Author: George Kouroumalis

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce that midfielder Danny Kim has signed for the club ahead of the 2023 season.

Kim joins us after a season with Bentleigh that saw the midfielder play an integral part in the Greens winning the Dockerty Cup and making the final stages of the NPL and Australia Cup competitions.

The former Australian Youth International has also spent time with Geylang as a professional in Singapore, whilst also having spells at Brisbane Roar in the A-League and Lions FC in Queensland.

Kim has the ability to play in central midfield but is also well known for his ability to sit just behind the strikers as an attacking midfielder also.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Football Director Andrew Mesourouni was pleased to welcome Danny to Lakeside. “Danny will bring experienced, hardworking and highly technical football. His experience in the centre of the park and ability to create and score is something we are excited to be adding to our lineup.

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We look forward to seeing Danny in Blue and White when pre-season commences in late November.

South Melbourne FC is pleased to confirm that Senior Men’s Coach Esteban Quintas has had his contract extended for the 2023 NPL Victoria season.

Quintas has had an exceptional season at the helm of our Premiership winning men’s team, winning 20 of a possible 26 league matches. Our first placed finish not only secured us our first piece of silverware in six seasons, but was also the second best winning regular season in the club’s long and illustrious history.

While there is much to do now in the finals, the club is pleased with the work undertaken by Quintas in leading the group to its outstanding ladder position and his continued work with all areas of the club to restore pride into the SMFC badge through its senior football program.

A popular character amongst his tight-knit playing group, Quintas will continue focussing on our Semi Final on Sunday against Green Gully.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni confirmed the news.

“Esteban has earnt his contract extension through an outstanding regular season, including winning the Premiership and qualifying for finals in such a strong position. He’s a very much loved figure of our club and the players will be thrilled to have him lead the way for the next 12 months.”

We wish Esteban and the squad all the best for the upcoming Semi Final against Green Gully.

Vale Ulysses Kokkinos

South Melbourne FC is in mourning following the passing of Hall of Fame Member, Championship Winner, Club Legend and friend Ulysses Kokkinos.

Kokkinos was a larger-than-life figure and someone who was a large part of the South Melbourne family.

He made his first team debut for South Melbourne Hellas as a teenager in 1967 and made an immediate impact by winning the club’s top goal scorer that season, netting 15 league goals and 17 across all competitions.

He went on to represent the club over several stints between 1967 and 1976. Kokkinos’ first team honour with the club was in 1970 when Hellas won the Ampol Cup final replay with a 3-2 victory over JUST in extra time. In 1974 he was part of a very successful Hellas side that did the double in winning the Victorian State League championship (finishing four points ahead of George Cross in first place on the ladder) as well as the Dockerty Cup (4-1 victory over Ringwood City Wilhelmina).

Kokkinos was also part of the team that won back-to-back Dockerty Cup in 1975, with a 2-1 win over Sunshine City. Individually, he was a star attraction at the grounds with his skills and great goals and was rightly rewarded with selection with the Victorian state side.

Speaking to SMFC Media, an emotional President Nicholas Maikousis paid tribute to Kokkinos. “Ulysses was not just a figure known to all of us at South Melbourne but the Australian Football Community. As a footballer, he was a showman and someone who entertained whenever he stepped onto the park, while also contributing to the wealth of success at the club throughout that period. In latter years, he would be around the club as a fan, encouraging our players and teams as we continued to strive for success. He will be greatly missed by our community.”

The club will honour his life and memory at our Round 1 home match against Heidelberg United on February 17th.

Christopher Couesnon signs for 2022 season

SMFC is pleased to announce that it has signed Christopher Couesnon for the 2022 NPL Victoria season.

Cousesnon joins us from fellow NPL club St Albans and will be looking to bolster the South squad, having already commenced pre-season training. An effective keeper both in the air and ball on the deck, we look forward to seeing him throughout the upcoming campaign.

