Durante revels in Nix revival
Andrew Durante is loving every moment of the Wellington Phoenix’s revival under new coach Mark Rudan.
So much so the team’s captain isn’t ruling out committing to a 12th season with the A-League club.
‘‘I don’t know. We’ll see,’’ he said ahead of his milestone 300th appearance against the winless Central Coast Mariners at Westpac Stadium tonight.
While the 36-year-old’s answer was not as definitive as a ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’ would have been, it is different to the one he provided at the end of last season, when he said this season would definitely be his last.
Things were so bad at the Phoenix during their dismal 2017-18 campaign that Durante seriously considered hanging up his boots by the end of it, before eventually signing another 12-month contract. So is the team’s leader having a change of heart now they are 90 minutes away from setting a new club record unbeaten streak of eight games?
‘‘[I came] pretty close [to pulling the pin]. Around January, February time I was tossing up whether I give it in or not but I decided to stay on and I’m glad I have.
‘‘I’ve been able to reach this milestone and I’m just excited the club has transformed completely from last season both on the pitch and off the pitch. It’s a completely rejuvenated place at the moment and I’m loving it and I’m sure the fans are as well,’’ Durante said.
‘‘Considering where we were last year and where we are now, it’s so exciting and pleasing. As players and fans, everyone around Wellington and New Zealand, there is such a good feeling around the club and such a buzz. But it hasn’t come from luck.
‘‘There’s been a lot of hard work, there was a pre-season that was very well thought through and a lot of good recruiting, a lot of value sessions, soul-searching and [asking] what we want to be as a football club and how we want to represent the people.’’
In contrast to the Phoenix’s fortunes, the Mariners have made the worst start in A-League history and come into the game on the back of nine consecutive defeats. Durante said the Phoenix are confident they can collect all three points, which is important with a challenging run of matches against the top four teams looming in the following weeks.
‘‘There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be confident but it could be a banana skin. If we go out there and think that if we just show up we’ll get the points then we won’t.’’
The Phoenix will be without suspended midfielders Mandi Sosa and Alex Rufer for today’s game, with Mitch Nichols expected to make a rare start alongside Michal Kopczynski in their absence. Nichols has seen only 185 minutes of action so far this season but this could be his chance to stake a claim for a regular spot in the starting XI.