State League 4 North: Plenty Valley Lions coach Robert Dolevski targeting promotion in 2019
Ambitious Plenty Valley Lions coach Robert Dolevski has boldly declared he wants his first season in charge to be the start of the club’s rise through the state leagues.
Local Sport
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Ambitious Plenty Valley Lions coach Robert Dolevski has boldly declared he wants his first season in charge to be the start of the club’s rise through the state leagues.
Dolevski, who joined the Lions as a player this year before being appointed in a senior assistant coaching role, has replaced Joe Mascaro in the top job.
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A decorated player whose career included stints with Fawkner, Heidelberg United, Preston Lions and Lalor United, Dolevski said Plenty Valley would be “a team to look out for” in 2019.
“I know we are going to have a lot of expectation and pressure. We’re ready for that,” he said.
“We’re ready to take on whatever pressure comes our way. We expect to be in the top two at the end of the season.”
The Lions finished ninth in State League 4 North this year, dodging relegation by three points.
But a fruitful recruiting drive has netted several high-quality signings headlined by Nicholas Murphy (Greenvale United), Luis Gonzalez De La Sierra (Melbourne Uni) and Kevin Shin (Hume United).
Utility Elliott Brown (Greenvale United) and experienced defender Orhan Kara are other first-team additions.
Key members of Plenty Valley’s 2018 squad including best and fairest Lukmon Anifaloyin and top scorer Daniel Paunkoski were quick to put pen to paper, fuelling the club’s optimism.
“As soon as the season finished we started re-signing our key players,” Dolevski said.
“We have managed to lock down our six best players at the club and managed to keep hold of some good youngsters.”
Dolevski said he rated Gonzalez De La Sierra, who scored 28 goals in 17 games for Melbourne Uni this season, as a striker with National Premier League qualities.
Murphy and Shin will be key members of the club’s revamped midfield.
“Just before the end of the season, the club tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to become the senior coach because Joe wanted to step down,” Dolevski said.
“I told them I’d only take it on board … if their ambition matches mine, which is that we want to get promoted next year.
“Not only that, but kick on into season 2020 and beyond as well.”
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