Day: October 8, 2014

By George Triantos and John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC advises attacking midfielder Iqi Jawadi has re-signed for a further two seasons until the end of the 2016 NPL Victoria season.

Jawadi arrived at Lakeside Stadium from the Dandenong Thunder during the 2013 mid-season transfer window and was one of Chris Taylor’s first signings for the Club. He has represented the Club on 43 occasions across all competitions and made 31 appearances in 2014. Iqi was recognised for his hard work when he finished in equal fifth place in the count for the 2014 FFV Gold Medal winner last Friday night.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Football Director Nicholas Maikousis said “Iqi is certainly one of the real characters in the dressing room. His key strengths on the field are his hard running in the middle of the park and his ability to win the ball and drive the team forward. It is important to retain the quality of players such as Iqi if we are to go back to back in 2015”.

By John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC wishes to advise that Shaun Kelly has been released to continue his career at fellow National Premier League club Port Melbourne Sharks in 2015.

Shaun arrived at Lakeside Stadium from State League side Shepparton United during the 2012 mid-season transfer window. The centre-back made 31 appearances for South Melbourne FC across all competitions and scored five goals during his time at the Club. He scored four goals from only seven appearances during the second half of the 2012 season and – in a sign of South’s struggles that season – won the Club’s Golden Boot award as a result.

Season 2013 was a difficult one for South Melbourne as the Club underwent a massive overhaul of the squad before and during the course of the year, which also included a change of Head Coach. Shaun Kelly was one of the few players that played throughout the entirety of that season, making 24 appearances across all competitions and scoring one goal. Disaster struck at the end of 2013 when he sustained a nasty foot injury that sidelined him for the entire 2014 campaign.

A model professional, Shaun took this setback in his stride and worked tirelessly with the staff at Principal Partner Keiser Training to get over his injury whilst still supporting South Melbourne FC on the terraces. He was very much a part of the squad that won the NPL Victoria Championship this season despite not playing on the park in 2014.

Shaun had this to say upon his decision to leave the Club: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody at South Melbourne FC for a brilliant few years. I have made the decision to move clubs for the upcoming season. I believe at this stage of my career – and especially after missing this year through injury – that I need to move to guarantee regular game time. I would like to thank the committee for all of their help and support, especially during my injury. I would also like to thank all of the coaching staff, both past and present, and all of the behind-the-scenes staff who work extremely hard to ensure that the Club succeeds. To all my team mates, also past and present, it has been a pleasure to play with all of you and share in the Club’s success. Finally, I would like to thank the fans. Your support and passion is unrivalled by any other club in the League and without you the Club wouldn’t be what it is today. Thank you all for your support and for all the memories that I will have. It’s been a privilege to represent such a big club and I look forward to playing at Lakeside Stadium next season.”

South Melbourne FC would like to thank Shaun on his contribution both on and off the park at the Club, and wishes him nothing but the very best for the future.