Category: News

Friday, 18 November 2011 2:00 AM

South Melbourne FC wishes to announce that it will host NSW Premier League Champions Sydney Olympic in an exhibition match on Sunday 11th December as part of the festivities to launch the refurbished Lakeside Stadium. This will be the first football match played at Lakeside since the renovations commenced in 2010.

South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic have shared a long history of derby matches in the old National Soccer League, and have also enjoyed many great matches at Lakeside Stadium. They first met at Lakeside on 4th February 1996 in a game that South triumphed 2-1 (with goals from Vaughan Coveny and Paul Trimboli) in front of a crowd of 10,127. Another memorable game was on Australia Day in 2000 when South defeated Olympic 2-0 with only nine men, thanks to a penalty from Steve Panopoulos and a goal from Andy Vlahos, as well as the heroics of goalkeeper Chris Jones. The last time Olympic played at Lakeside was in the final NSL season on the 10th December 2003, when they came from 3-0 down to trail 3-2 before Con Boutsianis hit a trademark free kick late in the match to give South a 4-2 victory.

Since the end of the National Soccer League, Sydney Olympic has been playing in the NSW Premier League. It endured many difficult seasons in the NSW Premier League – even risking relegation – but finally broke out in 2011, securing the Minor Premiership before defeating rivals Sydney United 2-0 in the Grand Final at Belmore Sports Ground earlier this month.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early on the 11th December to watch all junior levels of the Club playing in mini-matches across the Lakeside Stadium pitch and to take the opportunity to stroll around the stadium and observe the new facilities. The Senior Mens match between South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic will kick-off at 5.30pm. 

Please note that entry on the day is free.

South Melbourne FC President Leo Athanasakis was delighted to officially announce the match, adding that “we are quite excited to host the NSW Premier League champions in what promises to be a great celebration. It will provide the opportunity for our fans to inspect the new facilities at Lakeside Stadium, and see the Club return back to its home. I encourage everyone to get to Lakeside Stadium early and enjoy the festivities”.

South Melbourne FC welcomes NSW Premier League Champions Sydney Olympic and invites all football supporters to come down to Lakeside Stadium on Sunday 11th December to be part of a new chapter in South’s history as the Club begins life at the refurbished facility.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011 8:37 AM

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the signing of Trent Rixon from Northcote City FC. The big striker has decided to link up with former coach Peter Tsolakis at Lakeside Stadium for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.

Rixon arrives at South with big expectations on him following an excellent career at Northcote City. His many goals helped Northcote win double-promotion in consecutive seasons, progressing from State League Division 2 in 2008 to the Victorian Premier League in 2010. In Northcote’s first season back in the VPL, Rixon further enhanced his own reputation and that of Northcote’s by scoring 19 goals in the VPL to win the Golden Boot award, as well as helping Northcote reach the finals series in what was an incredible achievement for Iraklis in their 50th year. Although Northcote just missed the finals by a solitary point in 2011, they compensated by winning the Mirabella Cup and it was Rixon as captain that held aloft the Cup at AAMI Park on Saturday 10 September.

With the departure of Jesse Krncevic, coach Tsolakis was seeking to sign a big forward capable of scoring many goals and will no doubt be delighted with the addition of one of his former players to his new South squad. Rixon himself was saddened to leave Northcote City after many seasons at the Club but was looking forward to starting a new chapter of his footballing career at Lakeside Stadium.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC President Leo Athanasakis said “we are excited to land a marquee signing such as Trent Rixon. We hope that he will link up well with his new team mates and continue his terrific goal scoring form”.

South Melbourne FC is delighted to welcome Trent Rixon to Lakeside Stadium and wishes him all the best in season 2012 and beyond.

Check out the smfcTV interview with Trent Rixon

Monday, 14 November 2011 8:11 PM

South Melbourne Football Club would like to invite players of the following age groups for trialling in November-December 2011

MANCHESTER UNITED CUP TRIALS (players born 1997)

Date:Saturday 26th November & 3rd December
Venue: To be advised after players have submitted an expression of interest email which also lists their details & experience to hgatsoulis@bigpond.com
Deadline: Please have your expression of interest emails in by 9pm 23th November. Invitations will then be sent advising venue.
Selecting Coach: Joe Montemurro

Player trials Saturday 3rd December

Vacancies exist for talented players in these age groups:

NEW TEAM U12 Wallabies
5 players needed only (born 2000) email Tom on tkalas@au1.ibm.com

NEW TEAM U13B
4 players needed only (born 1999) email Louis on louisnasopoulos@optusnet.com

Goalkeepers Vacancies exist for U12, U13B, U14A…..SMFC offers goal keeper training as part of club fees
Please email hgatsoulis@bigpond.com if you have an interest in trialing.

Trials Saturday 19th November

Thursday, 13 October 2011 3:54 PM

South Melbourne FC has appointed Peter Tsolakis as its new Head Coach for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.

