Impetus’ Ben Gilby heard from Perth Glory captain Tash Rigby and head coach Alex Epakis at the team’s season launch media event earlier today. Both are hugely positive of a strong season for the Western Australian side (6/10/22).
Above: Perth Glory captain Tash Rigby and head coach Alex Epakis face the media today at Crown Perth. Image: Perth Glory FC.
Perth Glory missed out on Finals football in the A-League Women by the narrowest of margins last season and both Tash Rigby and Alex Epakis are focussed on ensuring they make the top four comfortably this time round.
Looking ahead to the new season, Rigby said: “We are looking forward to building on the collective spirit that we fostered last season as well as welcoming all our new players with open arms and hearts. We’ve definitely got a lot of hunger out there ready to go.
With regard to being awarded the captain’s armband for another season, the defender, who had another impressive NPLW campaign with Fremantle City this year, said: “It’s such an honour to captain this team and I’m so excited to lead our incredible squad for another season.
“I am grateful to [Head Coach] Alex [Epakis] and the club for this opportunity and I have full faith that with the squad we have, we can compete with the best this season.
“We are looking forward to building on the collective spirit that we fostered last season as well as welcoming all our new players with open arms and hearts.”
Epakis, meanwhile, was unstinting in his praise of his side’s captain.
“Tash is a standout person and the best leader I have had the opportunity to work with,” he said.
“More broadly, I believe we have a strong leadership group and this is led by Tash who plays a pivotal role in shaping it.
“She has a fantastic character which is underpinned by the perfect mix of humility and competitiveness. Tash embraces and actions our team identity and has an unwavering desire to serve her teammates through thick and thin.
“I am grateful to have her close by and deeply value her as a player and person. She is certainly focused and driven on having another standout year and guiding the team throughout the course of the season.”
In terms of the position he believes his team are in going into the new season, Glory’s head coach said: “We’ve retained the core of our existing squad, and to add to that, we’re in a fantastic position. We’ve strengthened where we needed it, particularly in helping us in our attacking play. I’m really excited to work with the whole group.”
Perth Glory’s opening A-League Women fixture is an away clash with Canberra United on Saturday 19th November.
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