FOOTBALL: Coaches at Monaro were almost ready to hit the panic button after conceding 11 goals in their first two winless games, but assistant coach Pepe Lopera said new signings, a new attitude and renewed confidence from two recent wins has seen them turn a corner.
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Thanks to Route1management the Panthers have signed Ghana's Michael Mensah and Canberrans Michael Pochi and Anthony Giorgi, who will jet off to Spanish and Italian teams later this year.
Mensah and Giogi helped the Panthers down Lanyon United 5-0 in the FFA Cup last week to secure them a spot in the final eight- Mensah scored twice in Monaro's win and Giorgi sealed the deal with a volley in stoppage time.
"Ability-wise we've turned a corner," Lopera said.
"Our old heads are clicking and giving good advice to our younger players and the younger players are driving the older players.
"The FFA cup was a good confidence builder to give us the winning mentality.
"Mentally we're a whole new side."
The Panthers will lose recruits Pochi and Giorgi and goal sneak Daniel Linstead to overseas football commitments later this year, but Lopera is confident the team can reap the benefits of the trio before they leave.
"Hopefully they'll play a mentoring role before they go," he said.
"And we'll provide a welcoming environment for them to come back to.
"The rest of the boys will have to step up when they go- there are a few under-20s who are playing really well."
The Panthers take on Gungahlin United at Riverside Stadium this Sunday and Lopera said he is expecting a tough battle but is not counting his boys out.
"Gungahlin will be a tough test, but we want to show we've turned a corner," he said.
"We've shown that if we stick to our tactics the fruits of our labour will show."
