Author: John Kyrou

Dandenong Thunder v SMFC – George Andrews Reserve – Saturday 3 March 2018 at 7pm

Coach Sasa Kolman is looking forward to Saturday night’s match against Dandenong Thunder. “We are going there for the first time in a few years [since 2015] and we want maximum points. I thought we were good against Bulleen on Monday night but we couldn’t score that second goal to win the three points and that was disappointing. The aim on Saturday is to win and to hopefully also keep a clean sheet.”

Devastatingly,  goalkeeper Alastair Bray did his ACL in the late stages of Monday night’s match. Keegan Coulter replaced him and will be the first-choice keeper for the immediate future. On a positive note, the new central defensive pairing of Kristian Konstantinidis and Christos Inzidis worked very well against Bulleen, with Leigh Minopoulos and Nick Epifano also having solid games further up the park.

South has a decent record at George Andrews Reserve, losing only once at the venue in 7 league visits. The most recent trip there was in June 2015 when a thunderbolt goal from Iqi Jawadi just before the halftime break secured a 1-0 win for the away side. Kolman and his side will certainly be content with the same outcome on Saturday night.

Last Five League Meetings – click individual game for highlights

2015 (R16): Dandenong Thunder 0-1 SMFC (George Andrews Reserve)
2015 (R03): SMFC 5-0 Dandenong Thunder (Lakeside Stadium)
2014 (R23): Dandenong Thunder 0-1 SMFC (George Andrews Reserve)
2014 (R11): SMFC 5-0 Dandenong Thunder (Lakeside Stadium)
2013 (R15): SMFC 6-2 Dandenong Thunder (Lakeside Stadium)

Overall Head to Head:
Played: 14
SMFC Wins: 7
Dandenong Thunder Wins: 4
Draws: 3

South Melbourne FC began life under new coach Sasa Kolman with a frustrating 1-1 draw in its opening 2018 NPL Victoria match away against Bulleen on Monday night, in what was the third successive draw between the two sides in the last three seasons at the Veneto Club.

Goalkeeper Alastair Bray and centre-half Christos Intzidis both started in their debut matches for the club, whilst it was a second homecoming for Andy Brennan and Iqi Jawadi. South began brightly and took the game to the hosts by creating a series of chances but were unable to punish on the scoreboard. Bulleen had an early shout for a penalty but that was waved away by referee Lachlan Keevers. Somewhat against the run of play in the 38th minute, Austin Wong got his head on the end of a cross to brilliantly lob the ball over the scrambling Bray and into the back of the net via the post.

Kolman kept faith in his starting eleven in the second half. On 59 minutes, he was rewarded when an excellent team move down the left side culminated in Matthew Millar getting on the end of captain Brad Norton’s low cross and slotting the ball past Bulleen keeper Shane Viitakangas into the back of the net. The home side frustratingly appealed the goal, thinking that an apparent offside Milos Lujic had touched the ball on the way through, however the goal stood.

Oliver Minatel was introduced for the first time in a South shirt and there was even a debut for goalkeeper Keegan Coulter, after Bray went down in a world of pain in injury time and had to leave the field. South huffed and puffed but were unable to get past a stubborn Bulleen defence that withstood all the pressure put on them by the South attack.

Post-match, Norton couldn’t fault his teammates. “The effort was there and the way we banded together, especially after going a goal down was great.” On the defensive side of things, Norton added that “Sasa’s style is to keep the ball and try and play with it…. both Christos and KK (Kristian Konstantinidis) were brilliant [at centre-back].”

In the Under 20s match played prior to the Seniors, South Melbourne defeated Bulleen Lions 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Ardi Ahmeti. For a comprehensive round-up of all matches from women through to juniors, click here.

FINAL SCORE: BULLEEN LIONS 1-1 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 1-0)

Goals:
1-0: Austin Wong (38′)
1-1: Matthew Millar (59′)

Bulleen Lions:
1. Shane Viitakangas (GK), 2. Eli Luttmer, 3. William Abbott (18. Nicholas Voulgaris 18′), 4. Corey Sewell, 5. Bonel Obradovic, 8. Austin Wong, 9. Braedyn Crowley, 14. Leo Athanasiou, 15. Jordan Templin (10. Luke Gallo 70′), 16. Pablo Caceres (22. Paul Scopolliti 81′) , 20. Andrew Mullett (c).
Unused Substitutes: 19. Stefan Cardamone, 25. Wyatt Chant (GK).
Yellow Cards: Sewell 33′, Luttmer 36′, Voulgaris 54′, Mullett 90+5′.

