Day: January 13, 2014

By John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC regrets to advise that its Championship winning player Fernando De Moraes will not play for the Club in 2014. Fernando, who has otherwise been known around the Club as ‘Fern’ or ‘Nando’, leaves behind an outstanding playing career with his beloved Blue and Whites.

Officially Fernando became a South Melbourne FC player on Friday 18 March 2005 when he signed for John Anastasiadis’ side, though he had trialled with the Club a few years earlier when it was in the old National Soccer League. At the 2013 South Melbourne FC Gala Ball, Fernando humorously noted that Anastasiadis was initially reluctant to sign him so he also went for trials at the Bentleigh Greens. Anastasiadis then gave him a chance to shine in a friendly match and was impressed with what he saw.

At the time of his signing, Fernando noted that “I saw South play in the World Club Championship in Brazil back in 2000 against some of the biggest sides in the world…from there I always wanted to play for the Club.” Anastasiadis was pleased to sign his new star, adding that “Fernando comes from a place known for its flash and brilliance, and we hope that some of that can be put on show throughout the 2005 season”, something that definitely occurred many times throughout his playing career at the Club.

Fernando De Moraes made his South Melbourne FC debut against Green Gully at Green Gully Reserve on Sunday 10 April 2005, a game that Green Gully won 1-0 in front of a crowd of 2500. He made his home debut at Lakeside Stadium the following Sunday as Preston defeated South 1-0 in front of a crowd of over 7000. His first goal for the Club didn’t arrive until Sunday 5 June when his free kick from outside the box in the 87th minute sealed a 3-1 victory against the Frankston Pines at Lakeside Stadium.

Fernando only scored three goals in 2005 but had a break-out 2006 season that elevated his status to a champion player not only for South but for the entire Victorian Premier League. He scored 12 goals over the course of the season – including scoring a double on three occasions – with his goals helping South cement a third placed finish on the Premier League ladder. Despite all those goals, his most important contribution that season (and perhaps in his entire South career) was his assist from a left-footed cross from the left side that found Gianni De Nittis to head home the winning goal in the Grand Final against Altona Magic on Sunday 24 September 2006. Not surprisingly, Fernando was awarded the Jimmy Rooney Medal that day as the best player on the field in the Grand Final, the first of many awards for him at South.

Despite South’s disappointing 2007 and 2008 seasons, Fernando played his part by scoring 13 goals during those seasons (four in 2007 and nine in 2008), winning the SMFC Golden Boot in 2008. In 2009, he scored seven goals – including a cheeky goal in the final round of the home and away season against Sunshine George Cross (Sunday 15 August 2009 at Lakeside Stadium) – that gave South a 1-0 victory and ensured that it qualified for the finals series in the Club’s 50th year. He had another outstanding year in 2010, with fourteen goals across all competitions (13 in the League, 1 in the Singapore Cup) and scored his 50th League goal for the Club the following season against St Albans in the 2-0 victory at Churchill Reserve on Sunday 3 April 2011. Fernando’s biggest haul of goals in a single match was when he scored six goals in the 14-0 demolition of Yarraville Glory in the fifth round of the Dockerty Cup at John Cain Reserve on Tuesday 26 April 2011.

His 2012 and 2013 seasons were the quietest for him in terms of League matches played and goals scored, however he still made important contributions to the team. His equalising goal against the Oakleigh Cannons on Friday 30 March 2012 got the ball rolling for South as it steamrolled the Cannons to win 3-1 at Jack Edwards Reserve. In last year’s Dockerty Cup Quarter Final on Tuesday 23 July 2013, South fought back from 0-2 down to level 2-2 with Preston before Fernando stepped up and scored two goals to seal a 4-2 victory and passage through to the Semi Finals of that competition.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC President Leo Athanasakis said “we are saddened by the news that Fernando has decided to hang up his boots and bring an end to what has been an exceptional and illustrious career. Fernando has achieved a tremendous amount of success with the Club and he was the best player in the Victorian Premier League for many years. However, it was his humanity and warmth with the South Melbourne family and football fraternity that endeared him to so many. He wore the South shirt with great pride and distinction. He knocked back ludicrous offers to remain loyal to the Club which exemplifies what a true club man he is. Thank you Fernando”.

Fernando departs the Club as a player having played 174 League matches, scoring 53 goals in the process. Across all competitions, he played 182 games and scored 62 goals. Furthermore, he leaves as a Championship winning player, and as a player that all supporters have long admired for his skill and flair and most importantly, his loyalty and love for the Club.

