Antony Golec

http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2014/10/12/steve-waugh-uae-series-australia-pakistan-2002-book-extract-andrew-ramsey

Back in 2002 when Australia had to play Pakistan in the UAE due to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars

 

“This weather’s bullshit,’ he muttered to nobody in particular, even though I was the only one left in the room.

“Buggered if I know what we’re doing here.†He lazily kicked at a ball of spent sticking plasters on the floor, and was gone.

THE STOMACH and the steel extolled by the captain were called on from the moment he lost the coin toss the following morning and, to the undisguised irritation of his players, the Australians were forced to field in heat that would have cowed rattlesnakes.

As early as the squad’s arrival in Colombo a month prior, team medical staff had expressed fears that mid-October in Sharjah could present a serious health threat. Constant daily temperatures above 40C coupled with 90 per cent humidity meant players were likely to lose up to three kilograms of body weight through fluid loss over the course of a two-hour session

On that Test’s first day, a thermometer placed on the pitch during the lunch break showed 48 degrees. But so intent was Stephen Waugh on showing the Pakistanis that his team was mentally and physically stronger, he instructed his men to run between their fielding positions at every rotation of strike and each over’s end.

It was strategy ruthlessly lifted from Erwin Rommel’s desert playbook, and likewise produced its share of casualties.

After bowling three overs, Andy Bichel, the raw-boned Queenslander who boasted commando-level fitness and endurance, became so disoriented he wandered, dazed, in the opposite direction to his assigned fielding location. Two overs later, he was helped to the dressing room and immediately placed on a saline drip.

Brett Lee was mystified by the muddy pool that started to form on the popping crease soon after he began his stint with the ball. It turned out that sweat was being squeezed from his sodden socks, and out through a hole cut in the toe of his left boot to ease foot pressure as he hit his delivery stride.

Having bowled his three overs, he strapped an ice vest under his shirt and, from then on, he and Glenn McGrath operated in one-over spells.

And most of their teammates wore towelling collars stuffed with ice cubes around their necks, in a throwback to the wetted neckerchief sported by Douglas Jardine during the equally intemperate Bodyline summer of 70 years earlier.

As an exercise in human endurance, it bordered on lunacy. But as a test of wills, it was a no-contest.

Spooked by their superhuman opponents, it was the Pakistan batsmen who wilted.

 

Saba is trolling them hardcore walking around in his hoodie.

Met him last night. He is such a dreamboat!!!!

Met him last night. He is such a dreamboat!!!!

 

   

 

   

yep, totally had a moment  

Met him last night. He is such a dreamboat!!!!

 

   

 

   

Did he see his new GF?

mmmmmm

 

Met him last night. He is such a dreamboat!!!!

 

   

 

   

 

 

Did he see his new GF?

 

mmmmmm

 

 

I know his sister was there...

that's still hilarious. waiting for my missus to ask me the same thing about spira

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/soccer/western-sydney-wanderers/western-sydney-wanderers-antony-golec-never-envisaged-scenes-of-hysteria-20141104-11gubc.html

"I never saw this day coming": Antony Golec.

"I never saw this day coming": Antony Golec.Photo: Getty Images

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By MICHAEL CHAMMAS

Wanderers defender Antony Golec admits he never imagined the day when football fans from Sydney's west would put aside their differences and unite behind one team.

 

There were incredible scenes at Sydney Airport on Monday night as 2000 diehard Wanderers fans welcomed home the Asian Champions League winners with a rock star reception.

 

Golec, who played most of his junior football at Sydney United, saw firsthand how uninterested the west was with football after the demise of the National Soccer League.

 

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But the introduction of the Western Sydney Wanderers changed all that and has united a once fractured region.

 

"I never saw this day coming," Golec said.

 

"A lot of people were sceptical about having the fans of the old NSL teams coming together and I think that's why the A-League didn't start with a team in the west. They didn't know what the reaction from the fans would be and they sort of turned their back to the game.

 

"It was a bit of a risk starting the Wanderers when they did but everyone is now licking their lips over the Wanderers. It's unbelievable what this club has done in such a short period of time. It's gone up so fast and it's only going to keep rising."

 

Golec, like many of his Wanderers teammates, is of Croatian background.

 

Sydney United fans were up in arms over the demise of the NSL, admitting there was a time when the Croatian community did not care about the A-League.

 

"That definitely was the case and I saw that coming from a Cro background," Golec said.

 

"They didn't care for it. They wanted to support Sydney United and that was their team. The west was crying out for something. But it was as if everyone was too scared to try something. Now that it has happened, everyone has embraced it. They actually have a team they call their own now.

 

"It's been a fairytale start and it will continue to spread through the whole of western Sydney. The Wanderers have put western Sydney on the map. No one knew anything about the Wanderers; now the first thing people say when they talk about the west is the Wanderers."

 

Now the Wanderers are one win away from a showdown with football club giants Real Madrid, needing to overcome Mexico's Cruz Azul to set up a date with Cristiano Ronaldo and company.

 

"This is the team we all wake up for at 3.30am to watch in the Champions League against Liverpool," Golec said.

 

"To potentially be playing that team in December is unreal. That puts us on the map even more now. The fans have been on a long journey. This is not just for the fans of the Wanderers, but for football in Australia."

 

http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2014/10/12/steve-waugh-uae-series-australia-pakistan-2002-book-extract-andrew-ramsey

 

Back in 2002 when Australia had to play Pakistan in the UAE due to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars

About 2 weeks late but I thought this straight away lol

I dedicate my 1000th post to this fine man.

:wub:

I dedicate my 1000th post to this fine man.

 

 

 

:wub:

I didn't see him at halftime with the trophy today which I thought was interesting. Could he be one of the players heading to the east?

I didn't see him at halftime with the trophy today which I thought was interesting. Could he be one of the players heading to the east?

Nah, he was there...but in a suit. 

 

I didn't see him at halftime with the trophy today which I thought was interesting. Could he be one of the players heading to the east?

 

 

Nah, he was there...but in a suit.

Hmmm?

 

 

I didn't see him at halftime with the trophy today which I thought was interesting. Could he be one of the players heading to the east?

 

Nah, he was there...but in a suit.

 

Hmmm?

 

Who's the guy between Lo and Sotirio? I don't recognise him.

The plot thickens.

no plot, that's tom manos from nyl team (gk)

Best thing about above photo is seeing the players and fans mesh in as one. The players background is as diverse as us.

Great shot

 

 

I didn't see him at halftime with the trophy today which I thought was interesting. Could he be one of the players heading to the east?

 

Nah, he was there...but in a suit.

Hmmm?

There was a picture of him in the crowd last night in a WSW home Jersey, but I can't remember if that's him! He was definitely there though! (Referring to fifta not Golec)

Getty images reckons that's him.

It was him!

 

 

 

I didn't see him at halftime with the trophy today which I thought was interesting. Could he be one of the players heading to the east?

 

Nah, he was there...but in a suit.

Hmmm?

Isn't that a cronulla shark player in the background? I think it's fafita lol

 

The can above Santa's head looks like the guy in grey wearing the hat is carrying a keg.  

ill just leave this here...

  :wub:  

  :wub:  

His Beard game is quite strong lol

From when he was at Adelaide:

If anyone can see this pic or saved it please let me know.

Yeah he's so keen and committed to be a Wanderer he's leaving to go to China again...........

Yeah he's so keen and committed to be a Wanderer he's leaving to go to China again...........

Can't really blame him for getting one last pay day, I'm sure he isn't on a lot here at WSW. I know fhat he loves everything about WSW but when it comes down to your future, how can you say no?