Miners ready to impress

THE Gympie Miners football squad has been buoyed by the attendance of A League stars Jimmy Downey and Tando Velaphi at training ahead of its season opening clash against Kawana tonight.

THE Gympie Miners football squad has been buoyed by the attendance of A League stars Jimmy Downey and Tando Velaphi at training ahead of its season opening clash against Kawana tonight.

Miners coach Jeff Manthey said the inclusion of the Perth Glory team mates at training had been a boost for the young players.

“We've had Jimmy (an ex Gympie junior) and his mate from the Glory training with us, and it has been brilliant for Gympie soccer,” he said.

“They have trained the boys hard and the team quite enjoyed it.

“It was great for the young kids.

“Jimmy will never change - it wouldn't matter if he was playing for Liverpool because he always says hello.”

The Miners coach is hoping the Perth boys' attendance will help spur his team on to victory tonight at One Mile against Kawana.

“Training has been pretty good this week,” he said. “I wasn't happy with the boys' attitude at training last week but they stepped up the effort on Tuesday night.”

Manthey said he hoped to use the speed and skill of his young team to outplay the strong Kawana outfit.

“Kawana used to be the top side on the coast,” he said. “They are really physical in one-on-one encounters.

“We need to keep the ball on the deck and run Kawana around the field dominating play with our speed.

“We don't want to get in to a slugging match.”

Manthey said back Ryan Smith wouldn't be playing tonight, meaning he had to reorganise the Miners' defence.

“Daryl Cash will move into the back line and Tate Smith and Patrick Taylor will be strikers,” he said.

The coach said his new midfield would have to communicate more if the team was going to impress.

“Danny Manthey and Liam Watson in midfield don't know each others' game enough yet, so if our motor doesn't work in the middle we can't win games,” he said.

“We have nearly got two new sides, it may be mid season before we play they we want to.

Reserve grade kicks off at 5pm and A grade at 7pm.

Originally published as Miners ready to impress