Category: News

By John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC will be aiming for its tenth straight National Premier League win should it defeat Werribee City at Galvin Park on Sunday afternoon. Three points for Chris Taylor’s men will see it maintain at the very least a six point lead over the second-placed Oakleigh Cannons, a strong position heading into crucial League and Dockerty Cup fixtures over the coming weeks.

South goes into the game having worked hard to defeat Pascoe Vale 1-0 at Lakeside Stadium last Sunday. Mathew Theodore scored the winning goal after 25 minutes but for large periods the home side struggled to break down a resolute and stubborn Pascoe Vale. Nino Ragusa’s Werribee also head into Sunday’s game in winning form, having scored three late goals to record a memorable 0-3 victory against Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve last Sunday evening. Joshua Groenewald, Bobby Vidanoski and Steven Cudrig were the goal scorers for the Bees, who moved up to seventh place on the NPL ladder thanks to that win. Sunday will be the first time that Werribee and South will meet in league competition, following the Bees’ promotion from State League 1 last season.

Captain Michael Eagar missed the Pascoe Vale victory last week after pulling up sore from the Bentleigh game on Sunday 11 May and he may be given another weekend off to be fully fit for the Dockerty Cup match against Dandenong on Wednesday 28 May. He was replaced by Andrew Mullett, who started for the first time in the League this season and did an excellent job at centre-back in Eagar’s absense. Nick Epifano was substituted at halftime against Pascoe Vale after being concussed in the first half but should be available for the trip to Werribee. Leigh Minopoulos returns to Galvin Park after two successful seasons at Werribee and as always will be pushing for a place in the South starting eleven. South signed 19 year old midfielder Dion Kirk from Adelaide United Youth during the week, however it is expected that the youngster will play for the NPL 20s for a few weeks before being considered for senior selection.

Sunday’s match against Werribee City kicks off at 3PM at Galvin Park. Those unable to make the game can follow it with live updates on the South Melbourne FC Facebook page and on the Club’s official Twitter @smfc with the hashtags #NPLVIC and #WCvSM.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the appointment of Sasa Kolman as Under 20 Manager for the remainder of the 2014 National Premier League Victoria season, replacing Matthew Maslak immediately in preparation for this week’s match against Werribee.

Kolman joined the club earlier this year following a highly successful playing and coaching record throughout Europe, with the former hard central defender playing professional football throughout Slovenia and Spain for the large part of his career.

His coaching career also spans throughout Slovenia, where although playing football, he also coached junior players wherever he played as a professional, including home club NK Tolmin.

2013 was a breakout year for the young coach, where he was senior coach of FC Suduroy in the Faroe Islands. It was with this role and his involvement in the Celtic Academy in Scotland that Sasa was regarded as the best young manager of those divisions.

In 2014 he joined the South Melbourne Youth Program and is currently coaching the Under 15 side in the National Premier League. Due to impressing Senior Coach Chris Taylor, he has also been involved with training and coaching the senior side over the past few months.

SMFC Football Director Andrew Mesorouni speaking to smfc.com.au, said “we are delighted to have Sasa working with the U20 side and believe that his past experience as both a footballer and coach will assist with the development and mentoring of the young squad”.

Sasa is best known for his ability to communicate with young men and footballers and with his Bachelor of Sport background, he intends to provide not only a coach but a mentor for the Under 20 side.

The club would also like to thank Matthew Maslak for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best moving forward.

Click here to view our Under 20 squad for season 2014

Friday 30th May is the national ‘Fatality Free Friday’ road safety campaign. Our Principal Partner, Bob Jane T-Marts, is a significant supporter of this campaign, and we at South Melbourne FC are proud to get behind and promote this great initiative.

Since its inception in 2007, the Fatality Free Friday campaign has continued to expand its operation and is now recognised as Australia’s only national community based road safety program. It has successfully fostered community ownership, complex road safety issues and encourages those who can make a significant difference in reducing road trauma. The campaign is more than just a single day. Whilst the target is to have a fatality free Friday ultimately the aim is for a longer term community change.

