Coffs United have been the runaway success story of this year’s Coastal Premier League (CPL) competition – and there’s a key to their sublime form.
But the secret isn’t closely guarded – nothing like the wall of silence which surrounds herbs, spices and fried chicken.
“Hard work”, explains Coffs United coach Luca Paolacci on the steel which anchors their dominance.
Luca coaches the United CPL reserves and is widely seen as the right hand man of Glen Williams who guides the 1sts.
They are different men and both free thinkers – yet sing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to the shared campaign, the standards set, and the desire.
“Everybody doesn’t like us, but I’m pretty sure we work harder. I’m not sure about the clubs down south but nobody is training hard like us,” Luca said.
“If our grounds are closed we are training on the beach. The players – they want training.
“At other clubs, even in first grade, if it’s cold, they get eight to nine players at training.
“Our players are keen to play and to train. For the coaches, it makes it pretty easy.”
Before linking with the Lions, Luca had coaching stints at Nambucca and Urunga, and he has fast-gained recognition as a coach of utmost quality.
“I started with the younger ones but too hard, too many problems,” he said.
At the Lions, all of the senior players worked in one group through the pre-season.
“That gave everyone a chance (to press their claims),” Luca said.
“Once the season started we broke into two teams, with some players moving from one to the other.
“I do what I like, but we (with Glen) talk about everything. We are together.
“Our style is to work hard or we achieve nothing.”
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