NPL club Kingston City heads into a new campaign with what coach Nick Tolios describes as probably the strongest squad he’s coached in the club’s six years in the NPL.

The club has managed to retain almost all of the players who finished last season, including mid-season signings Alex Caniglia, Ajden Fetahagic, Nate Cavaliere and Ryan Love.

Added to that squad is the return of several key players from long term injury (Erhan Yalaz, Chris Irwin, Simo Jovanovic, Ali Sulemani and winger Mouad Zwed) and the signing of just two new players (forward Max Etheridge from Mornington and midfielder Jun Gho Kim from Sunshine George Cross), making Kingston along with Heidelberg United, one of the clubs with the fewest player turnover in the off season.

Speaking to Neos Kosmos, Tolios said, “I think this year, if everyone’s fit, I have 18 players I think are capable, all of them, starting. All of them can do their roles. This is probably the strongest squad for the six years in the NPL since I’ve been here”.

After finishing 10th in 2017, and seventh last season, Tolios says the goal this year is to reach the finals. He acknowledges that the task will be anything but easy saying that, “I think the league has strengthened with the two teams promoted (Dandenong City and Altona Magic). Big powerful teams in Victorian football, they’ve hit the ground running with some great signings, spending good money to bring in some quality players”.

For clubs with more modest budgets, such as Kingston, reaching the finals represents a significant achievement. Tolios is hopeful that the added depth and continuity of his squad, as well as what he calls, “a fantastic change-room and culture”, will hold the team in good stead this season.

The team from The Grange, have developed a reputation as one of the more exciting teams in the NPL, noted for their pace, quick ball movement and creating a high number of scoring chances in each game.

Tolios says, “I think (opposition) teams will be worried about that. I think they’ve realised what we’re about and how we go about our game plan and how we set up.”

“So, because we haven’t had that many changes, teams will be looking to slow the game down, but I’m hoping this year, we’ve sort of adapted a little bit too- and changed it up.”

Tolios’s assistants in the coaches dugout this season will once again be Billy Theodoropoulos, joined by a new face, Sam Poutakidis.

The Reds kick off their NPL season with a Hellenic derby away to Port Melbourne Sharks, this evening.