To celebrate this great initiative, the South Melbourne FC playing squad pledged their support for the Fatality Free Friday road safety campaign by signing both a large pledge board as well as a large inflatable car provided to us by Bob Jane T-Marts.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC General Manager Peter Kokotis said “we are excited to be assisting our Principal Partner Bob Jane T-Marts who is a significant supporter of this fantastic cause. The Fatality Free Friday road safety campaign raises awareness on the importance of staying safe on the roads. Our club is not just about the football on the park, but also playing an active and leading role in the community and raising awareness of such initiatives. We thank our players for their involvement and ask all our supporters and corporate partners to be mindful of other road users and stay safe on the roads”.

South Melbourne FC is very pleased to announce the signing of Adelaide United Youth midfielder Dion Kirk for the remainder of the 2014 National Premier League Victoria season.

The 19 year old Kirk arrives at Lakeside Stadium following a highly successful season with Adelaide United in the National Youth League. He was made Vice Captain of the side by current Adelaide Youth coach Michael Valkanis, who himself played for South Melbourne FC in the old National Soccer League between 1992 and 1996.

Kirk plays in midfield, where his work rate and ability to create when going forward was a key reason why Adelaide United finished in the top four during the past National Youth League season. His individual performances during the season were recognised when he was awarded with the Most Valuable Player for the 2014 National Youth League season.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Football Director Nicholas Maikousis said “we are quite excited to welcome Dion to the club. His addition will provide Chris Taylor with more options in the middle of the park, and will strengthen what is already a very talented squad”.

South Melbourne FC welcomes Dion Kirk to the Club and wishes him the best for the remainder of the 2014 season.

Check out his Adelaide United Highlights

U12s won 7:2, goals: Adam Brigo 3, Sam Moraitis 2, Ari Gutrie 1, and own goal
U13s won 1:0, goal: William Wilson
U14s draw 1:1, goal: Keegan Garrow
U15s draw 1:1, goal: Nick Edwards
U16s lost 2:4
U18s won 4:0

By John Kyrou (Photo by Cindy Nitsos)

South Melbourne FC continued its 100% winning record in 2014 with a 1-0 victory against Pascoe Vale at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday evening. Mathew Theodore’s long-range strike after 25 minutes proved to be the difference as South won its ninth National Premier League match in a row.

Coach Chris Taylor made only one change to the South team that defeated Bentleigh Greens 2-1 last Sunday. Andrew Mullett started in place of captain Michael Eagar, who was rested following an ankle injury sustained in the Bentleigh match. As a result, Brad Norton wore the captain’s armband against Pascoe Vale. Vitale Ferrante’s side went into the game having won only one of their opening eight NPL matches and were desperate at least for a point against South Melbourne.

The home side scored the winning goal when Pascoe Vale only half-cleared the ball to Theodore at the edge of the box and the South midfielder drilled the ball past Pascoe Vale goalkeeper Stefaan Sardelic and into the back of the net. South could have been further ahead at the break but for two excellent saves by Sardelic to deny Iqi Jawadi and Theodore, both from long range. The second half was a struggle as South battled to break down the Pascoe Vale defence. At the other end of the field, the South defence survived a few nervous scares, firstly when James Musa’s defensive header nearly resulted in an own goal and secondly when a vicious Michael Ferrante free kick almost snuck in at Jason Saldaris’ near post in the final action of the match. In the end, South had done enough for the win and Saldaris enjoyed his sixth clean sheet across all competitions this season.

Post-match, Norton noted that “it was a tough one today but getting the three points is the most important thing…we want to win every home match and make it as hard as possible for sides to beat us here (at Lakeside)…so far, so good.” Taylor agreed and gave full credit to a resilient Pascoe Vale before adding that “the big thing for us is not to get complacent, it’s not like we’ve blitzed every game and won by big scores…we’ve just got to keep going the way we’re going at the moment and keep collecting the points.”

South’s victory and Oakleigh’s 1-1 draw with Northcote City means that Taylor’s side is now six points ahead of the second-placed Cannons at the top of the NPL ladder, with the two sides due to meet each other soon (at Jack Edwards Reserve on Friday 6 June).

