Author: SMFC Media

Friday, 13 December 2002 12:00 AM

Australia’s Under 20 squad which includes South Melbourne players Vince Lia, Massimo Murdocca and Michael Baird will play a friendly match at Bob Jane Stadium this Sunday at 1.00PM

The Young Socceroos defeated both their Group A opponents and are in Melbourne training for their two-legged qualification match either against New Zealand or Fiji. The home leg will be played at Bob Jane Stadium. Date to be confirmed.

Vince Lia, Massimo Murdocca and Michael Baird had a hand in the Group A matches with Vince Lia coming off the bench against Papa New Guinea and scored in the 76th minute.

“It is a good experience. I am enjoying the camp and look forward to our next two matches”, said Lia yesterday.

Get along early to Bob Jane Stadium and watch Australia’s youngest stars and three of South Melbourne finest young guns, proudly wear the Green and Gold at Lakeside this Sunday.

Bob Jane Stadium will play host to three matches this Sunday with the main match, the Round 13 encounter between South Melbourne and Kingz FC. At this stage the squad looks to be unchanged from last week but Danny Wright has one more session tomorrow morning if he is to make any changes.

Bob Jane Stadium – Sunday 15 December
Matches are as follows:

FRIENDLY MATCH
Australia U20 vs VIS
Kick Off: 1.00PM

OLD BOYS MATCH
Melbourne Glory vs Mercurial Kingz
Kick Off: 3.30PM

NSL – ROUND 13
South Melbourne vs Kingz FC
Kick Off: 6.00PM

Wednesday, 11 December 2002 12:00 AM

Most opposition teams feared travelling to Middle Park and continue to do so at Bob Jane Stadium. Throughout the years South Melbourne has and continues to have a formidable home record, which includes many consecutive home wins.

South Melbourne is currently on a five match undefeated streak at Bob Jane Stadium this season. In Round 3, the Albert Park club drew their first home match against Sydney United, but have since defeated Perth, Olympic, Knights, Marconi and Parramatta.

The Blue and Whites have had numerous home winning streaks, which range from four to seven consecutive victories at Middle Park and most recently Bob Jane Stadium. (does not include home finals games at another Melbourne venue).

South Melbourne has won seven successive matches at home on four occasions being in 1983, 1990/91 into season 1991/92, 1997/98 and 1998/99 into season 1999/2000.

As the saying goes “one game at a time”, but if Danny Wright and his players are victorious in their next two home matches, then the current South coach will join Ferenc Puskas, Ange Postecoglou and Len McKendry as the only NSL coaches to have achieved seven home successive wins at the Club. And who knows, with any luck Wright could go one better and push the streak to eight, creating another historic moment at South Melbourne.

Winning Streaks at home are as follows
(does not include home finals games at another Melbourne venue)

5 in a row:
1978 – Rounds 15 – 24
1981 – Rounds 1 – 9
1981 – Rounds 17 – 24
1989/90 – Rounds 1 – 9
2000/2001 – Rounds 23 – 30
1996/1997 – Round 19 until Elimination Final vs Knights Second Leg
2002/2003 – Round 5 – 11 (current)

6 in a row
1992/1993 – Round 24 – 26 until 1993/1994 in Round 6
1998/1999 – Rounds 9 – 20

7 in a row
1983 – Rounds 18 – 28 until 1984 Round 1 (Len McKendry)
1990/91 – Round 26 until 1991/92 Round 11 (Ferenc Puskas)
1997/98 – Round 9 to Round 23 (Ange Postecoglou)
1998/99 – Round 25 – Major Semi Final Leg 1 vs Sydney United until 1999/2000 Round 6 (Ange Postecoglou)

Wednesday, 11 December 2002 12:00 AM

Danny Wright will co-host the South Melbourne Soccer Show with regular host John Vithoulkas tonight. As we head towards the half way mark of the season, Wright will speak about his sides performances and his view on the NSL season so far.

There will also be a blast from the past with 1984 Championship players Charlie Egan and Doug Brown, who chat about their careers and the difference between soccer in the 80’s and how it is played today.

Don’t forget to watch the South Melbourne Soccer Show tonight on Channel 31 at 9.00PM

Tuesday, 10 December 2002 12:00 AM

With the Festive Season just around the corner, Santa Claus will make a special visit to Bob Jane Stadium prior to South Melbourne’s home match against the Kingz this Sunday.

