Snakes are preparing to strike

HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2016

CABOOLTURE Sports FC stalwart Ben Muzyka and new recruit Mick Sticklen will lead the charge when the Snakes shake-up the Brisbane competition in 2016.

According to Football Brisbane rules, new clubs to the men’s top level should start at Capital League 4 — a fifth-tier league Caboolture expects to win well.

But preparations for the new year are already underway in earnest with the club eyeing off a preseason competition against Capital League 1 opposition as a chance to prove they can match it with those at the top rung.

The confidence is there after beating Capital League 1 grand finalists North Pine in the pre-season last year. But the goal remains the same wherever level the Snakes play.

Mick Sticklen, a former Sunshine Coast goalkeeper of the year with BeerwahGlasshouse, jumped at the chance to grab on to the new direction of the club.

“It was more about the project the club’s got going in the next couple of years. It’s a good squad of kids and the training sessions Nathan's been putting on are well-drilled," Sticklen said.

The 33-year-old was “surprised” to be offered the captaincy, but hoped his leadership could have a “domino effect” on the young squad further up the field.

“You get out what you put in, whether you’re 17 or 33. Age is just a number at the end of the day. It’s whether our boys have good heads on their shoulders,” he said.

Muzyka said it was an exciting time at the club, particularly with the arrival of a quality stopper who has frustrated him in the past and a good turnout to training from keen young talent.

“He is a pain but he’s a great player. I did score a hat-trick of penalties against him ... but he’s tough to beat and it’s a great signing,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of youth that are quite talented so it will be a good learning curve for them.’’

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