Brothers Korey and Kyle Nix are determined to help Nambour Yandina United break a silverware hoodoo, after re-uniting at the soccer club during the off-season.
The Reds, formed as a joint venture in 1997, are desperately chasing a breakthrough title in the Sunshine Coast Football premier men’s competition.
After coming close in the past few years, they’re poised to snap the drought in 2021.
Korey helped them become a threat during the past three seasons, when he was head coach, with a grand final appearance in 2019 the highlight.
Now, he’s the senior technical director and junior coaching director at NYU, while Kyle returns to guide the men’s team after cutting his teeth as a head coach at Gympie.
Korey said the “timing was perfect” for Kyle to come back to the club he was previously at.
“The squad we’re assembling is looking probably better than ever,” he said.
“We were fourth last year and second the year before … this year with the players we’ve retained and the players coming to the club, our focus is to go one better.
“We want to challenge for top spot and get that grand final win that has eluded the club forever.”
Looking good
They showed their intention with a bright 4-3 trial win over the region’s state league team, the Sunshine Coast Wanderers, at Yandina on Saturday night.
Nick Scarff has returned to NYU after a stint at Maroochydore, while player-of-the-league Adam Croft has followed Kyle to the team from Gympie and Will Day has returned after being with Wanderers.
Former Sunshine Coast Fire captain Reyze Kelly is expected to provide the Reds with spark, after a couple of years out of the game.
“He has really found his mojo (in the preseason),” Korey said.
Kelly scored in his first appearance for the team, during a 3-1 trial loss against the Fire in front of a large crowd at Yandina last month.
“Reyze is a bit of a wildcard and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do,” Korey said.
Nambour Yandina also benefits from Alex Barlow, a strong player and assistant coach.
The club’s juniors are set to benefit from Korey’s new role.
“I’m really focusing on them this year,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of things organised, including trials. The club has never really had trials for its juniors before.”
“NYU is becoming a more attractive proposition for junior players now and I want to encourage them to check us out.”
Junior development
The Nix brothers are also keeping busy with K3 Coaching, which provides football guidance for juniors. They had camps during the holidays and provide tailored training to individuals and groups.
Kallum Nix, who recently moved back to England, has started running the program overseas.
He’ll also attempt to further develop his own football, after captaining the Sunshine Coast Football XI to a rare victory against a Brisbane XI last year.
Korey’s said they were eager to become more involved with local schools as well.
He’s contacted several of them, with the possibility of games being played at NYU.
Nambour Yandina United’s league campaign is due to start at Maroochydore on March 20, while their FFA Cup run kicks off on February 13.
