Author: SMFC Media

Friday, 27 March 2009 11:06 AM

SMFC would like to announce that the Round 5 fixture against Whittlesea Zebras will be held this upcoming Tuesday night, March 31st at Bob Jane Stadium.

The fixture is still classified as being a Whittlesea home game with Bob Jane Stadium merely facilitating the staging of the match due to issues with the utilisation of Epping Stadium.

All South Melbourne FC members, sponsors and coterie members will need to purchase an admission ticket for this match as membership entitlements do not include South Melbourne FC away games.

However, due to the nature of the game being played at Bob Jane Stadium, sponsors and coterie members are entitled to use their normal corporate hospitality rights as per their appropriate classification

Whittlesea Zebras vs South Melbourne FC

Venue: Bob Jane Stadium
Date: Tuesday March 31st
Kick-off: 8:30pm (Under 21s at 6.30pm)
Admission: $12 Adults / $8 Concession

Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:55 AM

South Melbourne FC is in mourning following the passing of former midfielder Jordan Ieremiadis.

Mr Ieremiadis was a key member of the 1962 and 1964 VPL Championship teams and is best remembered for joining Panayiotis Tsitos in a clash against 3 Polonia players that resulted in Tsitos being banned for 6 matches.

The club will like to extend its condolences to Mr Ieremiadis’ family and friends in this very difficult time.

Tuesday, 17 March 2009 10:45 AM

The Lonsdale Street ‘Glendi’ has, since its inception in 1987, become an annual marker for Melbourne and Lonsdale Street – the original Greek cultural precinct. It is a celebration of Greek Australian life and culture in Melbourne, one the world’s most Greek cities outside Greece.

What is effectively a giant street party timed to coincide with Greek National Day (25 March), the Glendi is about music, dance, food, traditions and contemporary takes on all things Greek.

In what promises to be an exciting weekend, South Melbourne FC will have a stall at the Antipodes festival that will allow fans to meet some of their favourite SMFC stars, as well as being able to talk to some key SMFC personnel before the big derby game against the Melbourne Knights on Sunday.

Memberships will also be on sale, as well as fans being able to order the 2009 merchandise range.

We hope to see all South fans in attendance.

Antipodes Festival
Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 March
12pm – 11pm
Lonsdale Street Greek Precint, between Russell & Swanston Street

Friday, 13 March 2009 1:32 PM

South Melbourne FC in conjunction with the FFV, Preston Lions FC and Channel 31 would like to announce that Sunday’s contest between South Melbourne and Preston Lions will be shown live via video streaming at Bob Jane Stadium.

In what will be an important game for the club, all South fans are urged to attend Bob Jane Stadium in order to watch their side take on the Preston Lions in the Champions Bar.

Doors at Bob Jane Stadium will open at 4pm, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm.

Thursday, 12 March 2009 4:40 PM

A contingent of South Melbourne FC senior men’s and women’s players have recently actively supported a amazing event by the name of the Trevor Barker Sports Camp.
The camp is designed to give kids with cancer and their brothers and sisters an opportunity to have some time-out from cancer treatment and the rigours of hospital visits through participation in a range of sports activities and workshops.

South Melbourne FC was more than happy to support this charitable cause and play a major role in trying to put a smile on the faces of these brave children.

Players that represented South on the day were Fernando De Moraes, Steven O’Dor, Danni Radojicic, Francesco Stella and Sam Torrens from the men’s team, whilst Carol Foy and Lois Greenwood were attending on behalf of the senior women’s team.

Throughout the day, South’s players conducting multiple clinics for the kids as well as playing a series of mini games which lifted the spirits of the kids and players alike.

The club also donated a large range of merchandise for the children, including soccer balls, caps and various other items.

South Melbourne FC was proud to play a part in such a wonderful event and urges all fans to check out the Challenge website (www.challenge.org.au) to learn more about what can be done to support these unfortunate kids.

Thursday, 12 March 2009 4:18 PM

Following on from the kind words by Michael Danby MHR, State MP Jenny Mikakos has also publically congratulated South Melbourne FC on it’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Ms Mikakos was  also one of the many 300 plus attendees at South’s Season Launch staged on BJS in March and continues to be a friend of South Melbourne FC.

For a full extract of Ms Mikakos’ speech in parliament, please click here

Thursday, 12 March 2009 3:26 PM

Tuesday, 10 March 2009 12:50 PM

Photo by Cindy Nitsos

Heidelberg United has bounced back after their first round defeat by Oakleigh to claim an important derby win against their old foe South Melbourne at Bob Jane Stadium on Sunday.

With both teams coming into the contest on the back of uninspiring performances in round one, they were intent on getting their season back on track in front of a healthy derby day crowd.

The game started in typical derby fashion, with hard tackles flying in from all angles and some scrappy foootball being played, with no real team gaining any ascendency whatsoever.

Once the game settled, Heidelberg had the first opportunity on goal with Marinos Gasparis connecting with an innocuous ball forward to loop a header on target.

In what would have been a regulation catch for goalkeeper Tommi Tomich, it appeared that the sun glare caught the custodian off guard, with the ball somehow striking the upright before it was cleared by the South defence.
The away side continued to press forward after this and had half chances from Tony Ouliaris and Graham Hockless fly wide of the target without testing Tomich at all.

South replied late in the half through veteran Vaughan Coveny, who skimmed past the stagnant Heidelberg defence, before hitting a low and hard shot on his left foot towards the target.

The ball which was destined for the bottom corner was somehow deflected into the upright by goalkeeper Peter Gavalas before going out for a corner.

Heidelberg started the second half strongly and more determined in the early stages to score a goal.

