New Gold Coast United NPL Women’s coach Alex Bundalo confident of instant success

NEW Gold Coast United coach Alex Bundalo says the foundations are in place for the Surfsiders to mount a serious assault on the NPL Women’s crown in his first year in charge.

NEW Gold Coast United coach Alex Bundalo says the foundations are in place for the Surfsiders to mount a serious assault on the NPL Women’s crown in his first year in charge.

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A 180-game NSL veteran for Wollongong City and Apia Leichardt as a player, Bundalo will take the next step in his coaching journey in 2020 after being officially unveiled as United’s NPLW coach today.

The 53-year-old served as an assistant to caretaker coach Craig Midgley in the back half of this year following the departure of Michael Cook, and has guided the club’s SAP and under-13 boys’ teams over the past two seasons.

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United stormed home in this year’s NPLW to finish third and reach the preliminary final, with Bundalo a key figure in rebuilding the self-belief within the play group.

“My role is to continue the progress we’ve achieved so far and to work with all of our coaches to grow the profile of the club as an incubator for young girls and women to achieve their goals in football,” said Bundalo, a member of the 1983 All Australian Schoolboys side that included cricket legend Steve Waugh.

New Gold Coast United NPL Women’s coach Alex Bundalo (right) with technical director Craig Midgley.

“Success on the pitch comes from lots of hard work off it and I’ll be working tirelessly to provide the best possible environment for our players to grow and develop as young footballers and young women. We’re really well placed to go to the next level with our female programs and that’s both exciting and challenging.”

Midgley said Bundalo’s belief in youth development would have United well placed for success in 2020 and beyond.

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“Alex is a club person through and through. He knows the place, the type of football we want to play and the type of player we’re looking to work with and develop,” Midgley said.

“On top of all that, he’s a fantastic coach. His dedication and passion for the game is infectious and backed by his knowledge and experience, our women are in very good hands.”

While the nucleus of United’s 2020 squads are secured, trials for the NPLW and SAP Girls’ programs commence this week.