Daniel Simic signs to Mackay and Whitsundays Magpies Crusaders for 2022 season
After leaving the sport part way through last season, the newest Crusader has rebooted his soccer career at a new club. Read about all of Magpies 2022 signings here.
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A move for work has opened up the chance to resurrect a top-level sporting career for the Magpies Crusaders’ most recent signing.
Daniel Simic will be an important piece in Mackay and Whitsundays’ plans for 2022, with the hard-working defender signing on for the 2022 season.
The Airlie Beach police officer said he was looking forward to restarting his stagnant career.
“I had my best pre-season coming into last season, but unfortunately I got to the halfway mark and work became to juggle with football so I had to pull the pin on the second half of the season,” he said.
“Now that I’m a qualified police officer I can be back playing again, and once I made the move to Airlie Beach, the coach got in contact with me and asked if I was interested in signing on.
“I had moved up for work so it’s great the Magpies Crusaders were interested in me, because the move was more work-related than for football.”
Simic left Capalaba FC and joins a number of new signings ahead of the 2022 season, with new coach Brian Murphy optimistic of promotion opportunities.
The centre back said he was excited to work with his new coach.
“It seems very exciting what he wants to build at the club, he’s got great plans and the players he’s bringing in are all really good players,” he said.
“He’s coming off a high with his premiership win in New Zealand, Mackay and Whitsundays obviously struggled last season but the players he’s bringing in weren’t a part of that.
“Hopefully by bringing in different types of players there’s a lifestyle change around the club and positive things start to happen.
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Juggling football and university is not uncommon in semi-professional sporting leagues, but a new Magpies Crusaders recruit will find it more difficult than most.
Anthony Goweid will spend 2022 attacking opposition defences in the Queensland Premier League for Mackay and Whitsundays, while also learning how to save lives as a medical student.
The attacking midfielder will split his time between Townsville, where he studies medicine, Proserpine, where he is on placement, and Mackay, where he is an important signing for his new football club.
“I’ve made the commitment to the football club knowing I’ll do a fair bit of travelling, but Brian (Murphy) knows about my university and he’s all for it,” he said.
“When I was up in Townsville soccer was just a break from university, but now moving to Magpies Crusaders is more of a commitment, so I’m really looking forward to playing in the higher league.”
Goweid spent his youth playing high-level football in Victoria, representing Dandenong Thunder and Doveton SC in Melbourne before moving to MA Olympic FC.
He said he was excited to join the club under the new coach Brian Murphy, and he was looking forward to his role in the side.
“It’s pretty appealing for a player when the new coach is talking about immediate promotion after getting relegated,” he said.
“Brian said he wanted to build a strong side for this coming season, so I’m happy to slot into whatever position he needs me in.
“I’ve played most of my football in an attacking midfielder role recently, I’ve started to get more comfortable shooting and setting up teammates.
“I had been a box-to-box midfielder before that, so I’m pretty versatile which hopefully suits Brian.”
Matildas coach a Magpies Crusaders recruiter after new signing
December 6, 2021
When he is not helping some of Australia’s best goalkeepers develop their talent to the highest-possible level, John Gorza is making phone calls to get a footballing prodigy a contract in Mackay.
Ethan Reed is Magpies Crusaders’ most recent signing, with the goalkeeper signing for 2022 after his coach acted as his manager in the off-season.
Reed said he owed Gorza for finding him a position at Mackay and Whitsundays, as well as helping him blossom as an athlete.
“John helped me make some phone calls to clubs, I’ve been with him since I was 10 years old, training with him twice a week for 10 years,” he said.
“I owe pretty much everything technical about my game to him, he’s obviously a highly-credible goalkeeping coach, he’s highly knowledgeable as well and just a great bloke.”
Reed will make the move from Caboolture SFC, where the keeper got his first taste of senior men’s football in 2021.
He conceded just 20 goals in 21 games, and was named the Goalkeeper of the Year in a premiership-winning season in the FQPL2.
Reed said he was told he was not required in 2022 shortly after the season ended.
“We finished the season and had our gala and awards nights, and about a week later the club told me they decided I wasn’t a part of their plans going forward,” he said.
“Leaving Caboolture and coming up to Mackay is footy, you can finish a season and end up on a plane in a couple of weeks, but it was still a bit surreal packing the bags.”
After Magpies Crusaders were relegated to the Football Queensland Premier League for 2022, Reed said he was focused on promotion back into Queensland’s National Premier Leagues.
“Having Mackay and Whitsundays drop out of the NPL this year automatically sets the goal for next season,” he said.
“My goal, and I assume everyone else’s goal too, is to get back into the top league.
“We’ll be a pretty big club in the QPL after dropping down, but the goals to try to reach that next level will hopefully help me drive and improve my game.”
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