Affectionately known as ‘Gus’, Tsolakis represented South Melbourne FC as a player between 1988 and 1994. He played 160 National Soccer League matches and scored 30 NSL goals over his seven seasons at Middle Park. He was well known for his powerful strikes at goal and delighted South fans with many memorable and timely goals. He was a member of the 1990/91 NSL Championship team (scoring a penalty in the dramatic shoot-out) and also played and scored in the 4-1 rout of Sydney Olympic in the 1989/90 National League Cup Final. Gus was assistant to Danny Wright for the 2002/03 NSL season and actually oversaw the final two NSL matches that season as Senior Coach following Wright’s dismissal.

Gus proved what an amazing athlete he was by playing State League football into his 40s, notably with Northcote City. After eventually hanging up his boots, he coached Northcote City and oversaw the incredible transformation of a side playing State League Two football in 2008 to being crowned the inaugural Mirabella Cup champions in 2011. As coach, he won double-promotions as Champions of State League Two in 2008 and State League One in 2009 before Northcote finished as finalists in the Victorian Premier League in 2010. Northcote City fell just one point short of successive finals appearances in 2011 after failing to win in the final round, ironically against South in one of the games of the season that ended in a highly entertaining 3-3 draw.

SMFC President Leo Athanasakis is delighted to welcome Peter back to the Club, adding that “the Club is excited to welcome back one of its favourite sons. Both Peter and his father won Championships with the Club, and we have been very impressed with Peter’s coaching achievements at Northcote City. We welcome Gus back to South Melbourne FC and are confident he will bring the Club much success.”

South Melbourne FC wishes Peter Tsolakis the best for season 2012 and is excited at the prospect of him leading the Club in a new chapter of its history.

Monday, 10 October 2011 10:12 PM

South Melbourne FC has appointed life long supporter Peter Kokotis as the club’s new General Manager.

Prior to his appointment at South, Peter had previously worked in the finance industry for the last ten years and in football for the past six years, working as a FIFA accredited player agent.

Speaking to smfc.com.au on his recruitment to South, Peter said “I am very excited to come on board at this very important time in the club’s history. There is a lot of work ahead for all of us to make South Melbourne better in all areas.

South Melbourne has been part of my life for over 30 years and now I have an opportunity to work with the board and to achieve our desired goals.

SMFC President, Leo Athanasakis told smfc.com.au “we are delighted to have appointed Peter to the General Manager role, as we believe Peter will excel in the role, and drive the operations and strategic direction for the Club moving forward. These are very exciting times at the Club with our return to the redeveloped Lakeside Stadium.”

Monday, 3 October 2011 11:34 PM

Over the weekend, South Melbourne’s Under U11s team clinched the Gold Coast Champions Cup.

The team was comprised of five Under 10s and nine Under 11s who played exceptionally well, and fulfilled their ambitions by defeating the Rochdale Rovers 3-1 in the Grand Final last Saturday morning. What makes this achievement even more memorable was the fact, the side had played its round of quarter final, semi final, and grand final matches within the space of a 24 hour period. With their success in clinching the Gold Coast Champions Cup, South Melbourne FC became only the fifth Victorian club to win this prestigious tournament, which has been held for the last 15 years, with a number of international clubs from across the world participating.

South Melbourne FC would like to congratulate the team on their fantastic achievement.

Players: Captain Tom Buffin, Ben Djiba, Aramis Facchinetti, Gera Bilyansky, Dante Conte, Max Flaherty, Michelange Maltauro, Wil Rudzevecuis, Kiaan Storti, Marco Lamberti, Yianni Papadimitirou, Peter Koufidis, Georgi Zarbos, Alexander Cesarios

Coach: Oliver Schulze
Assistant: Jim Papadimitirou
Team Manager: Roland Storti

Thursday, 15 September 2011 6:07 PM

South Melbourne FC has decided not to reappoint Eddie Krncevic as Head Coach for the next Victorian Premier League season.

Eddie led South to its first finals appearance since 2009, finishing fourth on the Victorian Premier League ladder. After defeating Heidelberg United in the first week of the finals series, South was eliminated by the Oakleigh Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve a week later.

This was Eddie’s second spell with the club, having worked as Head Coach in the 2001-02 National Soccer League season, successfully steering South to a finals appearance after the club was in last position at one stage of the season. The team successfully overcame the Brisbane Strikers in the first week of the finals series but fell to the eventual NSL Champions Sydney Olympic.

The club is grateful for Eddie’s hard work and commitment throughout the year and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.

