Monday, 12 October 2009 10:00 AM
The Valkanis family would like to invite all South Melbourne FC members and fans to a tavern night at Bob Jane Stadium.
Date: Friday October 23rd
Time: 7pm onwards
Cost: $25 per person (set menu)
Each table will be provided with a free bottle of wine.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009 9:50 AM
South Melbourne FC is pleased to announce that club legend Vaughan Coveny has been appointed as the new senior coach for the 2010 Victorian Premier League season.
Coveny will now coach the club that he has spent twelve seasons at as a player in both National League and State League levels. Coveny represented South in 295 league games, making him the third highest games holder at South, behind only Paul Trimboli (430) and Steve Blair (338). He has also scored 102 league goals for the club, with only Paul Trimboli (115) ahead of him.
Affectionately known as the ‘Horse’, Coveny won two National Soccer League championships with South and was part of the team that represented the club at the FIFA World Club Championships in Brazil in 2000.
Other trophies he has won during his time at Bob Jane Stadium include the NSL Cup, Dockerty Cup, Tynan-Eyre Cup and Hellenic Cup.
During his playing career, Vaughan was a key member of the leadership group, captaining the club in the NSL and remaining an important role model in the VPL. As such, he has proven to be a true leader on and off the field, assisting the coaching staff in grooming the young up and coming footballers.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, Vaughan was excited about starting his new role at the club.
“I am honoured to have been given an opportunity to serve this great club as both a player and now as a coach. I am confident that along with my assistant David Lugli and the rest of the football staff at SMFC, we can bring the success to the club which I have been fortunate enough to experience as a player”, said Coveny.
The Club is excited to have Vaughan as the senior coach and is looking forward to seeing the former New Zealand international implement his vision and strategies in season 2010.
Coveny will be assisted by David Lugli, who has been appointed as Assistant Coach for the 2010 season. David has been coaching the club for one season already, successfully guiding the Under 21 side to second place in the 2009 season. He has also played a major part in the development of many juniors over the years and will provide invaluable assistance to Vaughan and the Football Department.
The club wishes both Vaughan Coveny and David Lugli all the best for 2010.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 1:01 PM
South Melbourne FC would like to announce that applications for all Junior and Youth (U/21) coaching positions for the 2010 season are NOW open!!
To register your interest, please download and fill out the coaching form below.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009 3:20 PM
South Melbourne FC (South Melbourne Hellas Soccer Club) is proud to announce the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State Government for the redevelopment of Bob Jane Stadium into the new State Athletics Centre and subsequent commercial and infrastructure arrangements.
The signing of the MOU represents the culmination of more than 18 months of negotiations.
The proposed re-development provides numerous benefits for the Club which include:
The club is implementing its “One Club” policy which will result in all Seniors, Juniors and Womens teams being united under a single entity.
Realising this vision has been one of the club’s main objectives in its discussions with government.
Further information will be provided to Members shortly.
Sunday, 13 September 2009 8:51 PM
The club advises that Michael Michalakopoulos has ended his tenure as Head Coach of South Melbourne FC due to personal reasons.
A number of candidates will be interviewed over the coming weeks and the club will be making a decision in due course.
The club thanks both him and his assistant Phil Peladarinos for their services over the past year and a half.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009 12:20 PM
By Paul Mavroudis
South Melbourne’s Women’s side has progressed to the WPL preliminary final after defeating Sandringham 3-2, with the dramatic winning goal coming in the 2nd half of extra time.
South were lucky not concede a goal in the opening minutes, clearing a goal bound shot off the line. Soon afterwards Christie Tangalos sent the home side ahead, putting away a corner at the back post.
Sandringham then lifted their game, and the home side struggled to get the ball through the midfield. Still, it took until the 41st minute before the visitor’s equalised, poor marking at the back post from a free kick seeing Sandringham draw level.
South went into the half time break with their lead restored however, after the visitors gave away a late penalty, with Aimee Benton tucking away the spot kick.
The 2nd half was more of an end to end affair, with numerous chances spurned at each end. In the death throes of regular time, Sandringham made the most of a goalmouth scramble to send the game to extra time.