Fernando De Moraes

DOB: 21 January 1980

SMFC Statistics

Signed: Friday 18 March 2005
Debut: Sunday 10 April 2005 (v Green Gully at Green Gully Reserve, 0-1)
First Goal: Sunday 5 June 2005 (v Frankston Pines at Lakeside Stadium, 3-1)
50th Goal (All Comps): Friday 25 February 2011 (v Springvale White Eagles at White Eagles Stadium, 6-4)
50th Goal (VPL): Sunday 3 April 2011 (v St Albans Saints at Churchill Reserve, 2-0)
Matches/Goals (VPL only): 174 games, 53 goals
Matches/Goals (All Comps): 182 games, 62 goals

SMFC Honours:

 – Played in the 2006 VPL Championship winning side
– Jimmy Rooney Medal Winner in the 2006 VPL Grand Final
– SMFC Golden Boot Winner 2006, 2008, 2010
– Played in the 2007, 2009, 2011 Hellenic Cup Championship winning sides
– VPL Gold Medal Winner (Player of the Year) 2010
– Theo Marmaras Medalist (SMFC Player of the Year) 2010

All Goals from Fernando De Moraes’ career at SMFC:

Year

Round

Date

Opponent

Venue

Score

Goal(s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

16

Sunday 05 June

Frankston Pines

Lakeside Stadium

3-1

87′

 

26

Sunday 21 August

Bentleigh Greens

Lakeside Stadium

3-1

7′

 

EF

Saturday 27 August

Altona Magic

Lakeside Stadium

3-0

7′

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

4

Sunday 26 February

Preston Lions

Lakeside Stadium

2-1

63’p

 

9

Sunday 09 April

Richmond Eagles

Lakeside Stadium

2-1

20’p

 

11

Sunday 30 April

Bulleen Zebras

Lakeside Stadium

4-1

69′

 

13

Sunday 14 May

Green Gully

Lakeside Stadium

3-0

38′, 55′

 

14

Sunday 21 May

Heidelberg United

Lakeside Stadium

3-1

53′

 

6

Sunday 11 June

Melbourne Knights

Lakeside Stadium

7-0

65′, 71′

 

24

Monday 14 August

Bulleen Zebras

Veneto Club

1-1

25’p

 

25

Sunday 20 August

Frankston Pines

Lakeside Stadium

5-1

70′, 82′

 

EF

Friday 01 September

Green Gully

Lakeside Stadium

3-0

83′

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

2

Friday 09 March

Richmond Eagles

Kevin Bartlett Reserve

3-2

73′

 

3

Friday 16 March

Essendon Royals

Veneto Club

2-0

85′

 

10

Sunday 13 May

Springvale White Eagles

Lakeside Stadium

6-0

24′

 

14

Friday 08 June

Western Suburbs

Lakeside Stadium

2-1

31’p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

2

Sunday 24 February

Hume City (Coburg Utd)

Lakeside Stadium

1-2

82′

 

3

Sunday 02 March

Western Suburbs

Lakeside Stadium

5-0

28′, 59′

 

9

Sunday 20 April

Fawkner Blues

Lakeside Stadium

6-2

66′

 

13

Sunday 18 May

Frankston Pines

Lakeside Stadium

3-1

73′

 

17

Sunday 15 June

Oakleigh Cannons

Lakeside Stadium

3-1

13′

 

21

Sunday 20 July

Melbourne Knights

Lakeside Stadium

2-2

31’p

 

26

Sunday 24 August

Frankston Pines

Monterey Reserve

3-1

69′, 81′

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

4

Sunday 22 March

Melbourne Knights

Lakeside Stadium

2-1

50′

 

5

Tuesday 31 March

Whittlesea Zebras

Lakeside Stadium

3-1

79′

 

7

Saturday 18 April

Green Gully

Green Gully Reserve

2-2

12’p

 

12

Saturday 23 May

Dandenong Thunder

George Andrews Reserve

2-2

76′

 

16

Sunday 28 June

Whittlesea Zebras

Lakeside Stadium

4-0

35′

 

17

Friday 10 July

Richmond Eagles

Kevin Bartlett Reserve

3-1

90+4′

 

22

Saturday 15 August

Sunshine George Cross

Lakeside Stadium

1-0

65′

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

1

Sunday 28 February

Altona Magic

Paisley Park

1-1

85′

 

2

Sunday 07 March

Bentleigh Greens

Lakeside Stadium

1-1

80’p

 

3

Saturday 13 March

Northcote City

Lakeside Stadium

3-3

11′

 

4

Sunday 21 March

Green Gully

Lakeside Stadium

2-1

7’p, 57′

 

8

Sunday 25 April

Hume City

Broadmeadows Park

6-0

37′

 

10

Saturday 08 May

Oakleigh Cannons

Kingston Heath Complex

1-2

14′

 

14

Sunday 06 June

Northcote City

John Cain Reserve

2-3

24′

 

13

Friday 11 June

Bentleigh Greens

Kingston Heath Complex

1-0

85′

 

20

Sunday 01 August

Richmond Eagles

John Cain Reserve

2-2

14′

 

21

Friday 06 August

Oakleigh Cannons

Jack Edwards Reserve

1-0

30′

 

22

Sunday 15 August

Sunshine George Cross

Knights Stadium

4-0

13′, 61′

 

SCQF

Friday 08 October

Bangkok Glass

Jalan Besar Stadium

3-3

37’p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

2

Friday 25 February

Springvale White Eagles

White Eagles Stadium

6-4

50′

 

7

Sunday 03 April

St Albans Saints

Churchill Reserve

2-0

18′

 