South Melbourne:
21. Alastair Bray (GK) (1. Keegan Coulter 90+3′) / 23. Matthew Foschini, 3. Kristian Konstantinidis, 39. Christos Intzidis, 11. Brad Norton (c) / 12. Iqi Jawadi, 18. Matthew Millar / 17. Andy Brennan (19. Oliver Minatel 73′), 7. Nick Epifano, 27. Leigh Minopoulos (8. Luke Pavlou 84′) / 9. Milos Lujic.
Unused Substitutes: 16. Joshua Hodes, 20. Adjin Fetahagic.
Yellow Cards: Norton 90+1′, Foschini 90+3′, Lujic 90+5′.

Bulleen Lions v SMFC – David Barro Stadium (Veneto Club) – Monday 26 February 2018 at 8:30pm

Coach Sasa Kolman is cautiously optimistic about Monday night’s opening match. “I am sure there will be a great crowd there to watch what will hopefully be an entertaining game of football.” South’s last two visits to Bulleen in 2016 and 2017 have resulted in two 2-2 draws, a fact not lost on Kolman. “It is a difficult trip for sure. In those particular matches the team played very well in patches but had lapses that cost us goals. The key is putting in a complete 90 minute performance that gives us the best opportunity to win three points.”

Kolman was enthusiastic about what lay ahead in 2018. “It has certainly been a different off-season than usual but now that the season is here we can start to concentrate on the football. Last season we didn’t get off to the greatest of starts in the league which cost us top spot on the ladder, and we have alot of away games at the beginning of this season, so it’s a big test for both myself and my players to rectify that this season.”

Previous Meetings – click individual game for highlights
2017 (R14): SMFC 3-0 Bulleen Lions (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R01): Bulleen Lions 2-2 SMFC (Veneto Club)
2016 (R17): SMFC 1-0 Bulleen Lions (Lakeside Stadium)
2016 (R04): Bulleen Lions 2-2 SMFC (Veneto Club)

Overall Head to Head:
Played: 4
SMFC Wins: 2
Bulleen Lions Wins: 0
Draws: 2

Celebrations at Knox Football Centre during the women’s NPL juniors on Saturday. (PHOTO: Fiona Mardling)

NPL MEN / BOYS

NPL WOMEN / GIRLS

South Melbourne FC’s senior women opened their 2018 NPLW Victoria season with a 5-1 victory over the Senior NTC at Knox Football Centre on Saturday afternoon. Despite going a goal behind in the first half, Socrates Nicolaidis’ side was 2-1 ahead by the halftime break and stamped their authority in the second half to run out convincing winners.

Several first-team regulars in Alex Cheal, Alex Gummer, Melina Ayres and captain Tiffany Eliadis were missing either due to injury or resting after the recently completed W-League season. Vice captain Natalie Martineau was a substitute on the bench as South began the match with a very young side on the park and went a goal down when Ashley Jordan popped up at the far post to tap in a cross on 15 minutes. It wasn’t long before Julia Nicolaci slotted home the equalising goal, before 17-year-old Chelsea Blissett put South ahead with a calm left-footed finish.

14-year-old Betti Michael was put through on goal and neatly finished early in the second half. 15-year-old Sofia Sakalis, a South junior from the age of 6 who had just returned to the club from Melbourne City’s victorious W-League squad, was introduced in the second half and made an immediate impact. 18 minutes after entering the field, she hit a shot that went through a sea of legs to find the back of the net. Twelve minutes later, she scored a brilliant individual goal by gliding past several defenders into the penalty area before chipping goalkeeper Sophia Verley to complete a double on her senior debut for the club.

Post-match, Nicolaidis was pleased to get off the mark. “I said to the girls that after Round 1 [in 2017] we had no points, this year we’re already ahead [with three]. It was great to see the younger ones scoring goals today, overall we’re very happy.”

“There is so much exciting talent in Victoria and we want to create an environment at South Melbourne where we can be part of the solution for the Australian women’s team by bringing up these young players.”

