Sunbury United reveals plan to overcome loss of five key players
After reaching the GDCA McIntyre Shield semi-finals last season, Sunbury United now has to replace five key players ahead of the upcoming season but new coach Upul Fernando has a plan.
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New Sunbury United coach Upul Fernando is confident the club has the structures in place to handle a player exodus.
The heart of the Bees line-up has been ripped out ahead of the new season with five key players defecting to reformed VTCA club Avondale Heights.
Leading run-scorers Dilan Chandima and Adam Dudderidge and top wicket-taker Austin Young headline the departures.
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Paceman Dinuska Malan and wicketkeeper Mark Koutroubas were also a part of Sunbury United’s McIntyre Shield semi-final team last season.
It’s a bitter blow for Fernando who took the top job in July after crossing from GDCA rivals Diggers Rest Bulla.
Fernando is finalising a number of new recruits but is also confident in the talent already at the club.
“Adam and Dilan are top 10 players in the league, you don’t make 600 runs without being good players,” he said.
“Clubs lose players all over the world but they find replacements.
“It will be hard to fill those holes straight away but the set-up at Sunbury United we’re going to mix in youth with the seniors.
“I’m trying to build up the structure, rotating juniors through the seniors on a weekly basis.”
Raees Alam and Ben Falzon loom as promising young players after splitting their time between United’s senior and junior teams last season.
Alam played two First XI games and across all grades knocked up 415 runs at 23.04.
Falzon featured in 21 games last season and claimed 14 wickets, including nine in the Second XI and is well placed to make his senior debut.
Fernando is planning Sunbury United’s pre-season training program for when restrictions ease.
The new coach is looking forward to the opportunity to bring his players together for the first time.
“We’re probably going to start fitness programs in the next few weeks over Zoom,” he said.
“Some of the players I know, some I don’t, I’m new to the club so I’m still talking to a lot of people.
“I’m looking forward to, as soon as the lockdown is over, to seeing everybody and explain my plans.”