Striker’s surgical precision
HE is a med student during the week, and has built a knack for surgically picking apart defences on the weekend.
But there is also an off-field pain that is driving MA Olympic weapon Anthony Goweid towards premiership success.
The club’s leading goal scorer was at his precise best at the weekend as he slotted home two goals, including a miracle chip off Brothers keeper Mikel Breckenridge, to help send Olympic straight into the grand final with a 4-1 win.
It is not easy for the 22year-old James Cook Universi
ty student who juggles his semi-final heroics and hectic training schedule with a gruelling six-year medicine degree.
But with his family and friends struggling through a fourth lockdown back home in Victoria, Goweid looks at his football as a way to give them something to cheer about.
“All my family and friends are down there and it has definitely been tough for them,” he said. “They have spent pretty much a full year in lockdown. I try to stay in touch, keep the spirits high. I send them all the photos (of my football) and the stuff from when I was in the paper. I know it makes mum and dad proud.
“I try to keep organised (through the week). It is tough (juggling football and a degree) and there is a lot on my plate, but I just try to be organised. (MA Olympic coach Paul) Roncato makes it easy, if I miss training he understands and the boys understand. I do cop it a bit, I have had to buy a couple of cartons for missing sessions, but it is good.”
Goweid is into his second year with the Mundingburra club and said the community around the club had made it an easy transition after moving from one end of the country to the other.
A former Dandenong Thunder junior, Goweid played one season in Victoria’s State League 1 with Doveton FC – helping promote the side to NPL 3 – before moving to Townsville.
He played in last year’s grand final loss to Saints Eagles South, but believes this year’s Olympic have the confidence to go on with the job in three weeks.
“We really wanted the granny this year,” he said. “It is good to get both trophies, but there is something about that grand final crowd and winning in front of your fans.
“It feels good (to go straight through), last year we got there but we were a man down and struggled. I think we go into the grand final with a lot of confidence this year.
“The community around this club (makes) it a really good club to be part of. If you have a look at the way this season has panned out for us, we have had a lot of injuries but the way the boys from the ressies step up into the team, it is just like a family. It doesn’t feel like anyone is missing.
“We have all gotten in and built the confidence with the two good wins to finish the year. Tonight was a good win as well, so we are full of confidence.”
Brothers will have a week to reflect on their qualifying final loss, before returning to the field for the preliminary final against last year’s premiers Saints Eagles South on October 2.