COACH TO FOCUS ON YOUNG STARS

Thunder sign new coach

The opportunity to return to the game he loves has proven too hard to resist for Ivor Prasad.

After a brief one year hiatus, Prasad is returning to football to take up the reins as South West Queensland Thunder’s senior men’s team coach.

“I moved to Toowoomba with my family in December of last year,” Prasad said.

“I took the last year off from football but I decided it wasn’t for me.

“I like to be busy and I love football, so when I saw the Thunder were looking for a new coach I decided to send them my resume.

“I have all the necessary coaching licenses but most importantly I am glad they saw enough potential in me to award me the role.”

Prasad, who joins the Thunder after being part of Marconi Stallions’ New South Wales NPL program, is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“It will be a challenge for me personally but I am looking forward to it,” he said.

“I attended a lot of the Thunder’s home games over the past year and I believe the club has a good foundation and a lot of potential.

“Over the last season a lot of players in the 17-20 year old group were exposed to NPL level football and they will be better for the experience.

“Long term my goal is too work with the club to develop these players to a point where we don’t need to look outside the region for talent.

“The team could benefit from some leadership but it will be important that if we bring in new players we get the right ones – players that will help the develop the right type of culture in the club.”

Prasad also plans to bring a distinctive brand of football to

‘‘ I LIKE TO PLAY AN AGGRESSIVE STYLE OF FOOTBALL. IVOR PRASAD

the Thunder – one built on power and control.

“I like to play an aggressive style of football,” Prasad said.

“I want my teams to out play and out power the opposition all over the park.

“With the right decision making you can control the game even when you don’t have possession of the ball.”

Nic Rundle will join Prasad as assistant coach as well as taking up the role of Thunder under-20s coach.

Rundle coached Willowburn Magpies to the 2019 TFL premiership.

Photo: Nev Madsen YOUNG TALENT: New South West Queensland Thunder coach Ivor Prasad (inset) is focused on making sure more young talents like Luke Lister (above right) progress through the ranks into the NPL’s clubs senior team.