The news was not as good in the NPL 20s, with South Melbourne losing 1-3 against Pascoe Vale. Josh Markovski scored a consolation goal for South late in the match having been 0-3 down.

Next weekend South travels to Galvin Park to face the promoted Werribee City. Kick-off is next Sunday 25 May at 3PM.

FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 1-0 PASCOE VALE (HT: 1-0)

Goal Scorer:
1-0: Mathew Theodore (25’)

Key Stats (Provided by Steven Orchard):
Shots: SMFC (11) – PVFC (10)
Turnovers: SMFC (83) – PVFC (87)
Balls into Final Third: SMFC (34) – PVFC (28)
Clearances: SMFC (12) – PVFC (15)

South Melbourne FC:
1. Jason SALDARIS (GK), 2. Tim MALA, 3. Andrew MULLETT, 7. Nick EPIFANO (27. Leigh MINOPOULOS 46’), 8. Mathew THEODORE, 9. Milos LUJIC, 10. Tyson HOLMES, 11. Brad NORTON, 12. Iqi JAWADI, 14. James MUSA, 17. Jamie REED (6. Dimi TSIARAS 88’).

Pascoe Vale:
1. Stefaan SARDELIC (GK), 2. Adrian TALARICO, 3. Nathen MEGIC, 10. Davey VAN’T SCHIP, 11. Jonathon VOULGARIS (7. Luca SANTILLI 67’), 13. Mathew LAZARIDES (8. Joseph YOUSSEF 62’), 14. Alvaro CARRILLO, 15. Mark PISTININZI, 16. Marco SANTILLI (6. Roberto DI VITO 70’), 21. Michael FERRANTE, 22. Carl RECCHIA.

SMFC Man of the Match: Mathew Theodore
Venue: Lakeside Stadium
Date: Sunday 18 May 2014

By John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC welcomes Pascoe Vale to Lakeside Stadium on Sunday evening as Chris Taylor’s side looks to continue its record-breaking start to the season.

South goes into the game having won their opening ten matches in 2014 in both National Premier League and Dockerty Cup competitions, with its most recent being the 2-1 win against the Bentleigh Greens at Lakeside Stadium last Sunday 11 May. Milos Lujic and substitute Leigh Minopoulos scored second half goals as South won the three points to maintain its four point lead over the Oakleigh Cannons at the top of the NPL ladder. With essentially a full squad to choose from, Taylor will expect his side to continue its winning form in front of their home supporters on Sunday.

Pascoe Vale have had a very slow start to 2014, being eliminated in the Fourth Round of the Dockerty Cup (0-1 against State League 1 side South Springvale on Saturday 22 March) and winning only one of their opening eight NPL matches. Vitale Ferrante’s side currently sit in second-last spot on the NPL ladder, with their only win in all competitions being the 2-1 victory against Heidelberg United at Hosken Reserve on Thursday 17 April. Despite their lowly status, Pascoe Vale have players that are experienced in playing at the top level of Victorian football in Stefaan Sardelic, Tomi Milardovic, Michael Ferrante, Carl Recchia, Joseph Youssef and Jonathan Voulgaris. Sardelic, Recchia and Youssef are all former South players and will be looking to perform well against their former side.

The two sides have only met twice previously, both times in the 2013 Victorian Premier League competition. In the first meeting on Saturday 1 June 2013, Pascoe Vale had a man sent off after only ten minutes but managed to hold South to a 0-0 draw at Hosken Reserve. In the second meeting at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday 25 August 2013, Nick Soolsma opened the scoring for the home side before Pascoe Vale took a shock lead thanks to goals from Ferrante and Luca Santilli. Luke Hopper levelled for South before the halftime break before Trent Rixon got on the end of a Soolsma cross to head the winning goal in the second half as South won the match 3-2.

Sunday’s match kicks off at 5PM at Lakeside Stadium. Those unable to make the game can follow it with live updates on the South Melbourne FC Facebook page and on the Club’s official Twitter @smfc with the hashtags #NPLVIC and #SMvPV.

