Day: August 18, 2014

By George Kouroumalis & John Kyrou

It has been a long four year wait, however with the recent announcement that the Club has been granted a 40 year lease at Lakeside Stadium, construction of its Social club, Futsal centre and Administration offices will now commence and the dream now becomes a reality.

Last Tuesday afternoon, all stakeholders involved in the signing of the 40 year lease met inside the newly constructed Greek Community of Melbourne building in the CBD. Speaking exclusively to smfc.com.au and SMFC TV, The Honourable Matthew Guy (Minister for Planning) was elated that construction could now commence at Lakeside Stadium. “Firstly, I wish to thank the South Melbourne fans for remaining patient as they waited for this moment. We are pleased that a resolution of the 40 year lease has been achieved and that an iconic Victorian sporting club in South Melbourne FC can thrive in facilities that it deserves.” Minister Guy added that “we are also very pleased to honour the promises made to the Club.”

South Melbourne FC legal representative and Head of the Greek Community of Victoria, Bill Papastergiadis, was also thrilled at the resolution. “South Melbourne is not only an iconic football club, it is part of the Greek community of Victoria and its long history. I am very pleased that the Club has now secured itself at Lakeside Stadium for the next forty years and given itself a fantastic base in order to grow.”

Full interviews with both Minister Matthew Guy and Bill Papastergiadis, along with South Melbourne FC President Leo Athanasakis, Chairman Nick Galatas and SMFC Director for Youth Development Andrew Mesourouni can be seen exclusively on Tuesday night on SMFC TV on Channel 31 at 7PM.

It is expected that the Social Club area will have the capacity to seat close to 300 people and provide South Melbourne members and fans alike with an area to enjoy pre and post-match, as well as during the week. Part of this exciting new facility will be large screens showing many sporting events from around the world, as well as a new modern museum featuring the highlights, trophies and memorabilia of South Melbourne’s 55 year history.

The Club’s futsal court to be built in the remaining space, will be state of the art, which will be enjoyed not only by the club and its members but the local community.

South Melbourne FC is keen to have construction completed by early 2015 in preparation for the new National Premier League season

By John Kyrou (Photo by Cindy Nitsos)

South Melbourne FC moved one step closer to becoming Champions of National Premier League Victoria after grinding out a 0-1 win against the Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve on Saturday night. Jamie Reed’s goal just shy of the hour mark gave Chris Taylor’s side the three points to temporarily extend their lead at the top of the ladder to ten points, before second-placed Oakleigh Cannons defeated Werribee City 0-1 on Sunday to reduce South’s lead back to seven points.

South began Saturday night’s match in a strong fashion by controlling possession and putting a lot of pressure on the Dandenong defence. Apart from a clearance off the line however, South did not trouble Zaim Zeneli in the Dandenong goal. At the other end, South goalkeeper Chris Maynard – retained by Taylor after keeping a clean sheet in the 4-0 win over Werribee City last week – got in the way of Feston Azizi’s shot after the Dandenong player managed to sneak past the South defence on the right side.

The match was won on 59 minutes when Brad Norton slipped the ball through for Reed to fire past Zeneli at his near post for the striker’s tenth League goal of the season and eleventh across all competitions in 2014. Dean Hennessey’s young Thunder side spent the final half hour of the game putting pressure on South but ultimately did not create a true goal scoring chance, with the closest they got was from a blocked Kieran Dover shot and an Azizi free kick that flew over an untroubled Maynard’s crossbar. The final whistle brought a sigh of relief from the South fans, with South doing it tough but ultimately prevailing 0-1 against the Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve in both the League and the Dockerty Cup this season.

Post-match, a happy Taylor noted how “it was important just to get the three points tonight… (in order to win the Championship) we just have to take it one match at a time and keep trying to chalk up the wins that we need to secure it.”

South Melbourne FC’s next match is against Northcote City at Lakeside Stadium next Sunday 24 August, with kick-off at 5PM. If the Bentleigh Greens defeat Oakleigh Cannons on Friday night and South defeat Northcote on Sunday, South will be the 2014 NPLV Champions.

FINAL SCORE: DANDENONG THUNDER 0-1 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 0-0)

Goal Scorer:
0-1: Jamie Reed (59′)

Dandenong Thunder:
21. Zaim ZENELI (GK), 2. Jarryd BARNES, 3. Ilir PALI (20. Dillon JAKUPI 78′), 4. Rama TAVSANCIOGLU, 5. Faisal ZADA, 7. Kieran DOVER, 8. Matthew MILLAR, 9. Feston AZIZI, 12. Brendan ELMAZOVSKI, 15. Rees DUNCAN (11. Kris KIOUSSIS 59′), 23. Josh CARUANA.

South Melbourne FC:
21. Chris MAYNARD (GK), 2. Tim MALA, 4. Michael EAGAR (C), 7. Nick EPIFANO (27. Leigh MINOPOULOS 79′), 9. Milos LUJIC, 10. Tyson HOLMES (25. Shaun TIMMINS 89′), 11. Brad NORTON, 12. Iqi JAWADI, 14. James MUSA, 17. Jamie REED (8. Mathew THEODORE 90+3′), 77. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS.

SMFC Man of the Match: Stephen Hatzikostas
Venue: George Andrews Reserve
Date: Saturday 16 August 2014