Day: January 8, 2004

Thursday, 8 January 2004 12:00 AM

South Melbourne today clarified its application to be part of the Victorian Premier League.

“Our move is a strategic option that may also enable us to play our Youth players in Victoria’s premier competition as part of a career path strategy and one that supports local soccer” said Club CEO Mark Patterson.

“I do not want this application to be perceived as showing any lack of confidence in our success to be part of the new National competition. On the contrary said Patterson today “We are of the view that our National application will be successful and that we will be a strong and valuable asset to the new league” he said.

What South Melbourne can also do is help strengthen Victorian soccer by adding its brand and its players to the local competition that provides young players with an opportunity to develop their careers.

“I see this as a real test for the ability of the Victorian soccer administrators to see a vision for the future and to look at the positives that the changes to the national competition can have locally. South Melbourne’s participation can indicate how a National club can assist to lift the profile and credibility of the local game,” said Patterson. “This also creates an opportunity for South Melbourne to provide a 12 month on-field operation that will benefit our commercial and player development operations,” added Patterson.

South Melbourne sees its role as broader than just a National club and believes it can offer strength within Victoria both on-field and in terms of promoting the game within the wider community as well” Patterson went onto say.

This Premier League move is just as much about South Melbourne wanting to continue to be a proactive participant at all levels of soccer as it is about protecting any potential National position whilst it continues to assist game development in Victoria.

Thursday, 8 January 2004 12:00 AM

By Michael Tsoukalis

This Sunday’s encounter looms as an extremely important fixture for both Sydney United and the home side South Melbourne.

With South having opened up a 4 point lead atop the NSL just 3 weeks ago, Stuart Munro’s men looked in a great position to comfortably make the finals. Two narrow successive losses to the Wollongong Wolves and the Brisbane Strikers have put South in a somewhat uncomfortable 3rd position with the teams behind them having games in hand.

Sydney United may have the league’s best defence – having only conceded an astonishing 7 goals thus far (though midweek the United defence leaked 5 against the Power) – however, their lack of productivity in front of goals sees them clinging on the edge of the final’s race in 6th position.

Rookie NSL Coach Grant Lee has managed to form a very competitive unit with a defensive emphasis on – like many clubs in the NSL this season – a very low budget. Makeshift defender Damon Collina has done a superb job linking with experienced NSL campaigners Mark Rudan and Joe Vrkic to form the league’s best defence. United’s defensive strength was also boosted pre-season with the acquisition of ex-Parramatta Power custodian Liam Reddy who has re-affirmed the belief that he is one the best young keepers in the country with a great start to his career as a “Braveheart”.

The nippy roaming presence of influential midfielder Anthony Doumanis is always a concern for the opposition as is the sheer pace and acceleration that forward Zeljko Babic brings to the line-up. Babic has been vastly out of form this season having only scored once, however, this fact alone should make the South defence weary as Babic’s immense work rate always presents a danger to the opposition.

Conversely, South will be hoping that Marcus Stergiopoulos pulls up fit after missing the past two encounters with an injured ankle. Stergiopoulos’s presence has been vastly missed as his holding role in front of the defence has been of great importance in South’s tremendous first half of the season. Furthermore the late withdrawal – to injury – of left wingback Sam Poutakidis in last week’s encounter against the Strikers also saw South loose one of their most consistent performers to date. The South faithful and coaching staff will be hoping that Poutakidis returns as soon as possible.

South’s squad depth is well known across the league and the challenge will once again be left up to Coach Munro to find his best 11. With a vast array of experienced campaigners and talented youth players at his disposal, it shall be interesting to see if the former Glasgow Rangers stalwart can find the right mix.