Danny Vukovic to play tomorrow in Canberra

and Ivan Slavich wants your support at the game at Canberra Stadium tomorrow..read today's Canberra Times article below...and six Young Rockets have been asked to train with Mariners today.


Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic may be banned from the Olympics but he will be included in the squad to play the Newcastle Jets in a pre-season game at CanberraStadium tomorrow.

It will be his first appearance since he was suspended for striking a referee in last year's Grand Final, against the Jets.

The Canberra Times reported two weeks ago that in the latest twist to Vukovic's suspension he is currently allowed to play in Australia, despite FIFA banning him from taking part in the Olympics.

Vukovic was originally banned for 15 months, with six months suspended,after striking referee Mark Shield in the final minutes of last year's grand final.
But the FFA then cut the ban over a two month period, so that Vukovic could play for the under-23 Olyroos, at this year's Olympics.

FIFA then overruled the FFA decision and last week the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed a final appeal from the Mariners that put an end to his Beijing hopes.But the FIFA ban only refers to international games, which means Vukovic is free to play in Australia during the ban-free window from June 25 to August 28.
Yesterday Central Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna said Vukovic will be included in the squad, but he will sit on the bench with Andrew Redmayne starting the game for the Mariners.

''They may play 45 minutes each, we don't know yet,'' McKinna said.''But he's available and he'll definitelybe on the bench.'' The Mariners squad will be much stronger than the team that played two pre-season trials in Canberra two weeks ago.
Since then, former Melbourne Victorymidfielder Adrian Caceres has joined for his first training sessions and Mile Jedinak has returned from Socceroo camps.

Caceres will start his first game for the Mariners while former Canberra national soccer league striker Nik Mrdja will play his first game after returning from a long absence due to a knee injury.

Mrdja will be given 15 minutes off the bench.Popular midfielder Andre Gumprecht will also be on the bench after he was re-signed on Tuesday.McKinna said he expected tomorrow's game to turn out better than their last grand final re-match which the Jets won 1-0 on the Central Coast last month.

''That game we had most of the possession and they scored against the run of play,'' McKinna said.''They've had the wood on us the last few times, and it doesn't really matter what team we have on the park, we still want to win the game.''Both the Mariners and Newcastle Jets squads will arrive in Canberra today.

The Jets will train at the AIS football fields from 4pm and the Mariners from 5pm. A number of Mariners players, including captain Alex Wilkinson and Jedinak, will visit Kanga Cup finals today.

TOMORROW
A-League trial game: Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets at Canberra Stadium, 1pm.
Gates open at 12.
Tickets available from ticketek. Adults $12, Children 13-17 $5, Students, $5, family ticket (Two adults and two children) $29.All Kanga Cup players with ID and children under-12 are free