On the right hand side, new signing Osagie Ederaro was causing the South defence havoc at every opportunity, by continually running at the defenders at speed and also having the confidence to shoot from any angle and distance.

With South on the backfoot, captain and hard working defender Rama Tavsancioglu was booked for a robust challenge. This was to be his second yellow of the evening, meaning that South would play the remaining 20 minutes of the game with 10 men.

For this time, Heidelberg dominated possession and squandered numerous half chances through veterans Eric Vassiliadis and substitute Bobby Petta.

However it was the Bergers who would get the only goal of the tight contest in the 84th minute, when the South defence did not close the oncoming Ederaro before he managed to sensationally lob Tomich from just outside the area to send the small contingent of travelling fans into raptures.

South will need to regroup before its tough away trip to Preston next Sunday at BT Connor Reserve, knowing that nothing short of a win is needed.

To view extended game highlights, please visit www.smfc.tv

Monday, 2 March 2009 11:28 AM

Dandenong Thunder have commenced Victorian Premier League life in stunning style by defeating South Melbourne FC at Bob Jane Stadium on Sunday evening.

South came into the game in form following a clinical 3-0 victory over Heidelberg last Sunday in the Hellenic Cup final and had high expectations going into today’s game.

Dandenong on the other hand came into the game as an unknown quantity with plenty of VPL experience in former South Melbourne NSL players Levent Osman and Marcus Stergiopoulos, as well as former Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Stuart Webster.

The first half started off in true round 1 fashion, with both sides coming out of the blocks quite slowly in an attempt to feel out their opponents.

South’s first genuine goal scoring opportunity came when former New Zealand International hit the upright from a tight angle, following some excellent work by Goran Zoric on the left flank.

Dandenong, despite ample possession really didn’t muster an opportunity  until former South winger Hamlet Armenian broke down the right to send a dangerous cross into the path of Colin Quirk who failed to capitalise on the golden chance.

However it was Dandenong that would go into the break with a one goal advantage following a mix-up in the South Melbourne defence that saw newly appointed club captain Rama Tavsancioglu slot the ball past a helpless Tommi Tomich in goal.

The second half commenced in a similar manner to the first, with both sides quite reserved in the opening 20-25 minutes of play.

South though seemingly had the better opportunities of the period, with both Goran Zoric and Joseph Youssef having chances foiled by the desperate Thunder defence.

With Dandenong sitting back, South continued to pile on the pressure and with five minutes to go missed another chance at goal, with another Zoric shot being blocked by the defence.

As the whistle blew, hundreds of travelling Thunder fans hailed the victory, their first ever in the Victorian Premier League.

Friday, 27 February 2009 1:24 PM

By George Kouroumalis

After a turbulent 2008 season on the park, South Melbourne FC will be looking to celebrate its 50th year in a manner that is more synonymous with the most famous and successful football club in Australia, after missing the VPL finals in the last two seasons.

Leading the way for South will be experienced coach Michael Michalakopoulos, who was retained after taking over the club mid-way through 2008 following the resignation of John Anastasiadis. Michalakopoulos will lead a new-look football department, along with new football director Ange Dallas and assistant coach Phil Pelandrinos.

In goals, South has retained the former A-League goalkeeper Tommi Tommich for another season. Tomich is regarded as one of the best shot stoppers in the league and will provide South with an adequate replacement for the retired Dean Anastasiadis. Serving under Tommich will be youngsters Stefan Sardelic (retained from 2008) and Andrew Sfetkopoulos, who has joined from State League 2 club Altona East.

Sitting in front of the keepers will be a very well credentialed and experienced defensive unit that will be lead by 2009 captain Rama Tavsancioglu, who is just six games shy of reaching 100 senior games for South. ‘Rama’ will lead a defence that includes vice captain Steven O’Dor and the newly acquired Stiven Mrkela. 27 year old Mrkela joined from reigning VPL champions Altona Magic in the off-season and will bring a wealth of experience to the defence. A former Altona captain, Mrkela will add leadership and hardness to a previously brittle defence.

Throughout the middle of the park South will be once again looking at Futsalroo Fernando De Moraes to provide the spark. The midfielder is just 10 games away from joining an illustrious group that have represented the club in 100 matches or more, but more importantly, South fans will be hoping that he can re-produce the stunning form that he showed in the 2006 championship winning season. Joining Fernando will be former Fawkner player Joseph Youssef, who will be looking to cement a starting eleven birth with his tough tackles and pushing forward at every opportunity.

Up front South will go into the season with three very competent attacking players at VPL level. One of these will be former NSL and A-League player and South legend Vaughan Coveny. The man known as ‘Horse’ has arrived back at lakeside to provide the club with a leader both on and off the park, something that he has done proudly in his 276 games for the club to date. Three goals in 2009 will bring up a century of South Melbourne goals for the former Kiwi international, in a 12 season career with South that began in the 1995/96 NSL season.

Pairing up with the veteran will be either Gianni De Nittis, or the speedy Goran Zoric, all who have been in blistering form throughout the pre-season and Hellenic Cup competition.

Though the final make-up of the starting eleven is not straight forward, what can be established is that the squad is a very deep and experienced group of players, all of whom have the hunger to try and avenge the disappointment of the last two seasons by playing a prominent role in 2009.

South’s first game will be against newly promoted Dandenong Thunder on Sunday March 1st at Bob Jane Stadium. Kick-off is at 6pm and all fans are urged to get along.

Sunday will also be the chance for supporters to purchase and pick up their 2009 memberships from the club. A new range of heritage merchandise will also be available for order on the day, including the much sought after Adidas apparel.