But then it was a chain reaction.

"Their under-23 team dropped a few players to under-18s and then they dropped players to the under-16s."

The Knights said they too were dealing with players being unavailable, and will face a similar hurdle this week against Olympic, but they would never consider putting off the first team fixture as there is enough depth in a squad.

"Against the Wanderers we were missing five starters and we are missing six starters from nine players this week, but we aren't thinking about cancelling because of that," Trninic said.

"We will give our best even though we are missing a large group because of injury and other boys being unavailable. All clubs have 23 registered players, so if it's three, four or five missing, we've still got many players to choose from and you can put 16 players on the team sheet."

Trninic said he and the club have been "really disappointed" with Capital Football's response, but the sporting body have put the matter to bed. The Knights now turn their focus to Olympic and the challenge presented with so many young players being promoted to the O'Connor first team for the clash.

"We will approach the match with respect to Olympic because they are one of the best and oldest clubs in Canberra's history," Trninic said. "But I told my boys, to believe in themselves and that's how we're going to treat that game.

"On Saturday I will have one player from under-23s, a 17-year-old and he will start in the first 11. He will be one of five players aged under 20 starting the game. We believe in our youth and want to give the boys a chance."

Meanwhile, Matildas fans will be able to meet the team at their free fan day on Sunday at Viking Park. Training begins at 10am followed by a signing session, family-friendly activities, skills sessions run by Capital Football and prizes to be won.

ROUND TWO NPL MEN'S FIRST GRADE FIXTURE

Saturday

West Canberra Wanderers v Belconnen United - Melrose Synthetic Field 1, 2.15pm

O'Connor Knights v Canberra Olympic - O'Connor Enclosed Field 1, 3pm

Canberra Croatia v Tigers FC - Deakin Stadium, 5pm

Sunday

Gungahlin United v Monaro Panthers - Gungahlin Enclosed Oval Field 1, 3pm

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