Speaking to SMFC Media, SMFC Football Director Andrew Mesourouni welcomed Chris to the club. “Having a young and enthusiastic keeper such as Chris join the club is pleasing and we look forward to seeing him work as part of our senior goalkeeping unit in 2022.”

#SMFC #NPLVIC

Jessica Young joins SMFC for 2022 NPLW season

South Melbourne FC would like to announce the signing of attacking player Jessica Young for the 2022 NPLW Victoria season.

Young joins the club from a breakout year with FV Emerging, which also gave her an opportunity as a train-on for A-League Women club Melbourne Victory.

She joins the club as a technical and hardworking attacking option, who can play on either wing or through the middle. She also has a natural eye for goal and proved that in the shortened season, including scoring on Lakeside Stadium against South in our only loss of the league season.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Samuel Young welcomed Jess to the club. “‘I’m really excited to welcome Jess to the club. We’ve been following her progress all year in the Emerging program, so we are pleased to have her on board in 2022 and beyond. Jess can play anywhere in the final third which gives us many options going forward”

We look forward to seeing Jess in South colours throughout 2022.

1300 PLASTA unveiled as 2022 Major Partner

South Melbourne FC is pleased to unveil 1300 PLASTA as the club’s Major Partner for the 2022 NPL Victoria season.

1300 PLASTA provides the complete range of Siniat Plasterboard and associated accessories across Victoria. Their experience, attention to detail and commitment to quality is applied to everything that 1300 PLASTA does from start to finish.

1300 PLASTA is customer-focused and dedicated to meeting the needs, demands and expectations of both residential and commercial clients. Their large fleet of trucks, trailers and utility vehicles allows us to deliver material anywhere, anytime.

The team at 1300 PLASTA and Siniat Plasterboard have been long term supporters of the club, including previously as the club’s Major Partner through the Plastmasta Knauf branding. 2022 will mark the 10th season as a club sponsor.

The 1300 PLASTA brand is also quite common around Lakeside Stadium, including signage throughout the previous NPL season and in the FFA Cup Clash against Melbourne City.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Club President Nicholas Maikousis thanked 1300 PLASTA for their support. “We are thrilled to welcome 1300 PLASTA as the club’s Major Partner in 2022. 1300 PLASTA have been a huge supporter of our club and through all levels of our club and we are excited to see them on the front of our re-designed 2022 playing shirts. We thank Andrew and the Mesourouni family for their continued support.”

1300 PLASTA owner and founder Andrew Mesourouni was thrilled to once again be supporting the club as a Major Partner.

“South Melbourne Hellas FC has been a massive part of the Mesourouni family over 4 generations. It gave us pleasure and security as a young family settling into a foreign country in the early 1960’s. This gave us the opportunity to not only settle, but to meet many families, who we have built life lasting friendships with and are still able to spend and enjoy the end of our working week with one another. This year marks my tenth year as a director of the club and there is no better way to celebrate a proud moment for our family by supporting and honouring our club that has given us so much as the major sponsor. GO SOUTH. ”

We will be unveiling the new 2022 SMFC home shirt and design in early February.

South sign Young Matlida Claudia Mihocic

South Melbourne FC would like to announce the signing of central defender Claudia Mihocic for the 2022 NPLW Victoria season.

Mihocic joins us from Perth Glory in the A-League Women, whilst also coming off an outstanding season as the captain of the FV Emerging side in the NPL.

She joins the club as a huge talent in Australian football, representing her state and country at youth level, including both the junior and young Matildas in the heart of their defence.

She brings a composed and tough option in the back four and someone that coach Sam Young can entrust in his defence.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Samuel Young welcomed Claudia to the club. “Claudia is one of the best up and coming central defenders in the country and we are delighted that she has chosen to play at South Melbourne FC. Claudia’s defensive attributes and ability to drive into midfield with the ball will play a key part in building from a successful 2021 season”

We welcome Claudia to SMFC and wish her all the best in her time with the club.