As part of its Principal Partnership with South Melbourne FC, Online Permit Solutions would like to provide South Melbourne supporters with a special promotion when utilising its services and provide a rebate back to the Club !

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When utilising the services provided by Online Permit Solutions, South Melbourne supporters can use the promotional code (smfc1400) to gain a 20% discount, and a further rebate payment of $50 will be paid back to the Club !

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All you have to do is visit www.onlineps.com.au, and enter the promotional code when completing your online quote. It is as simple as that !

For any further enquiries, please contact Lazarus Mavridis on (03) 8678 1788 or info@onlineps.com.au to take advantage of this great offer !

U12s – 5:0 win 
Goals: Adam Brigo 2, Dusan Pavlovic, Ari Guthri, Curtis Wong

U13s – Bye

U14s – 2:0 win
Goals: Keegan Garrow, Andrew Mesourouni

U15s – 2:2 draw
Goals: George Kalas, Julian Zinni

U18s – 4:7 lost
Goals: Edwin Strangherlin 2, Khaleb Horrocks and own goal.

By John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC continued its incredible start to the 2014 National Premier League season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the Bentleigh Greens at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday evening. Second-half strikes from Milos Lujic and substitute Leigh Minopoulos were just enough to defeat the Greens, who scored a consolation goal thanks to a Jack Webster header.

John Anastasiadis’ Bentleigh was always going to be the toughest test for Chris Taylor’s side so far this season and the away side showed why that was the case in the first half, creating plenty of chances but not capitalising on the scoreboard. The away side should have been in the lead at halftime but for South goalkeeper Jason Saldaris making two important saves to keep his side level at 0-0 going into the rooms at the break. South’s best chance of the half fell to Nick Epifano but his shot fizzed wide of Bentleigh goalkeeper Stuart Webster’s goal.

South eventually wrestled control of the match in the second half and opened the scoring on 67 minutes when Epifano’s shot could only be parried by Stuart Webster into the path of Milos Lujic and Lujic made no mistake, blasting the ball into the back of the net. The centre-forward should have made it 2-0 only a minute later when Stuart Webster had raced off his goal line and left his goal exposed, however his defender Jack Webster put his right leg in the way of Lujic’s shot and the ball deflected wide of the goals. Bentleigh missed a great opportunity to level when Luc Jeggo sprung the offside trap and cut the ball back beautifully for Luke Pilkington but he blasted his shot over Saldaris’ goal.

Minopoulos had been making an impact as a substitute all season and on this occasion he scored four minutes after coming off the bench, getting on the end of Jamie Reed’s cross to the back post and then getting past his marker before scoring past Stuart Webster to give South a commanding 2-0 lead. The home side looked to be cruising towards another victory but Bentleigh provided a late scare when Jack Webster’s well-placed header from a corner kick in the second minute of injury time gave the away side a lifeline. Despite the six minutes of injury time played, South held on and have now won their opening eight League matches – plus the two Dockerty Cup wins – giving Chris Taylor’s men an incredible ten straight victories across all competitions to start the season.

Taylor was very proud of his side post-match, adding that “it was a big test today…in the second half we stepped it up and were worthy winners.” South end the round on top of the NPL ladder with a four point lead over second-placed Oakleigh Cannons.

It was a different story in the NPL 20s as Bentleigh defeated South 5-2. Eric Hauser and Matthew Kundevski scored South’s goals.

South Melbourne FC’s next match is against Pascoe Vale at Lakeside Stadium next Sunday 18 May, with the match kicking off at 5PM.

FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 2-1 BENTLEIGH GREENS (HT: 0-0)

Goal Scorers:
1-0: Milos Lujic (67′)
2-0: Leigh Minopoulos (89′)
2-1: Jack Webster (90+2′)

Key Stats (Provided by Steven Orchard):
Shots:  SMFC (16) – BGFC (13)
Saves: SMFC (5) – BGFC (4)
Turn Overs: SMFC (75) – BGFC (79)
Balls into Final Third: SMFC (40) – BGFC (43)
Clearances: SMFC (20) – BGFC (14)