Jaushua Sotirio on his journey of self-belief and his love for the Red & Black.
Jaushua Sotirio on his journey of self-belief and his love for the Red & Black.
One of the most familiar faces in Wanderers history, youngster Jaushua Sotirio has been in the Wanderers development system since day one.
Growing up in the inner west around Summer Hill and Ash eld, Sotirio played his junior football with Five Dock and Leichhardt before moving onto Marconi Stallions.
The forward made his Hyundai A-League debut against Newcastle Jets in Round 10 of the 2013/14 season.
The exciting attacker continued to grow and soon found himself on the pitch in the AFC Champions League victory over FC Seoul and scored his first goal in Red & Black soon after against Perth Glory in Round 6 of the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League season.
Sotirio’s breakthrough season came in 2015/16 as he became a first team regular, playing in 22 first team matches and scoring one goal.
But it has been arguably in one of the Wanderers toughest season’s in history that Sotirio has shone through, growing in leaps and bounds.
The second-half of the 2018/19 season has been about pride in the Wanderers and there’s no player that has more faith in the Red & Black than Sotirio.
“It’s been a bit of a crazy season and one that I’ve never experienced before actually,” said Sotirio.
“We’ve played some good football in patches but we’ve just been unlucky with not getting the result and it’s been hard on the boys.
“It’s been hard on morale, we’ve been a bit down but we’ve been trying our best.
“We always give our 100% in every game, so we’ve just gotta play for pride and give it all back to the fans and ourselves.”
Such year of growth for Sotirio has come from a mix of self-belief and guidance from senior and experienced coaching staff.
“I’ve been here for a while now at the club and I’ve won the Asian Champions League as well so it means the world to me,” reflects Sotirio.
“It’s been my only Hyundai A-League club so you know I’ve always given my all and I always will give my all.
“You know I’m still learning every day, especially with the foreigners, they’ve been at the highest level so I’m still learning everyday off them.
“You know on things like how I can improve my game, you know they’re giving me pointers and tips on how I can make better runs or have better movement.”
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Sotirio’s hard yards at the Red & Black have been paying off with the 23-year-old’s goal against Melbourne City being voted by the Hyundai A-League as Goal of the Month for January.
This was backed up by another spectacular performance by Sotirio against the Mariners where he helped secure a crucial win for the club.
“The goal against the Mariners, you know it was a very important game – an important game for the whole club, the players, for everyone,” said Sotirio.
“We’ve had a big rough patch and that win was an important win.
“You know I did that celebration, it was just a bit of banter with the crowd.
“Because I cop a lot of negativity and criticism and you know it’s just a way of saying you know keep talking and I’ll just prove myself on the field.”
And prove himself he has with things only looking up for Sotirio if he continues to apply himself the way he has. Either way, the youngster will be forever remembered as one of the most loyal and faithful to have ever worn the Wanderers hoops
