Maso Cup 2024: Full tournament preview and 18 players to watch in Wollongong
The 2024 Maso Cup is on the horizon, with 35 teams across 16 different clubs set to descend on Wollongong. Check out the preview of the event, as well 18 players to watch at the event.
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The Maso Cup is set to descend on Wollongong this year, with action kicking off on January 25 and running through to the 28th.
The annual tournament celebrates the strong Australian-Macedonian footballing community and is set to be host 16 different clubs from around the country across five divisions in 2024.
This year’s tournament is to be co-hosted by powerhouse Illawarra clubs Wollongong United and Cringila Lions
Peter Vrtkovski, president of Wollongong United and Maso Cup organiser, highlights the growth of the event over the last 16 years as “massive”.
“When we started the tournament in 2008 we had just four teams in one division,” Vrtkovski said.
“Now it’s grown to 16 clubs around Australia, with 35 teams all up across five division, with nearly 80 games of football to be played across four days.”
Last year the Maso Cup was held in Newcastle, with the tournament set to return to its homebase in Sydney in 2025.
“There’ll be Macedonian culture everywhere, we have the ambassador for the Republic of Macedonia turning up to present the winners with trophies,” Vrtkovski said.
“There’ll be music, there’ll be culture, there’ll be lots of socialising. The football is one aspect, but it’s more about the culture, the getting together.
“We’re expecting over 15,000 people to come through the gates across the four days.”
Ahead of this year’s competition, we’ve reached out to clubs to pick some of their top players set to compete for glory in this year’s Maso Cup.
Check out the full list below.
Peter Simonoski (Cringila Lions)
Striker
Captain and leader of the Lions, Simonoski was the unstoppable golden boot winner in the 2023 Illawarra Premier League season with 33 goals, the equal highest in the league’s history and highest in the club’s history.
Further, the former NPL player was named the league’s player of the year after guiding his team to their first grand final in 25 years.
Anthony Krsteski (Cringila Lions)
Forward
One of the most exciting prospects coming through the club, Krsteski has played at a few clubs before settling down as one of the main attacking threats at the Lions.
Scored seven goals last season, picked up five assists and one four penalties, impressive stats considering he missed six games.
His speed and technical ability to beat players makes him very dangerous.
Nico Abot (Queanbeyan City)
Striker
A dynamic Argentinian striker who stands as a football virtuoso with a storied career, having played in Italy, Spain, Argentina, and of course Australia.
His triumph as the player of the year and golden boot winner in 2023 solidifies his status as the linchpin of his team.
His seasoned experience and lethal finishing makes him the one to watch at the Maso Cup, a true goalscoring maestro.
Vasko Petrovski (Queanbeyan City)
Centre back
A cornerstone of Queanbeyan City, Petrovski is the heart and soul of the club.
His intimidating presence at the back strikes fear into opposition attackers. Beyond his defensive prowess, he possesses the unique skill of converting headers and executing penalty kicks with precision, adding an unexpected offensive dimension to his game.
More than just a formidable player on the pitch, Petrovski is also the embodiment of leadership and a strong representative of the Macedonian community in Queanbeyan. A community and club man, he’s not only a stellar athlete but a true embodiment of the values that define the team and area.
Matthew Kacev (Newcastle Suns)
Centre back
Joined the club in 2023 as a 17-year-old, starting in third grade before quickly climbing the ranks to the first grade roster.
He would finish the season with multiple MOTM awards and securing a starting position in the grand final winning side.
His tackling and reading of the game are his biggest strengths.
Lawrence Foteff (Newcastle Suns)
Midfield
Entering his seventh year with the Suns in 2024, returning at the end of last season after suffering an ACL injury in 2022.
Finished 2023 strong, including the game-sealing goal in Newcastle’s grand final win.
His passing, athleticism and game tempo control, along with his professional attitude makes him the perfect midfield general.
The club is eager to welcome their skipper back into the mix for a full season in 2024, starting with the Maso Cup.
Alec Urosevski (Rockdale Ilinden)
Striker
Urosevski is the heart and soul of Rockdale City Suns Ilinden, having made over 200 appearance for the club and scoring over 100 goals.
Prior to returning to the club in 2015, Urosevski made a couple of appearances for Sydney FC in the A-League.
A lethal finisher and proud skipper of the side, he netted the most goals in the NPL last season with a whopping 27, and will no doubt look to keep the ball rolling into 2024.
Alex Stojanovski (Geelong)
Midfielder
Stojanovski is a talented and highly skilled midfielder who plays in a central midfield role for Geelong SC who has been in the senior system for a few years.
He’s a homegrown talent who has come through the junior system and has Macedonian heritage.
Keegan Kukanovski (Geelong)
Midfielder
Another homegrown talent with a Macedonian background, Kukanovski is a young talented and hardworking midfielder who stepped up in 2023, getting first team opportunities and now looking to show his talent as he develops further.
Jordan Nikolovski (Wollongong United)
Striker
Nikolovski is a proven goalscorer who joins Wollongong this season from Port Kembla, having been one of the league’s consistent performers over the past few years.
Likes to play up high and run at players, having the knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Having previous NPL experience, Nikolovski is eager to get going at his new club and make immediate impact at the Maso Cup.
Daniel Geroski (Wollongong United)
Midfielder
Geroski joined Wollongong at the start of 2023 following stints at Rockdale Ilinden and Bankstown City Lions.
A box-to-box midfielder, Geroski is comfortable on the ball, loves to beat his man and look for the defence-splitting pass into the attacking third.
He also has an eye for goal and will be looking to hit the back of the net during this tournament, a tournament in which he might be facing some of his old clubs.
Bailey Wells (Broadmeadow Magic)
Attacking Midfielder
Has been touted as a potential “future A-League” player by those at his club, and with the resume he’s building it’s clear to see why.
Wells was a part of the Newcastle Jets academy, before joining Broadmeadow and absolutely dominating.
In 2023 he cleaned up the league’s end of season awards, claiming the Northern NSW NPL Men’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
Can create or score and is overall just a very intelligent player.
Lewis Alvarez (Broadmeadow Magic)
Goalkeeper
Joins the club this year from the Mariner system in between the sticks.
Standing at over 6’4’ at the age of just 21, Alvarez is dominant in his category for his age and has phenomenal distribution skills.
Damian Iosifidis (Altona Magic)
Attacking Midfielder
Creative playmaker which likes to control the pace of the game, who also knows how to find the back of the net.
Filip Joveski (Altona Magic)
Defensive Midfielder
Skilful midfielder that has both defensive and attacking strengths.
Julian Rodriguez (Altona Magic)
Winger/ Forward
Explosive, attacking player that can run at players to score goals, but also has the ability to set up goal scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Tommy Markovski (Shellharbour)
Forward
Club captain of the newly-promoted Shellharbour FC, Markovski has been around the club for a decade now on and off, having also played some NPL.
Very unselfish, he’s a tidy player with a great engine who can play anywhere around the forward line.
He’s a born leader and netted 11 goals in the Illawarra District League last season.
Taylor McDonald (Shellharbour)
Defender
A tidy defender who can play right back or centre back, McDonald brings plenty of experience to Shellharbour and will be massive for them next season as they enter the Illawarra Premier League.
Comes to Shellharbour after playing for Marconi Stallions last season, also a former NPL winner with the Wollongong Wolves.
Good in the air and two very good feet, he’s an overall good player and good bloke to have at the club.
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Originally published as Maso Cup 2024: Full tournament preview and 18 players to watch in Wollongong
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