FINAL SCORE: SENIOR NTC 1-5 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 1-2)

Goals:
1-0: Ashley Jordan (15′)
1-1: Julia Nicolaci (20′)
1-2: Chelsea Blissett (30′)
1-3: Betti Michael (52′)
1-4: Sofia Sakalis (65′)
1-5: Sofia Sakalis (77′)

Senior NTC:
32. Sophia Varley (GK), 3. Mia Lantieri-Bartley (c), 4. Claudia Mihocic, 5. Alana Cerne (14. Grace Taranto 62′), 6. Isabella Sewards, 9. Ashley Jordan, 10. Kelly Hei Lam (54. Meisha Simpson 76′), 11. Fran Lermano, 12. Niamh McLure (20. Georgie Richardson 68′), 18. Nia Stamatopoulos (7. Holly Furphy 62′), 19. Shaelan Chamoun (27. Katrina Nikpour 83′).

South Melbourne:
1. Cassandra Zaffina (GK), 2. Marianna Anthony, 4. Leah Scroggie, 5. Aimee Medwin, 7. Chelsea Blissett, 8. Jamie Pollock (c), 9. Julia Nicolaci, 12. Sarah Richardson (16. Sofia Sakalis 46′), 24. Christina Stefanou (10. Natalie Martineau 24′ [6. Tayler Stevens 72′]), 34. Paige Zois, 36. Betti Michael (27. Irene Paracki 69′).
Unused Substitute: Alexia Karatzikos (GK).

Senior NTC v SMFC – Knox Football Centre – Saturday 24 February 2018 at 3pm

Despite losing the FFV Community Shield 2-1 against Calder United last Friday night, coach Socrates Nicolaidis saw only encouraging signs. “It was a good opportunity for the younger players to have a run as some of our returning W-League players needed a break between seasons. The fact that a 14-year-old (Paige Zois) scored a cracking goal for us was very exciting and shows that there’s some great talent coming through that can hopefully feature in the senior side throughout the season.

Looking ahead to the opening league match at against Senior NTC on Saturday, Nicolaidis is confident of winning the three points to get the women’s title defence underway “We still have those W-League players to return and possibly a few others. Last season showed we had strong depth which covered us throughout the season and I believe we are similar, if not stronger, this year. We started the 2017 season with a loss [at Box Hill], so hopefully we get the three points this year.”

Last Five Meetings – click individual game for highlights (2017 only)
2017 (R26): SMFC 9-0 Senior NTC (Knox Football Centre)
2017 (R17): SMFC 9-2 Senior NTC (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R08): SMFC 5-2 Senior NTC (Lakeside Stadium)
2015 (R12): Senior NTC 2-1 SMFC (State Football Centre)
2015 (R01): SMFC 3-1 Senior NTC (Broadmeadows Park)

Overall Head to Head:
Played: 5
SMFC Wins: 4
Senior NTC wins: 1
Draws: 0

Photo by Rachel Bach

South Melbourne FC’s senior women’s side began the 2018 season with a narrow 2-1 loss against Calder United in the FFV Community Shield at Kingston Heath on Friday night.

Several first-team players were missing as they were having a short break following W-League commitments over the summer. Nevertheless, South coach Socrates Nicolaidis still had the experience of Alex Cheal, Aimee Medwin, Julia Nicolaci, Jamie Pollock, new signing (and returning player) Marianna Anthony plus newly appointed captain Tiffany Eliadis to rely on against Calder.

The first half was a disappointing affair that saw Cheal withdrawn from the field due to injury as South conceded two goals to be 2-0 down at the break. Eliadis was moved further up the field in the second half as several younger squad players were elevated from the youth sides and given their opportunity to play senior football. That show of faith was rewarded with a fantastic strike from 14-year-old Paige Zois to pull the score back to 2-1, which ultimately was the final score.

Post-match, Nicolaidis was disappointed with the result but was pleased with the second half performance. “It was a game of two halves…in the second half we gave the opportunity to several 14 and 15-year-olds and they did very well. We have been monitoring Paige for a while and are so pleased to finally have her at the club…she is one to watch for the future.”

Eliadis shared her views on her appointment as captain. “Firstly it is an honour to be given the captain’s armband. [Alex] Cheal has been an outstanding leader at this club for many years but now that she’s decided to take a step back as captain, I’m going to step up and take the leadership.”

