Following a disappointing end to their 2014 campaign, the Pythagoras’ women will be looking to turn over a new page, under the new management of Women’s Premier League coach of the year John Kyrgios. The Corner Flag sat down to talk to him about his history, expectations, and philosophy.
Marc Sudholz (M): Hello John, we were wondering if you could talk us through how the Box Hill job come about?
John Kyrgios (J): How the Box Hill job come about? Very, very simple. The people that run the show there just rang and they asked me whether I was interested to go across [from Heidelberg], and help out, and we had a bit of a chat, communicated and it came to fruition. That’s how it came about.
M: Can you tell us a little bit about your background in coaching?
J; Last year I was coaching Heidelberg, I was at Heidelberg for four years, and two of those years I coached the senior team. In those two years, last year we got into the Grand Final and were unsuccessful, the year before we got into the preliminary final, I think, in the finals series. So I’ve done that. I’ve coached at senior women’s level, at reserves and so forth, back at Doncaster Rovers, and I’ve also coached senior men, and also some juniors many, many years ago.
M: What are you looking forward to bringing to Box Hill this season?
J: Box Hill is a very, very big club. It’s got a huge history, it’s been in the forefront of women’s football for a long time, since the WPL has in fact been formed. For whatever reasons last year, it didn’t go so well, and basically, we’re there to help, and bring Box Hill to a level where it should be.
M: So what is that level, what are you season goals for the team?
J: The season goals for the team, really is, we’re definitely aiming to make finals, that’s for sure, I’ll say that up front. Where we end up remains to be seen because obviously [we’re] rebuilding; we’ve got many new players, and also many players that we’ve got there as well, so it’s just a process that we’re going through at the moment. [Hopefully] we can get everyone to blend, and combine together to make the whole unit strong, and see where it takes us.
M: Touching on those signings, who are they, and how do you think they can add to the existing squad that you inherited?
J: The squad that’s there is very, very capable. The players that have been signed up – Penny Bakopoulos, Angie Rassias, Renee Zairas, Elise Kyrgios – there are a variety of players, predominately some defensive players, so we can shore up the defence quite considerably. There’s also some midfielders, and there’s also some players up front, which is really good. Adding to the quality players that we had last year, we’ve got a fairly, a very competitive squad I’d say.
M: And a cup run would obviously be ideal as well?
J: Yeah, definitely. In everything that we participate in, we’re in it to do very well in, and the cup is no different.
M: Heading into Round One against Bundoora, how are you going to approach that game?
J: Bundoora is obviously a very, very talented side. They’ve got a lot of experience and some ex-Melbourne Victory girls. They play a good brand of possession game football. The way we’re gonna approach it, well we’ve thought about the way that they will be playing, and we’re gonna try to counter that as much as possible.
So we’ve got a way, a system of play or a philosophy that we’re gonna follow, and we’re not going to change too many things due to our position. Although we respect them and we’ll have a look at what they do, but if anything we might tweak simple things in the way that we play, to combat their strengths basically.
The long-awaited start to the Women’s Premier League comes this Sunday as all 12 teams fight it out in a gala of footballing action. Box Hill United take on Bundoora United at 5:15pm at Broadmeadows Valley Park in the second set of games for the afternoon.