Rather than be deflated by that late goal, South maintained their composure in extra time. Five minutes into the 2nd half of extra time, South launched a swift counterattack, with Jade Barnden managing to outpace the defender on her inside and slip the ball past the Sandringham goalkeeper just inside the far post.
With the rain pouring down and time running out, the visitors threw everything they had, and nearly snatched another equaliser, but South prevailed, and will meet the loser of the Box Hill – Heidelberg match for a shot at the grand final.
Monday, 24 August 2009 6:57 PM
By George Kouroumalis – Photos by Cindy Nitsos
Two strikes at the start of each half, has seen Hume City triumph 2-0 in the Elimination Final at Epping Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams came into the contest in a confident mood, with South coming off a hard fought victory against Sunshine last week. Despite losing last week, Hume would come into the game knowing that it defeated South only a month ago at Bob Jane Stadium.
In fine but blustery conditions, Hume began the game in an exceptional manner scoring the stunning opener in the opening minute.
The goal came after a poor clearance by young goalkeeper Stefaan Sardelic was intercepted on the left hand side by veteran Tony Sterjovski. With the defence retreating, Sterjovski played a lovely ball into the path of Zoran Petrevski, who with the aid of a deflection cut the ball back into the oncoming Alfonso Opazo. With the wind behind him, Opazo slammed the ball into the roof of the net to give his side the early lead.
Hume continued the early dominance and could of doubled their advantage in the 7th minute when the ball fell to Ross Thompson just outside the area. With the defence sitting back, Thompson opted to hit a speculative long-range attempt at the target. Unfortunately for the midfielder, the wind caught the ball from the outset and subsequently the shot flew just over the bar.
It took 15 minutes until the nervous South Melbourne side began to come out of their shell and was denied superbly in the 21st minute of play. On this occasion, a superb ball from the left hand flank saw Gianni De Nittis win possession inside the area. From the resulting headed ball, Fernando found himself one on one with Acevski. Coming off his line quickly, Acevski managed to throw everything into the path of Fernando’s shot to produce a world class save from point blank range.
South should of equalised in the 35th minute when a sublime flick and run by De Nittis bamboozled Serder Pir on the left flank. After surging into the area, he then squared the ball into the path of the hard running Goran Zoric. With the keeper beaten and with Zoric inside the six yard box, the ball amazingly was turned into the opposite direction to the goal by the diminutive attacking player.
Sterjovski for Hume had the final chance of the half, being thwarted acrobatically by the young goalkeeper Sardelic, after his free-kick was steered onto the target from just outside the area.
The 2nd half started in almost identical fashion to the first half, with Hume exposing a laconic South side just after kick-off to double their advantage.
On this occasion, a sensational ball by Pir from the right hand side found the unmarked Andy Vlahos inside the area. With the South defence nowhere to be seen, Vlahos expertly nodded the ball past Sardelic to silence the strong South Melbourne traveling contingent.
South fans and players alike were stunned and it didn’t take until the 70th minute for the Blues to muster a series of attacks onto the Hume goal. With Vaughan Coveny lifting himself and the team, he was denied twice in quick succession by Acevski, who was proving to be the difference between both sides.
Acevski continued to thwart South at every opportunity and produced the save of the game moments later when he acrobatically turned a Steven O’Dor opportunity over the bar from close range. With only the keeper to beat, O’Dor’s effort looked goal bound, until Acevski produced a piece of goalkeeping brilliance to deny him.
South continued to push forward at every chance but it was all in vein, with the referee blowing time on the Blues season.
Highlights of the game can be found at www.smfc.tv.
Hume City 2 (Opazo 1, Vlahos 46)
SMFC 0
Man of the match: Lou Acevski
Crowd: 2000 @ Epping Stadium
Thursday, 20 August 2009 3:45 PM
South Melbourne FC would like to announce the 2009 VPL tipping competition winners.
The winners were;
1st Prize – Signed SMFC Shirt
Arthur Tsonis – 71 Tips
2nd Prize – Signed SMFC Playing Ball
Georgina Leibelt – 69 Tips
3rd Prize – $100 SMFC Merchandise Voucher
Mark Creaney – 67 Tips
SMFC would like to thank everyone who participated in the online tipping competition for 2009.
