Image: Mark Avellino
When Green Gully faces off against Canberra Olympic tonight in the FFA Cup quarter-finals, some local knowledge may go a long way to helping their cause.
Arthur Papas’ assistant coach Shaun Ontong is a Canberra native, born and raised in the ACT. The former Australian U20 captain featured for Belwest and Belconnen United, and the AIS, before embarking on an A-League career which injuries cut short.
Papas and Ontong are good friends whose partnership extends to stints in India and Oakleigh Cannons, with both now working overtime to prepare their squad for a shot at the semi-finals of the competition.
However, despite his focus on the job at hand, the trip to Canberra also acted as a bit of a homecoming for the 29-year-old.
“It’s great to see some familiar faces, my parents, people that I’ve grown up with here. I haven’t been here in a while and haven’t had anything to do with football for a while here,” he said.
“Yesterday I caught up with the president of Canberra FC who opened his facilities for us [the game isn’t held at Olympic’s home ground] and he was very welcoming.”
Important business awaits Green Gully tonight, and Ontong says since touching down, the team has settled well and is prepared despite having not played competitively in almost a month – August 30 was their last fixture, beating Melbourne Knights in the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, their opponents have been involved in the Capital’s NPL grand final – winning their second consecutive championship – before playing the national NPL finals, in which they lost 3-2 to Brisbane Strikers.
Part of Gully’s preparations have included a friendly behind closed doors against Melbourne Victory, who in turn were preparing for their contest against Bentleigh Greens tonight.
“We were always going to prepare as well as we can – it can be difficult when playing a team interstate but we’ve seen a few of their games and I’ve worked with a few of their players before with coaching. I know enough about the league. They’re a very strong team and have been successful all year,” Ontong said.
“It’s something you have to manage. You’re playing a team that’s come off the NPL grand final then flown to Brisbane to play, so they’re playing a final every week. And it’s another one against us. So they’re very prepared when it comes to competitive standards.
“For us, it’s something we’ve had to manage. We’ve played a few practice matches and it’s about juggling intensity in training. It can be difficult but it’s a good challenge to have in regards to we’re still in this competition and have all to play for.”
The ACT has produced a number of highly regarded Australian players – the likes of Carl Valeri, Tom Rogic and Jason Geria have also recently plying their trade in Melbourne – amongst other current and former internationals and A-League players Ned Zelic, Joe Simunic, Nikolai Topor Stanley, Steve Lustica and Nik Mrdja.
The likes of Andrew Barisic, Dane Milovanovic, Kofi Danning, Mouad Zwed and Daniel Bennett are Canberran NPL Victoria connections in recent times.
Ontong is a firm believer of the potential of football in the nation’s capital, and with the W-League featuring a Canberra team, he believes the same can be achieved in the A-League in the future.
“It is a small city but they do love football. And you can see the passion what it means to these smaller clubs and they have managed to produce some really good players and I think it will continue to happen. They have all the platforms to be successful and it’s a great place to grow up and play.
“I’ve always thought with the right people, administration and backing it can be in the A-League. You’ve got enough talent in this area, add in the right foreigners and some interstate players you definitely can have an A-League team. There’s the right setup here for it, and the way football has grown you’d have the support for it, and I’d love to see it.
In the meantime, however, he has his sights firmly set on tonight’s match.
Despite previous successful senior coaching experience in women’s football with Boroondara Eagles, he admits his season as Arthur Papas’ assistant with Green Gully has been a whirlwind and something he wants to continue at least in the near future.
“I’m still at a stage where I’m learning, and working with a coach like Arthur I learn every day and enjoy it.
“Last year it because difficult to juggle both Oakleigh and Boroondara, but this year I’ve been fortunate to be in the system at Green Gully. Beyond that I’m not sure, I’m not thinking too far ahead because I’m happy here.”