Alex Smith will be a key man in FNQ Heat’s hopes of securing Westfield FFA Cup progression and not just because of what he can do on the pitch.
The Cairns club will travel to Victoria to play PS4 NPL powerhouse Oakleigh Cannons in the round of 32 following Wednesday’s draw in Sydney.
Smith knows all about the Cannons having played for the club back in 2013, scoring two goals in just nine appearances before moving north to join Heat.
Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 draw confirmed!
And he plans to pass on all his knowledge of his old club in the lead-up to the clash in the hope of giving Heat the edge.
“I’m sure there are a few things I know about their players and club as a whole that I can pass on to the boys,” Smith told the Cairns Post.
“Oakleigh is a very strong club with an excellent set up…they are a club with a lot of culture, history and tradition.
“They’ve just signed a few ex A-League players so they’ll definitely be tough.”
Smith himself has Hyundai A-League experience having made 40 appearances for Wellington Phoenix between 2011 and ’13.
He’s been the star in Heat’s progression to the last 32, scoring a stack of goals to get the club to this stage.
The English-born 29-year-old scored four times in the 6-1 drubbing of Stratford in an earlier round before securing their spot in the round of 32 with a hat-trick against Frenchville.
Heat boss Kevin Maher admitted he was slightly disappointed with the draw but gives his side a fighting chance of causing an upset against one of Victoria’s premier sides.
“Ideally, like I’ve said all along it would have been great to draw an A-League team, at home,” Heat coach Kevin Maher said.
“But it doesn’t matter, the guys now have a chance to head to Melbourne and do well down there.”