Friday, 9 September 2011 6:05 PM

South Melbourne FC is saddened to learn that Hall of Fame member and multiple championship player Ernie Ackerley was recently hospitalised with a kidney failure. It is expected that Mr Ackerley will have to spend this month in hospital as he fights to get better. 
Mr Ackerley joined South in 1964 and was part of a star-studded team that won three Victorian State League championships in a row from 1964-66. As a forward, he scored 57 State League goals for the Club and is seventh on the Club’s all-time leading goal scorers in League competition. Apart from his three Championships, two more memorable moments for him when representing the Club was when he scored 16 State League goals in 1965 before scoring four goals in a State League match against Melbourne Hungaria on Sunday 15 May 1966 at Olympic Park. Mr Ackerley’s achievements rightly earned him a position in South’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
South Melbourne FC President Leo Athanasakis expressed his best wishes for Mr Ackerley, saying “we are saddened to hear that Mr Ackerley is not in the best of health. We are proud to have had such a wonderful player represent South Melbourne FC and make such a significant impact in the history of our great Club. On behalf of everybody at South Melbourne FC, I would like to wish Mr Ackerley all the best in his health fight.”

Thursday, 8 September 2011 8:48 PM

The 2011 South Melbourne FC Most Valuable Player (MVP) night was held on Tuesday night at Honey Bar in Clarendon Street, South Melbourne. As usual, the event was a success and culminated in Jesse Krncevic and Steven Topalovic being jointly awarded the Theo Marmaras Medal and accepting their medals from President Leo Athanasakis. They join Dean Anastasiadis (2005), Fernando De Moraes (2006 & 2010), Ricky Diaco (2007), Steven O’Dor (2008) and Sebastian Petrovic (2009) as winners of this prestigious award. The MVP was voted on by the coaching staff in 2011.

Topalovic featured in 23 of South’s 26 Premier League matches in 2011 and also played in all of South’s Mirabella Cup and Singapore Cup matches, finishing only behind Kyle Joryeff for most games played in all competitions. ‘Topa’ was constantly a feature in Eddie Krncevic’s side and enjoyed a solid season that unfortunately ended in a serious injury in the Elimination Final against Heidelberg. He was surprised to be awarded the Theo Marmaras Medal and commented that “although it was difficult being played out of position at times this season, I did what the coach wanted me to do and I’m glad the boys rallied to make the finals.” 
Krncevic played in 19 Premier League matches in 2011 and scored 11 goals in the process. As well as the Theo Marmaras Medal, he also won the 2011 Golden Boot award that was presented to him by 2010 winner Fernando De Moraes. It was no coincidence that the side struggled when Krncevic was suspended throughout the season. He scored four goals in the last three matches of the home & away season, including a brilliant double against Northcote City in the last round, as South gained the results necessary to qualify for the finals series. Krncevic then scored the decisive penalty in the Elimination Final against Heidelberg that ultimately won the match and sent the club through to the Semi Final against Oakleigh. He was quite humble in reflection, mentioning that “the boys are a tight group and we stuck together when the times were tough and we managed to make the finals as a result. Let’s hope for an even bigger season in 2012.” 
There were other awards on the evening, with Senior captain Steven O’Dor presenting each member of the Under 21 Championship team with a medal for their outstanding 2011 season as they made it back-to-back titles. Under 21s coach Gus Caminos and Team Manager Haido Smyrnios also received medals for their enormous efforts throughout the season, as Gus spoke about how proud he was of his team for having such a successful 2011. The Under-21s MVP award quite ironically also featured a tied result, as Matko Budimir and Christian Skok were awarded the medal. Both boys mentioned that the people they wanted to thank the most were their team mates for the outstanding season.
To conclude the evening, a new award was presented. This award was the SMFC Media award, voted on by George Kouroumalis (website), Michael Dimoudis (website), Paul Zarogiannis (SMFC TV Producer), David Henning (SMFC TV host), John Kyrou (SMFC TV Co-Host) and Cindy Nitsos (photographer). The award was voted on a 3-2-1 basis and Carl Recchia was the winner ahead of Jesse Krncevic and Zaim Zeneli. In his speech, Recchia said he was proud of the way the players fought to make it as far as the semi finals and despite being disappointed not to make the Grand Final, he was confident that the club would get there in 2012.
South Melbourne FC wishes to congratulate all winners in what was a fantastic evening.
Theo Marmaras Medal (top vote-getters) 17 – Jesse Krncevic, Steven Topalovic 14 – Daniel Vasilevski, Carl Recchia 10 – Kliment Taseski
Golden Boot Winner Jesse Krncevic – 11 goals
SMFC Media Award (top vote-getters) 14 – Carl Recchia 11 – Jesse Krncevic 10 – Zaim Zeneli
Under 21’s Most Valuable Players Matko Budimir, Christian Skok

Monday, 22 August 2011 9:26 PM

On the twenty sixth and last episode of southRadio in 2011, we review the Minor Semi Final clash against Oakleigh Cannons.

Should you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback for southRadio please email the club at multimedia@smfc.com.au

Click here to download episode 26 of southRadio (MP3) – Right Click and Save As

Click here to download the show directly from iTunes