PARKING THE BUS
FORMER Gold Coast United trio Zenon Caravella, Michael Thwaite and Shane Smeltz are back together and wearing the same kit again for the first time in over a decade.
Unfortunately, they’re not exactly suiting up to play for competition points as they did together in the A-League, as they joined forces at the Far North Queensland Youth Cup at The Grounds.
The trio have swapped the playing kit for the coach’s clipboard as they pass on their skill and advice to the next generation of footballers.
Smeltz and Thwaite played for Gold Coast United in the NPL last year, but Thwaite, the Saints junior who went on to play for the Socceroos, has now hung up the boots.
It hasn’t stopped Smeltz, who played for New Zealand 58 times, from using part of the trip to Cairns to try and lure Thwaite back to United.
But while the former All Whites strikers won’t succeed - Thwaite is happily retired, as he spends former football time with family - perhaps if they stuck around until Saturday they might be inspired for a playing return in Cairns.
Caravella is is looking sharp as ever for Leichhardt, and he'll be back at it against Mareeba United this Saturday night. With Smeltz a former Stratford Dolphin, perhaps one of his old junior clubs will call in a favour for a guest appearance at Innisfail?
■ THERE were no shocks in the first round of the FNQ Premier League, with the favourites getting up in each of the six games in the men’s and women’s competitions.
The women’s clash between Edge Hill United and Leichhardt lived up to the hype, and the one-goal result implies this season’s meetings between the clubs will be must-watch. The men’s game blew out, and if not for Leichhardt’s saved penalty it could have been much closer.
Mareeba United flexed some muscle in both competitions, as their women’s team embraces their status as a premiership contender and the men’s team tries to spark another run at the grand final.
■ FOOTBALL Queensland North will run a MiniRoos coaching course at Endeavour Park this evening. It is one of two planned for the region the next is at Dimbulah FC on the morning of May 8.