DCR5

Tuesday 26 April

Yarraville Glory

John Cain Reserve

14-0

19′, 53′, 70′, 71′, 80′, 83′

 

12

Saturday 14 May

Green Gully

Green Gully Reserve

2-3

11’p, 58’p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

2

Friday 30 March

Oakleigh Cannons

Jack Edwards Reserve

3-1

56′

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

DCQF

Tuesday 23 July

Preston Lions

Lakeside Stadium

4-2

86′, 88′

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premier League Goals:

53

 

 

 

 

 

Dockerty Cup Goals:

8

 

 

 

 

 

Singapore Cup Goals:

1

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL:

62

 

By John Kyrou on behalf of the SMFC Media Team: George Kouroumalis, David Henning, Paul Zarogiannis, Cindy Nitsos, Michael Dimoudis, Tim Dovas, Paul Mavroudis and Steven Orchard

We were very sad when we heard that Fernando De Moraes had decided to retire from playing outdoor football and retire from playing for our great Club. We thought it was only too appropriate to write this tribute to him to show him how much of a friend and supporter he has been to us in his time at the Club.

Fernando joined the Club nine games into our first season in the Victorian Premier League back in 2005. He played his first game for us against Green Gully on 10 April 2005 (League match), a game that we lost 1-0. His last appearance for the Club – ironically – was also against Green Gully (Dockerty Cup match) that we also lost 1-0 on 21 August 2013. In between, we saw him make 174 League appearances for 53 goals and represent the Club in official games (League, Dockerty Cup, Singapore Cup) on 182 occasions for 62 goals. He won numerous awards, all of which can be seen in the official Club release announcing his retirement. When he was on song, he was the best player in the VPL by a mile. However there was more to him than just being a great player on the field, it was what he was off the field that in our eyes made him a Champion of this Club.

When Fernando arrived at Lakeside Stadium, his command of English wasn’t the best, having only recently arrived from his native Brazil. With the help of great Club men at the time in Dean Anastasiadis, Con Blatsis and Tansel Baser, eventually he learnt to speak fluent English and he was able to properly interact with the fans post-match in the social club. It was in this setting that many supporters got to know him and see how he truly loved playing for South Melbourne. He had seen the Club play in the World Club Championships in Rio de Janeiro in 2000 and decided to join some members of his family (who were already in Melbourne) in making the move here. The coach John Anastasiadis eventually signed him and the rest as they say is history.

Our early impressions of Fernando in 2005 were that of a player that could score fantastic goals from free kicks and just loved playing football. When he was on song, the entire team lifted and a relatively youthful South side went as far as a Preliminary Final finish that season. The following year he exploded and scored 12 goals in an outstanding year that saw South win the VPL Championship thanks to his assist for De Nittis to score. Not surprisingly, he won the Jimmy Rooney Medal for being the best afield in that game.

SMFCTV was created in 2009 and has captured Fernando scoring some brilliant goals. In addition, he has been a great help to the Media Team in making himself available for interviews or photo shoots. Whenever we’ve needed him, he’s been more than happy to come and help out. He wasn’t lying in the 2012 membership advertisement when he said “this is my home, this is my family.” When we went into the rooms after matches we could see how much he loved it when we won and how much he was hurting when we lost. This is not to say that other players didn’t feel the same way also; however with a guy like Fern who had been around the Club for nearly a decade, he took the results like a supporter would because the Club means so much to him as it does to the supporters. Last year when we fought back from a 0-2 deficit against Preston in the Dockerty Cup, who stepped up to be counted? Fernando of course, with two goals in the final few minutes to seal a 4-2 win. If there was one player to rely on to do something to get the team out of trouble, it was him.

What makes a player a great Club man? We think it’s when they are prepared to step up and speak when the results aren’t the best. When we win games, many players are happy to be interviewed, however very few volunteer to do so when we lose. In the time we have done SMFCTV, there are only four players that have voluntarily stepped up to speak after losses and it is no surprise that all of them have captained the Club – Rama Tavsancioglu, Steve O’Dor, Brad Norton and of course Fernando. It is why all of them have our utmost respect and shows why they were all made captain in the first place.

Off the field, Fernando is an absolute gentleman. Whenever he sees us he stops to shake our hands and have a chat. He makes time to speak to everyone and it is little wonder why he is such a hit with the juniors and the younger supporters. Many other players should follow his lead because his off-field contributions to this Club have been enormous. His love of football and his football abilities – both in outdoor and futsal – is huge and it is again no surprise that he is an important player in the Australian Futsalroos team. He also loves coaching and we hope that one day he can be a coach in the South system.

Fernando De Moraes is without doubt the best player we’ve had in the VPL. On the field he was a star, off the field he is a gentleman. He is a true friend of South Melbourne FC and is a great friend of the Media Team and all of the supporters.

Fernando/Fern/Nando/Liliko, we are all sad that we won’t see you run amok in the VPL any more but we look forward to seeing you supporting our great Club on the terraces. Thanks for the unbelievable memories!