Squads Named for Phoenix Men’s A-League Match Against Perth Glory Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer is set to return for Saturday’s A-League clash against Perth Glory at Hnry Stadium. The midfielder missed last week’s 1-1 draw in Adelaide due to suspension but is now available for the match. Fellow All Whites players Sarpreet Singh and Nathan Walker remain sidelined due to injury, leaving them as the only absentees from interim head coach Chris Greenacre’s provisional squad. The Perth Glory squad includes several former Wellington Phoenix players, including Scott Wootton, Sam Sutton, Nicholas Pennington, and Stefan Colakovski, who now play for the Glory. Former Phoenix assistant coach Adam Griffiths has taken charge of the Glory side. Greenacre emphasized that the rivalry will remain professional, stating, “We need three points, and they need three points. They’ll have a beer together afterwards, but it’s business as usual for us. We don’t want it to be a happy stay in Wellington for them.” The match will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Sky Open and Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia. Wellington Phoenix (two players to be omitted) Josh Oluwayemi (Gk), 3. Corban Piper, 4. Manjrekar James, 6. Tim Payne, 7. Ifeanyi Eze, 8. Paulo Retre, 10. Nikola Mileusnic, 11. Carlo Armiento, 12. Dan Edwards, 14. Alex Rufer (captain), 15. Isaac Hughes, 16. Sander Kartum, 18. Lukas Kelly-Heald, 20. Ramy Najjarine, 23. Luke Supyk, 25. Kazuki Nagasawa, 27. Matt Sheridan, 28. Bill Tuiloma, 29. Luke Brooke-Smith, 30. Alby Kelly-Heald (Gk). Unavailable: 9. Sarpreet Singh (injured), 19. Nathan Walker (injured). Perth Glory (two players to be omitted) Charbel Shamoon, 3. Sam Sutton, 4. Scott Wootton, 7. Nicholas Pennington, 8. Michael Henshaw, 10. Stefan Colakovski, 11. Matthew Thompson, 12.#wellington_phoenix #chris_greenacre #perth_glory #alex_rufer #adam_griffiths
Wellington Phoenix Face First Away Trip Under Interim Coach The Wellington Phoenix are set to travel to Adelaide United for their first away match under interim coach Chris Greenacre. The game, scheduled for Friday night, marks a significant challenge for the team, which currently sits at the bottom of the A-League table. Adelaide, meanwhile, are in strong form, occupying fourth place on the ladder. Despite the odds, the visitors will look to draw inspiration from their previous encounters with the hosts, where they secured a win and a draw this season. Greenacre expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to compete at Coopers Stadium, one of the most vocal venues in the league. "I'd probably rephrase it, it's a place you want to go on a Friday night," he said. The coach emphasized the importance of playing in high-energy environments, particularly for the younger players in his squad. "These are the games you want to play in, where the crowd are close to the pitch, the atmosphere is electric," he added. Greenacre highlighted the need for his team to embrace the challenge and create a positive impact despite the pressure. However, the Phoenix face a setback ahead of the match with captain Alex Rufer suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season during their previous game against Sydney. Rufer, a key leader both on and off the field, brings consistency and patience to the team, qualities that will be missed. Greenacre acknowledged the absence but stressed that it presents an opportunity for other players to step up. "It's a great opportunity for everyone grinding in together and making sure we have a positive impact," he said. The team also hopes to welcome back Tim Payne from a hamstring injury and top scorer Ifeanyi Eze, who is set to return from suspension.#wellington_phoenix #chris_greenacre #alex_rufer #adelaide_united #ifeanyi_eze
