Lean cuisine for unfit Bulls
CHRISTMAS pudding will be off the menu for many FNQ Bulls soccer players as they attempt to raise their fitness levels under the watchful eyes of coach Peter Tokesi.
CHRISTMAS pudding will be off the menu for many FNQ Bulls soccer players as they attempt to raise their fitness levels under the watchful eyes of coach Peter Tokesi.
Tokesi was less than impressed with the fitness of some of his players in an in-house trial game at Borzi Park in Mareeba on
Saturday.
While pleased with the match overall, Tokesi believes they have a hard road ahead as they prepare for the club’s Queensland State League debut in March.
"I was quite happy with what I saw, but it did reinforce that we’re a bit thin in the forward line," he said.
"We’re quite solid across the backline and in the midfield and we have a couple of excellent young players in the forwards, but we do need some more experience up front."
Adding to his concern is the possible loss of Mareeba striker Anthony Mete to Townsville because of work commitments in the new year, although Tokesi remains hopeful of retaining him.
Tokesi said the club would consider recruiting more strike power but would also concentrate on developing the talent already on hand with a number of younger players viewed as long-term prospects.
He said Edge Hill’s Blake Cremer and Mareeba’s Steve Cater were two such players who could develop into mainstays of the Bulls’ forward line.
Tokesi said other young talents to impress in the trial were Mareeba trio Nathan Bird, Alex Plowman and Tamas Maffey-Stumpe but added that the hit-out proved the squad, in general, needed to increase its fitness.
"It showed me how far off the pace we are as far as fitness goes," he said.
"We’ve got a little bit more work to do in that area and I’d like to think the boys will go for a minimum of three runs a week during the break."
Tokesi said his squad had shown a good work ethic on the training paddock and was confident his charges would return enthused when training resumed on January 6.
The Bulls’ squad of 20 players to contest the QSL premiership is set to be finalised on
January 16.
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