Following the departure of a Wanderers legend, a new captain is in town.
With the departure of incumbent Nikolai Topor- Stanley and the appointment of Dimas, the line Oh Captain! My Captain! has been bandied around a lot the past two weeks.
While Walt Whitman’s famous poem was inspired by the assassination of a leader, his catchcry has now taken on a new meaning in Wanderland, celebrating the rise of a new one.
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Following the moving abroad of Foundation player Topor-Stanley, the Red & Black were in need of a new club captain with the fans unanimous as to whom their preferred choice was. Experiencing the type of popularity amongst Wanderers faithful that made Whitman’s leader, Abraham Lincoln, such a figure in his country, Dimas was announced as the Red & Black’s new leader to wide acclaim.
In fact, it would not be unfair to say that following his first Hyundai A-League goal last Sunday, it is very unlikely there was a more popular man in Western Sydney at that moment as he celebrated with the RBB.
Official team photo shoot!! 2016/2017. @wswanderersfc ?⚫️ ?⚽️? pic.twitter.com/o3ZTZE3dnP
— Dimas Delgado (@DimasDelgadoMor) October 3, 2016
Joining the Red & Black in August 2015, Spanish midfielder Dimas did not take long to endear himself to the Wanderers’ fans after a series of dominant performances as a deep-lying midfielder.
Forming a formidable midfield unit with Mitch Nichols and fellow Spaniard, Andrea, Dimas was a lynchpin that helped steer the Red & Black to their third Grand Final in four seasons: and qualify for the AFC Champions League in the process.
In an off-season of player upheaval and replacement, it is perhaps telling that the new captain is the only one of five foreign players from the 2015/16 season to remain at the club.
It was great to meet some of our fans at Westfield Parramatta yesterday. @wswanderersfc #WSW ?⚫️ pic.twitter.com/czanfNrQbC
— Dimas Delgado (@DimasDelgadoMor) September 27, 2016
Deputised by Mitch Nichols, who is Vice Captain, Dimas become the third player to permanently captain the Wanderers following in the footsteps of inaugural skipper Michael Beauchamp and the recently departed Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
“I feel very, very good and I am so happy with this position and I am proud to be the captain of this fantastic club”, said Dimas.
“I think we can achieve great things this year and make it a great year for everyone. Hopefully we can win the league because the Club, the members and the fans deserve this.
“Being named captain is more than just putting on the armband. I think it is very important to be positive in all I do so I can give 100% service to the Club.
“For me the role is to help my mates on and off the field and of course to be here for the people – representing the Wanderers, not just the team but for the entire club.”
Dancing under the rain! Bailando bajo la lluvia! @wswanderersfc #japantour2016 #wsw ?⚫️ pic.twitter.com/DabtULIfaG
— Dimas Delgado (@DimasDelgadoMor) September 11, 2016
Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas praised the appointment of Dimas after witnessing firsthand the qualities he has as a player and an individual within the Club.
“Since arriving at this Club Dimas has earned the respect of his peers, teammates and coaching staff but has also endeared himself to our entire staff and membership”, said Tsatsimas.
“He is a standout candidate for this role and I praise our head coach Tony Popovic and his staff for their decision in appointing him as the leader, not just of the Hyundai A-League team but as Club Captain.
“Dimas commands respect and in his first season at the club quickly adopted our values and culture as his own, a task that was second nature to him which is a credit to the man. We look forward to him making this captaincy his own and leading this Club as we strive for success in the Hyundai A-League and Champions League this season.”
