Striker sends message with first Phoenix goal
New Wellington Phoenix marksman Andrija Kaluderovic knows fully well that his job description requires him to put the ball into the back of the net on a regular basis.
So, naturally, the 30-year-old was pleased to get off the mark early, opening his account in their
3-2 defeat against defending champion Sydney FC on Sunday.
But he is also aware that he must maintain that goalscoring form as the Phoenix continue to search for their first win of the Hyundai A-League season.
‘‘For a striker when the game is going and the goals don’t come, of course you are losing confidence. Striker is a difficult position because always when you start the game everyone expects something from you or to score a goal,’’ Kaluderovic said.
‘‘The best strikers in the world have a lot of games where they don’t score goals and they also have a lot of pressure, but it is good to start with a goal but I must continue to score goals in almost every game.’’
After beating Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne in the
44th minute, Kaluderovic celebrated his first goal in Phoenix colours by running off towards a television camera. He said, with the A-League televised in Serbia, that he wanted to send a message to one of his three children.
‘‘Serbian TV always have every week three games direct and my
son watched so I sent a message for him. I said I love him and this is a goal for him,’’ he said.
‘‘My family are in Europe awaiting a visa for New Zealand so they can come to be with me here. I am a long time now without family
so of course it is hard for me but I hope soon they will be here and we will be OK.’’
But while he was happy to score his first goal for the Phoenix, Kaluderovic said it was disappointing the team has collected
just one point so far. And the task does not get any easier with a difficult away trip against Melbourne City, who have won twice already, on Saturday.
‘‘I see they have won two games which shows us they are a good team this year,’’ Kaluderovic said. ‘‘But we are not scared about anybody in this league and we will go there to try to win.’’
Dario Vidosic, who assisted on Kaluderovic’s goal and also scored another himself, said it was time to start turning individual positives into points against City, calling on the Phoenix to be more patient and retain the ball for longer periods.
"My son watched so I sent a message for him. I said I love him and this is a goal for him."
Andrija Kaluderovic
’’We have to turn those positives into results. If it’s zero points and not getting the results then it doesn’t mean too much,’’ Vidosic said.
‘‘We have to be more comfortable and more patient, wait for those chances and try to get Andrija, as a striker, some opportunities because we saw what he can do when he gets one.’’