Day: September 7, 2010

Tuesday, 7 September 2010 12:42 PM

By George Kouroumalis

Fernando De Moraes has continued an amazing individual week by capturing the 2010 Victorian Premier League Gold Medal for the Player of the Year Award. In a glorious night at the Victory Room at Etihad Stadium, De Moraes was able to create South Melbourne FC history by becoming the Club’s first ever recipient of the medal.

Despite missing three VPL games due to injury in 2010, Fernando polled three votes in the final game against Sunshine George Cross to win the medal by a single vote over Heidelberg’s Yanni Galanos. Fernando’s season was made all the more exceptional with 13 league goals, which placed him in second position on the league’s Golden Boot tally behind Northcote City’s Trent Rixon. What made this achievement even more remarkable was that his goals came from midfield and that he was also a key contributor in setting up many of South’s other goals.

In more fantastic news for South Melbourne FC, goalkeeper Peter Zois was awarded the 2010 Victorian Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year award. Zois produced many first-class saves in an individually outstanding season that culminated in seven clean sheets but more importantly several match-winning saves. He was rewarded with his first Goalkeeper of the Year award and now joins former South captain Dean Anastasiadis as the only South goalkeepers to have won this award, with Dean winning back-to-back awards in 2005 and 2006.

South Melbourne FC congratulates both Fernando De Moraes and Peter Zois on their wonderful individual achievements and hopes that their outstanding 2010 form continues in the RHB Singapore Cup next month and then in the 2011 Victorian Premier League season.

smfcTV – Fernando De Moraes 2010 Highlights

smfcTV – Peter Zois 2010 Highlights

Tuesday, 7 September 2010 10:09 AM

South Melbourne FC is saddened to learn of the recent passing of Mr Michael Lalos, the last surviving founding member of the Club. Mr Lalos passed away at the age of 85.

Mr Lalos was born on 17 July 1925 and helped form South Melbourne FC (then the South Melbourne Hellas Soccer Club) in 1959. He was on the committee from 1959 until 1966, overseeing the glorious Victorian State League championships of 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1966. His son Louis continued the tradition by serving on the South Melbourne FC committee from 1989 until 1995 and overseeing the 1991 National Soccer League championship.

Mr Lalos was buried late last week. South Melbourne FC provided a Club scarf to the Lalos family for the funeral as a mark of respect.

South Melbourne FC wishes to extend its deepest sympathies to the Lalos family at their time of grieving and wishes to thank Mr Michael Lalos for all the hard work that he did in helping to establish our great Club 51 years ago.

SMFC President, Leo Athanasakis told smfc.com.au “we are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our club founders. Mr Lalos’ hard work and contribution to the Club will never be forgotten”.

Tuesday, 7 September 2010 9:19 AM

By John Kyrou

Fernando De Moraes capped off a superb individual season by winning the 2010 Theo Marmaras Medal last Thursday night. The midfielder completed a clean sweep of the awards by also winning the 2010 Golden Boot award.

De Moraes finished on 63 votes in the Marmaras Medal count, four ahead of vice captain Steven O’Dor and Peter Zois, who both finished equal second on 59 votes. In the Golden Boot tally, De Moreas finished with 13 league goals from 19 league games, six clear of second-placed Gianni De Nittis (7). Even more remarkable was the fact that De Moraes claimed both awards having missed three league matches during the season and that his goals during 2010 elevated him to equal eighth with Doug Brown (1983-1985) on South’s all-time leading league goal scorers list (48 goals each).

In his speech after accepting the awards, De Moraes spoke glowingly of the fact that South Melbourne FC was like a second family from him, and that all he wanted to do was play as many matches and score as many goals as possible for the team. De Moraes also spoke highly of his team-mates, noting that “football is a team game and it takes great team-mates to work hard to set you up for goal scoring opportunity…and I am lucky to play in a great team.”

South Melbourne FC congratulates Fernando De Moraes on winning the 2010 Theo Marmaras Medal and the Golden Boot award and looks forward to seeing his outstanding form continue in the 2010 RHB Singapore Cup before the 2011 Victorian Premier League season.

smfcTV – Fernando De Moraes 2010 Highlights