Del Piero must wait for Sydney FC debut

Published Sep. 18, 2012 4:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

Former Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero has trained with his new teammates at Sydney FC for the first time but will need to wait until next week for his first practice match for the A-League club.

Del Piero was expected to turn out in Sydney colors for the first time on Saturday in a trial match against Newcastle in the small township of Budgewoi. But coach Ian Crook said Tuesday the match did not go ahead. Sydney is now expected to play against A-League rival Central Coast behind closed doors sometime next week.

Crook also said midfielder Terry McFlynn would continue to captain Sydney while 37-year-old Del Piero would have a leadership role as a senior player.