Port Melbourne Sharks coach Eric Vassiliadis has set down his ambition for the National Premier League Victoria 2014 season, believing that the team has the potential to win it.
The Sharks kicked off their campaign by sharing the points with Dandenong Thunder in a 2-2 draw, thanks to a brace to new Northern Irish signing Kevin Braniff.
Unfortuntely for the home side, Dandenong scored two quick-fire goals to come back almost immediately and steal a point away from the Sharks, but even with that small setback, Vassiliadis maintains his side are in it to win it.
“I’d be crazy to think that we can’t [win it this season], with a little bit of luck,” Vassiliadis said.
“Our focus is to get off to a good start but I’m confident that if we continue to work on what we’re working on then there’s no doubt that we can go all the way.”
Kamal Ibrahim was one of the standout performers on the night, and he looked deadly for the Sharks throughout the match.
The former Melbourne Heart player impressed his coach with a strong performance, and Vassiliadis is delighted to have kept hold of a player with so much ability.
“I felt Kamal [Ibrahim] showed flashes of where he can get to,” he said.
“I’m really happy that he got through 90 minutes and I’m positive if he maintains that momentum, he’s going to win games of football for us.
“I’m really rapt to have him at our football club.”
With the first match now out of the way, Vassiliadis can now continue his ambition to lift the inaugural NPL trophy, and is excited about the potential the new competition brings.
“I’m really excited to be a part of this kind of revolution, as a coach, the game’s just progressing so that’s super,” Vassiliadis said.
“[The Heidelberg vs. South Melbourne game] is what football is meant to be and the challenge for all of us is to sustain that endeavour and ambition.
“Across the board we can see that the NPL and this new structure, this new dawn is very exciting for everybody so I’m looking forward to it.”