New family connections welcomed back to the MA Olympic fold
WHEN Paul Roncato first took the coaching reins of MA Olympic, he recruited Jake Perry for two reasons – because of what they achieved together in the NPL for the Northern Fury, and the fact they were about to become family.
Perry, when he has been fit, has been the ace up Roncato’s sleeve in the North Queensland Premier League and is now the veteran mentor’s son-in-law.
Ankle and back injuries had kept the former Fury star on the sidelines but, having been eased in through reserve grade, he appears to be peaking at the right time.
Roncato said the midfielder would prove crucial in his side’s back end of the season.
“It’s been wonderful coaching him,” he said.
“He’s enjoyed the journey so much – the bits he has played – and has been an asset him coming in, especially being an EX-NPL player.
“If anything, I’m probably a bit tougher on him because you feel like you can take your frustrations on family members, which is wrong.
“My wife has had a dig at me after games saying I’m so tough on him, but he knows where it’s coming from.
“He’s gradually finding his feet and back to his best again.”
Perry was on hand for Mundingburra’s 3-0 triumph over Estates, with the win all but securing the premiership.
Goals to Mitch Maher, Anthony Goweid and Robin Edwards closed out the comfortable victory, as Roncato at last gets a taste of what his near full strength team looks like.
However, the coach is still unsatisfied.
“I feel our biggest issue is we need to be more clinical in front of goal and that’s hurt us a bit this year,” Roncato said. “We love playing attacking football and if we can be a bit more clinical we’ve got to learn to take chances.”