BOOT IN FOCUS
Thunder prepares for pre-season tournament
FOOTBALL: A near full-strength SWQ Thunder team will contest the annual Kappa Silver Boot tournament starting next week.
The Thunder faces Southside Eagles in their first match and team manager Jason Hall expects a strong showing from the team.
“The boys return to training this week after having the last month off,” Hall said.
“We’ll have close to our fullstrength out there though, and they will be well prepared.
“We’re taking it seriously and would love to win it.
“If we make it through to the final, that’s five games with the last at the end of January.
“That’s good preparation for the NPL season that starts February 2.”
Looking ahead to the 2019 NPL Qld season, Hall is also confident the Thunder will be a competitive unit despite the loss of several 2018 stars.
“On balance I think we have a team of a similar standard, maybe even slightly better to last season,” Hall said.
“We have lost some very experienced players in Chris Hatfield, Travis Cooper and Keagan Sheridan, but we’ve made other signings.
“We’re in the process of finalising two very experienced players from Brazil and we’re looking at a talented NPL player from New South Wales.
“We’ve also retained the bulk of our team from last season.
“Players like Anthony Grant, Jackson Franke, Wade Hall and Emmanuel Philip to name a few – young local players who were key to our success last season.” GAMES: The SWQ Thunder plays Southside Eagles (January 8), Holland Park Hawks (January 13) and Lions FC (January 18) in the group stage of the Kappa Silver Boot. The top two teams progress to the knockout rounds with the final on January 27. The team’s first 2019 NPL game is against face Brisbane Strikers on February 2.