No warm-up for Sarota
Prospective Cairns FC signing Adam Sarota will not get a warm-up match tonight against Moreton Bay United FC ahead of his potential FFA Cup comeback to football on Tuesday. Late yesterday, Cairns FC officials were not confident of the Far Northborn former Socceroo making his return in the game against Sydney FC at Barlow Park, but were holding out hope he decides to play. A clearance would be needed if he was to play his first game since 2016.
PROSPECTIVE Cairns FC signing Adam Sarota will not get a warm-up match tonight against Moreton Bay United FC in the NPL ahead of his potential FFA Cup comeback to football on Tuesday.
Late yesterday, Cairns FC officials were not confident of the Far North-born former Socceroo making his return to the game against Sydney FC at Barlow Park, but were holding out hope he decides to play.
Football Queensland would need to clear his signing with the Cairns NPL club, if he was convinced to play his first competitive game since 2016 when he suffered a leg break that has derailed his career.
Cairns FC players have noted how impressive the 29year-old has looked training with the club this week while blowing the cobwebs out ahead of a potential return to the sport.
“Adam has pulled up a little sore from training so he will not play in the NPL,” Cairns FC coach Danny Graystone said. “We will see about Tuesday over the weekend. I will speak with him after the NPL game on Saturday.”
After having two players sent off in their loss to Lions FC last Saturday, Graystone joked that he would need to tell his playing group twice to watch their actions tonight against the top-four club.
Tonight’s clash is vital to prepare for the A-League giants in the Round of 16 of the Cup next week, Graystone said.
“It is very important players get game time for preparation for Tuesday,” he said.
“It would be very difficult for players to come in and be fresh straight away without it.
“Against a team like Sydney, we cannot take five or 10 minutes to get going.
“We will do a lot of tactical prep for Tuesday and use that for Saturday’s game.”
Defender Johnson Slotemaker yesterday received a suspended one-game sentence and will be available for the Sydney FC game.
The Moreton Bay Jets secured fourth place on the state football ladder with four second-half goals in 19 minutes to win at Gold Coast United last Sunday.
That moved them seven points clear of Brisbane Strikers with two games remaining.
“The club’s identity is that we turn up trying to win every game, regardless of position on the ladder,” Moreton Bay coach Pouria Nabi said ahead of the clash with Cairns.
Meanwhile, Cairns FC will donate 10 per cent of all online ticket sales for their FFA Cup match to drought-affected farmers, following Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s recent launch of the Queensland Drought Appeal.
Club director Darren Halpin said that with such a highprofile team coming to the Far North, a big turnout was expected.
“The Cairns region is buzzing,” Halpin said. “Everyone’s talking about this.”