We all know Santa Claus has a busy and demanding schedule, but he has made his time available for South’s Round 13 match with the Kingz. Santa Claus who will be travelling from the South Pole for all the South Melbourne faithful, will be situated near the turnstile entrance, where you will have the chance to take a photo with Santa, as well as receive a small Christmas gift from South Melbourne Soccer Club.

The Christmas spirit will also flow onto the playing arena when Santa throws 15 COVO South Melbourne soccer balls to the fans in the terraces and shortly after South Melbourne’s squad will kick out 15 soccer balls as well.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity, bring your cameras along and take a photograph with Santa Claus at Bob Jane Stadium this Sunday between 4.30PM and 5.40PM near the main turnstile entrance.

Also don’t forget about this Sunday’s curtain raiser when Alan Davidson’s Melbourne Glory take on Peter Tsolakis’ Mercurial Kingz at 3.30 PM.

Friday, 6 December 2002 12:00 AM

Danny Wright was born, grew up with family and friends and played his junior soccer in the Sunshine State. This weekend the South coach returns to his home state in need of three away points.

Before joining South Melbourne he played in the National Soccer League for Brisbane Lions. After a successful 1991 campaign with South Melbourne, he moved back to his hometown of Brisbane to settle down with his new wife and began a family. He continued to play football in Brisbane with the Strikers and in his last season (1996/97), won a Championship under Socceroo coach Frank Farina.

Tomorrow the 38 year old will return to Brisbane in charge of the Blue and Whites, aware of his side’s away performances, which he is confident, his side can turn their interstate form around tomorrow night at Ballymore Stadium.

“My focus is totally on our team getting a result in Brisbane this weekend. Our away form has been very ordinary this season and the players and coaching staff want to turn that around starting this weekend.”

“Obviously my history with Brisbane will have extra significance when we visit Brisbane Strikers tomorrow”, says Wright.

Wright is familiar with Brisbane’s squad having covered matches on pay television with C7 Sports as a guest commentator over the past few seasons. He regards Brisbane a worthy opposition and believes the heat could be an influential factor in the round 12 clash.

“I know their players very well having watched and commentated on their games over the last few years. They play a very open and attacking style of game, which can be very effective”.

“Having watched the tapes of their last two matches, I think they’re a better team than their position on the ladder would suggest. They are a dangerous opponent and we won’t be underestimating them”, says Wright

“The heat and humidity in Brisbane can also be a telling factor. We’ll be preparing for those conditions mentally and physically this week”.

South Melbourne will carry out their final training hit out tonight and travel to Brisbane tomorrow morning with a decision on the squad to be finalised this evening.

Friday, 6 December 2002 12:00 AM

Date: Saturday 7 December 2002
Venue: Ballymore Stadium
Kickoff: 7.00pm (Brisbane Time)

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 25 Brisbane wins 9, South Melbourne wins 12, Draws 4

HEAD TO HEAD (at Brisbane):
Played: 12 (Regular Season) Brisbane wins 8, South Melbourne wins 4, Draws 0

LAST WEEK:
Brisbane 3-3 away draw Vs Newcastle; South Melbourne 1-0 home win Vs Parramatta

Position on Ladder: 13th Vs 4th

BRISBANE STRIKERS SQUAD:
J Kearton (gk), R Alagich, S Stefanutto, J McKain, S McLaren,
P Grierson, F Rech, A Webber, S Laybutt, K Trajanovski, D Pilic, L Drake, J Rose, A Roche, C Baldock (gk)

IN: F Rech, A Webber
OUT: W Heath, M McKay (both international duty)

SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD:
E Galekovic (gk), S Iosifides, F De Amicis, M Durakovic, D Clarkson, S Panopoulos, V Coveny, P Trimboli, P Buljan, Z Susa, R Sekulovski, P Kisnorbo, N Tolios, R Liparoti, D Anastasiadis (gk)

IN: Z Susa, R Liparoti, F De Amicis, R Sekulovski
OUT: M Baird, M Murdocca, V Lia (all international duty), B Damianos (hamstring 2-4 weeks)

Wednesday, 4 December 2002 12:00 AM

Ibraim Ibraimi scored the only goal last night in South Melbourne’s 1 – 0 victory over Ange Postecoglou’s Australian Under 20 squad at Bob Jane Stadium last night.

