THE 2025 football season officially began last Friday night with the first round of the Kappa Pro Series as Redlands United FC hosted the Brisbane Strikers at Amcal Arena.
The Kappa Pro Series is a knockout tournament for top-tier teams from the NPL Men and FQPL 1 Men, running alongside regular season fixtures.
This competition provides clubs with additional match minutes and the opportunity to face varied opposition, enhancing their competitive edge throughout the year.
Redlands United, unfortunately, had a challenging start to the tournament, falling 3-0 to Brisbane Strikers.
The Strikers took control early in the second half, scoring two goals within the first three minutes to seal the victory.
Redlands United head coach Garrett McDuling reflected on his team’s performance after its round one game against the Strikers, acknowledging both the positives and areas for improvement.
“Today was a good chance for our boys to have their first competitive match,” he said.
“We’ve had a good pre- season leading to today’s round one game against the Strikers.
“We’re obviously disappointed with the goals we conceded, but we know exactly what we need to work on, and we look forward to bringing in a few new players that are yet to play for us.”
With a busy schedule ahead, the coach noted the challenge of managing the squad.
“It’s a quick turnover with the games as we play three games in the week, so we’ve got to rotate our squad and be mindful of loading going into the next couple of weeks,” he said.
With a tight turnaround between games in the Kappa Pro Series, after Wednesday night’s round two clash against NPL newcomers St George Willawong, United are back in action on Sunday afternoon (3pm) in round three against NPL heavyweights, Lions FC, also at home.
Looking ahead, McDuling was upbeat about the upcoming challenges.
“So again, it’s a good challenge for the boys and they’re always up for it,” he said.
In addition to its on-field endeavours, Redlands United FC is celebrating a significant off-field development.
The club has entered into a landmark partnership with Amcal Pharmacies, who will become its new major sponsor and the official naming rights partner for the stadium.
Effective immediately, the home ground of Redlands United will be known as The Amcal Arena.
This new agreement represents a substantial investment in the club and will see Amcal’s branding prominently displayed across player jerseys, training gear, stadium signage, and the club’s digital platforms.
Amcal will also support a range of community initiatives aimed at benefitting both the club’s members and the wider local community.
