Feature Article - Andrew Ciarla

Andrew Ciarla’s personal hopes for this season are simple, he hopes to play. Although he is yet to set foot on a pitch on game day for Metro this season, having been injured since pre-season, Ciarla is ready get going again. He has started training again and hopes to be up and playing soon. It is no wonder his advice to younger players is simply "persist and stay focused”. Ciarla started playing at Metro in U15's in 2005 and has played 3 years in Metro’s first team, after beginning his soccer career with Adelaide City as an 8 year old. He has since played for the Adelaide United Youth Team in 2008 and 2009 and feels that was an invaluable opportunity to play amongst experienced players and definitely made him match fit for when starting the season with Metro. Ciarla knows he has challenges ahead of him this season after being out for the 2nd half of last season due to injury before injuring himself again in pre-season this year. He is aware that it is up to him to work his way back in to his spot in the first team. His motto is "train as you play” and he is committed to earning his place in the team again, especially as he is looking forward to playing in this season’s first team. Ciarla foresees great potential for development as part of Metro’s first team this season, "It is good to have younger players coming in to learn from older players. They will probably change the speed of the game and become more physical but having experience in the team calms you down”. He says "there is a good mix in the team at the moment. The younger players will learn a lot from the older players”. His advice to younger players is to make the most out of each training session in order to be ready for every game, "Always give 100% at training and then on game day relax and play your own game".