Another positive was the return of goalkeeper Cassandra Zaffina from injury, having last played senior football against Alamein on 2 April 2017.

South’s first NPLW Victoria assignment is against the Senior NTC side at the Knox Regional Football Centre this Saturday 24 February, with kickoff at 3pm.

FINAL SCORE: CALDER UNITED 2-1 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 2-0)

SMFC Goalscorer: Paige Zois (74′)

SMFC Starting XI: 1. Cassandra Zaffina (GK), 2. Marianna Anthony, 4. Leah Scroggie, 5. Aimee Medwin, 7. Chelsea Blissett, 8. Jamie Pollock, 9. Julia Nicolaci, 13. Tiffany Eliadis (c), 14. Alex Cheal, 24. Christina Stefanou, 35. Maryam Anvari.

SMFC Substitutes: 1. Alexia Karatzikos (GK), 10. Natalie Martineau, 12. Sarah Richardson, 27. Irene Paracki, 31. Sophie Papatsanis, 34. Paige Zois, 36. Betti Michael.

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce Tiffany Eliadis as Senior Women’s captain and Natalie Martineau as vice captain ahead of the 2018 season.

Eliadis, a South junior, made her first team debut in April 2010 at only 14 years of age. With the exception of the 2016 season, she has been part of the senior setup ever since, playing nearly 150 league matches and scoring 91 league goals. She has been part of four South championships (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017) and three premierships (2013, 2014, 2017). Individually, she has won the FFV Gold Medal twice (2013, 2014), the Women’s Premier League golden boot (2013, 2014) and last year was judged as the best player on the field in SMFC’s penalty shootout triumph over Geelong Galaxy in the Grand Final.

Canadian-born Martineau joined SMFC in 2013 from Louisiana State University in the USA. She made her league debut in April of that year and has since amassed 112 league games, scoring 23 goals. The Canadian U20 international remained with the club when it was excluded from the inaugural NPLW season in 2016. She has been an integral part of four championships (2014-2017) and four premierships (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). She was the best player on the field in the 2014 Women’s Premier League grand final and State League One’s best player in 2016. Nat has represented Victoria twice and has won several club awards.

Speaking with smfc.com.au, SMFC Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano shared her thoughts on the appointments. “Both Tiff and Nat are great leaders and have shown a great love for the club. Apart from one season, Tiff has been with us since she was a young girl and Nat showed tremendous loyalty by sticking with us when we dropped a level in 2016. I’ve got no doubt that both will do a fine job as we look to defend our championship status this season.”

South Melbourne FC confirms that popular goalkeeper Nikola Roganovic has retired.

Roganovic, a former SMFC National Youth League championship winner in 2004, returned to Lakeside as a proven top-flight goalkeeper in January 2015. He kept a clean sheet in his first competitive game for the club in February 2015 and went on to represent SMFC in 82 league/finals matches (keeping 30 clean sheets), with 101 competitive appearances (37 clean sheets) across all competitions.

He was in between the sticks for South’s 2015 Premiership and Dockerty Cup triumphs (keeping a clean sheet in the 3-0 Dockerty Cup final win over Oakleigh) and made several excellent saves in SMFC’s 2016 NPL Victoria Grand Final triumph over Oakleigh. Individually, he won the SMFC Players’ Player of the Year in 2016 and, having been part of a championship with the club, is an automatic SMFC Hall of Fame member.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Football Director NIcholas Maikousis thanked Nikola for his outstanding service. “We would like to thank Nikola for his efforts while with the club, where his performances in goals were an integral part of the club winning numerous trophies during that particular period. His ability to also positively engage with the supporters was also a highlight of his time at the club and we will miss seeing him representing the South family. We wish him and his family all the best for the next phase of his life.”

Roganovic was also thankful for his time at the club. “To play for South was a dream come true and it was a wonderful experience to be part of the club that i wanted to play for as a kid. I would like to thank everyone at the club and our wonderful fans for all the support throughout my time at Lakeside. As a fan, i now wish the club the very best for the upcoming season and will be watching closely.”

SMFC would also like to thank Nikola for his service to the club.

The Funeral Service for Mr Ernie Ackerley will be held at The Boyd Chapel, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, 600 Princes Hwy, Springvale on WEDNESDAY (June 7, 2017) commencing at 2.00 p. m. Private Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kidney Foundation would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the Chapel.