Retirement on hold for evergreen Ceccoli
Illawarra Premier League icon and Corrimal recruit Alvin Ceccoli turned back the clock in Sunday’s Fraternity Club Cup final win over Albion Park White Eagles. The veteran delivered another assured performance at left centre-half to help his side round out an unbeaten preseason cup campaign where they conceded just two goals across six matches.
However, no one expected it to be this way after the former Socceroo ruptured his Achilles in his last match for Kemblawarra Fury in 2017 before his transfer to Wollongong United last season was dogged by further injuries which saw him tally up only a handful of matches.
“It’s no secret, I had a pretty serious injury a couple of seasons ago, there was the situation at [Wollongong United] and I could have easily hung my boots up,” Ceccoli said.
“I can tell you during preseason when I was training on my own, I was feeling the pinch and it was really difficult but I mentally got through it and now I am feeling good.”
“I still think I have something to offer and I think I showed that out there today.”
The former Sydney FC defender who has played over 250 matches in the Premier League heaped praise on his new club and opened up regarding the role he has within a relatively inexperienced side who are preparing to push on from last season’s inconsistencies.
“I’ve been down here for a while now and I can comfortably say this is the most progressive club going around in the Illawarra at the moment,” he said.
“We are in good stead, we are in a good place, the committee and the people around the club are very supportive and try to encourage everyone.”
“My role is obviously to try and still play but I genuinely want to help the guys and guide them and I think you can see from today this is a totally different team from last year.”
“We didn’t expect to make the [Fraternity Club Cup] final but we knew we would be competitive, we are in a good place, I think we can make the finals and if we don’t, I think we will be letting ourselves down.”
Ceccoli was noncommittal about whether 2019 would be his swansong, though he feels if he can carry his preseason standard through to September, playing on in 2020 would not be out of the question.
“I said many years ago that I would retire at 45 [years-old], in a few months I am 45, but if all goes well, I feel I can kick on… you can’t look into a crystal ball but I would like to play on and contribute,” he said.
Corrimal begin their Premier League season away to 2018 double winners Bulli on Saturday.
