Evan eyes red and black Cup clash
Former Adelaide United star Evan Kostopoulos is relishing his chance to play in the Westfield FFA Cup with his NPL club Sydney Olympic and hopes they draw a glamour match-up with Hyundai A-League powerhouse Western Sydney Wanderers.
Olympic has won through to the last 32 of the inaugural FFA Cup, courtesy of making the semi-finals of the NSW Waratah Cup.
And with the launch this week of the official Westfield FFA Cup ball the Umbro Neo 150 Elite – which Kostopoulos has given the thumbs up – excitement is building ahead of the Westfield FFA Cup.
Kostopoulos spent three seasons at Adelaide United, making 21 appearances in the A-League and scoring three goals.
He admits his ambition is to return to the professional ranks either in Australia or abroad and hopes Olympic are drawn against the Wanderers in the last 32 of the FFA Cup.
Kostopoulos said the prospect of more than 20,000 fans cramming into their home ground at Belmore would be a huge occasion for the club and his side.
"We've got a very young team and we're in a bit of a rebuilding phase," Kostopoulos said.
"We've got a lot of young players that are looking to prove a point and learn as much as they can off Grant Lee.
"We try and play football, we've got a system we stick to no matter what happens and hopefully in the near future it will build the club in the direction they want to go to."
Ex-Socceroo Grant Lee's NSW NPL 1 side have been turning heads this season and Kostopoulos is relishing the opportunity of possibly coming up against an A-League club.
For the 24-year-old, the FFA Cup is a massive chance to show the A-League clubs he still has what it takes to perform at that level as well as the club to make some pretty big headlines in the competition.
Earlier this season Olympic were fortunate enough to have ex-Liverpool and Greece defender Kyrgiakos complete a two-week guest stint at the club and Kostopoulos admits it had a big influence on him.
"Off the field his preparation and professionalism I learned a lot," Kostopoulos told www.socceroos.com.au
"I spent almost every day with him because I speak Greek as well. A few of us boys who could speak to him we were with him a lot.
"He's a true professional and anyone of his calibre to come back to this league and teach kids something is very important."
Olympic have the chance to make the final of the Waratah Cup when they host Blacktown City FC at Belmore Sports Ground on Wednesday, June 11 from 7.30pm.
The other semi final sees Paul Dee's Manly United travel to Hooka Creek Park to play the South Coast Wolves on Thursday, June 12 (kick off 7.30pm).
