Rocky trip with skipper out
HE started in junior soccer when he was six, debuted in senior teams when he was 16 but last week was the first time FNQ Bulls captain and defender Victor Madrid was given a red card.
The 27-year-old was sent from the field in the first half of the FNQ Bulls’ Queensland State League clash against the Brisbane Strikers and was forced to watch from the sideline as his side fought out a gutsy 3-3 draw.
League rules mean Madrid is suspended for the Bulls’ match against the Capricorn Cougars in Rockhampton tonight with the Mareeba native set to remain in the Far North.
"It’s going to be hard not being out there with the boys," Madrid said.
"It would be different if I was carrying an injury or something and needed the week off but when you’re fit and able it’s hard to be on the sideline."
Madrid’s calm on-field presence will be greatly missed with injury ravaging the Bulls squad and leaving coach Peter Tokesi only 13 fit players to choose from. Mareeba forward David Ruiz has been brought into the side and will start on the bench while defender Rylan Sadler will make his run-on debut in place of Madrid.
The Bulls’ midfield has also been rearranged with the returning Andre Lohmann to partner Glenn Hurney and Nathan Bird in the centre of the park.
Joe Rusch, Steven Cater and Renzo Franco will prowl the forward line. Despite the club’s injury and suspension woes, Madrid said self-belief was the Bulls’ main concern.
"The biggest thing with us is having confidence in ourselves. If we put our mind to it, we can beat anybody," he said.
The Bulls hosted the Cougars in their season opener and went down 2-1 but Tokesi believes his team has developed into a more formidable combination in the months since.
"I didn’t know what to expect from my players in that first game. It’s taken a full round for them to find their feet," Tokesi said.
"It was a great effort last week to get the draw with the Strikers but it’s all to no avail if we don’t back it up.
"We have to combine the effort — the scrapping of that game — with playing football. If we do that we can win."
FNQ Bulls: Angelo Serafin (gk), Blake Cremer, Kane Alderton, Renzo Franco, Andre Lohmann, Glenn Hurney, Gavin Jenkin, Alex Plowman, Joe Rusch, Nathan Bird, Steven Cater, George Koroma, David Ruiz, Rylan Sadler.
Share this article
Madrid: Forced to stay home tonight.
Maher goes into bat for Nash
QUEENSLAND cricket great Jimmy Maher has called on West Indies' selectors to retain fellow FNQ product Brendan Nash for the second Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Northern Pride player kicked man unconscious
A NORTHERN Pride rugby league footballer has been fined and faces club sanctions after a drunken fight in which he kicked a man unconscious then switched clothes with a mate to elude police.
Cairns Taipans players' fears allayed
CAIRNS Taipans' players are confident in the club's position this season despite a leaked Cairns Regional Council report painting a bleak picture of the financial future.
Jawai's Timberwolves notch a win
IT'S taken 14 games but Nathan Jawai has finally notched his first win with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Cairns Taipans' Boody is back
GARY Boodnikoff will be back in Cairns Taipans colours on Wednesday night, revelling in the atmosphere of the NBL's most ferocious derby.