Ibraimi has been impressive in the Youth team this season and received a call up to the senior squad in place of the suspended Baird and Buljan, playing the final ten minutes against Marconi in Round 10. The teenager who played for Dandenong as a junior has scored 8 goals in the Youth League so far.

Danny Wright was pleased with the performance of his squad last night which included eight youth team players, which he rates highly.

“It was a good hit out for Susa, Iosifidis, De Amicis, Liparoti and Anastasiadis. Susa showed some deft touches with his cultured left foot”.

“Ibraimi showed he is not just a flash in the pan, bobbing up to score again. I was impressed with the performance of young Samim Rahim at left back as well as Stephen Pace and Ray Sekulovski in midfield”.

“South Melbourne can be proud of the young talent we have at the club”, says Wright.

The Under 20 Australian squad which includes young South stars Murdocca, Lia and Baird fly to Vanuatu today to play two qualifying matches. If the squad is victorious, the home leg Qualifying Final will be played at Bob Jane Stadium on December 22 against the Group B winners.

Tuesday, 3 December 2002 12:00 AM

For the latest team news as well as a Round 11 review don’t miss out on the South Melbourne Soccer Show at 9.00PM this Wednesday evening on Channel 31.

This week the show will feature newly promoted goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic who has been prominent between the sticks since his debut for the Club three weeks ago.

Thursday, 28 November 2002 12:00 AM

South Melbourne will take on the Young Socceroos in a warm up match, before the U20’s travel to Vanuatu for the Oceania World Youth Championship Qualifying tournament.

Postecoglou’s boys will compete in an exhibition match against our own Blue and Whites, in their last full hit out before they head overseas on Wednesday 4th December 2002.

The game will be played on Tuesday 3rd December 2002 at Bob Jane Stadium. Kick off is scheduled for 7:00pm and admission is FREE.

Everybody is encouraged to come along and support the Blue and Whites and farewell our Young Socceroos before they head to Vanuatu to represent our nation. South Melbourne’s Michael Baird, Massimo Murdocca and Vince Lia have all been selected in the touring squad and they will certainly do the club and country proud.

The Young Socceroos will play only two matches in their qualifying group (Group A) due to the late withdrawal of the Cook Islands.

The fixtures are:

Saturday December 7
Vanuatu Vs Australia – 2.30pm

Monday December 9
Australia Vs Papua New Guinea – 2.30pm.

The winner of Group A will playoff against the winner of Group B, which includes Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga.

Should Australia progress from its group, playoff matches are scheduled for Thursday December 19 (away match) and Sunday December 22 in Melbourne.

The winner of the playoff shall represent Oceania at the FIFA World Youth Championship to be held in the United Arab Emirates from 25 March – 16 April 2003.

Thursday, 28 November 2002 12:00 AM

Date: Sunday 1st December 2002
Venue: Bob Jane Stadium
Kickoff: 6.00pm AEST

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 6 South Melbourne wins 4, Parramatta wins 1, Draws 1

HEAD TO HEAD (at Melbourne):
Played: 3 (Regular Season), South Melbourne wins 2, Parramatta wins 0, Draws 1

LAST WEEK:
South Melbourne 1-0 home win Vs Marconi; Parramatta 4-1 home loss Vs Newcastle

Position on Ladder: South Melbourne 6th Vs Parramatta Power 10th

SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD: E Galekovic (gk), N Tolios, P Kisnorbo, M Durakovic, B Damianos, M Murdocca, D Clarkson, V Lia, P Trimboli, V Coveny, P Buljan, M Baird, S Iosifides, S Panopoulos, D Anastasiadis (gk)

IN: P Buljan, M Baird
OUT: Yet to be confirmed

PARRAMATTA POWER SQUAD: L Reddy (gk), A Ceccoli, M Thompson, W O’Sullivan, J Buonavoglia, M Beauchamp, J Sobczyk, A Elrich, M Langdon, N Orlic, B Renaud, R Brownlie, K Salapasidis, P Zorbas, D Vukovic (gk)

IN: unchanged
OUT: P Cardozo (groin – 6 weeks)