Central Coast Mariners striker Alou Kuol insists that qualifying for the AFC Champions League is the season target, following a string of strong performances in the A-League.
The Mariners have finished last in the league in four of the last five seasons, including an ignominious run of 11 consecutive defeats as they finished at the rock bottom of the Australian top flight last year.
But the 2020-21 campaign has seen the Gosford club turn out to be the surprise package, with three victories – over Newcastle Jets, Macarthur FC and Sydney FC – in their five games so far.
Those strong performances see the Mariners currently sitting in second place, tied on nine points with league leaders Brisbane Roar. Kuol has managed to hit the back of the net on three occasions, which accounts for half the number of goals scored by his side so far this season.
Meanwhile, the club’s manager Alen Stajcic has in the past insisted that AFC Champions League qualification is the target for the club this season, and the 19-year-old striker has echoed a similar sentiment.
“The target for us is the Asian Champions League,” Kuol told SBS The World Game.
“If we can qualify for that then we’ll be in the semis automatically. But if we can get a top two spot, or top three, and qualify for the Asian Champions League, then that would be great.
“The last few years have been rough for the club and for all of the fans and for the players. But we’re really working hard, proving everyone wrong and causing upsets.
“So we’ve got to keep being the underdogs and get results, we want to be in the top half of the ladder this season. There’s a lot of good vibes around the area, the Coast hasn’t been happier in a few years so it’s looking good.”
Central Coast Mariners continue their quest for an AFC Champions League spot with an A-League game against Melbourne City on Wednesday night.
