Category: News

Friday, 28 February 2003 12:00 AM

South Melbourne popular defender Mehmet Durakovic is due to play his 350th NSL match when the Blue and Whites comes up against the Parramatta Power at Parramatta Stadium tomorrow night.

Former Qantas Socceroo Durakovic commenced his NSL career in 1985, spending time at Brunswick (1985-1988, 61 games), Footscray (1989, 25 games), South Melbourne (1989/90-1994/95 and 2000/01-2002/03, 217 games) and Olympic Sharks (1998/99, 21 games). He also had a stint at Malaysian club Selangor (1995-1998).

In 1991 the sturdy defender was part of South Melbourne Championship squad and more than ten years on, is still at the stronghold of South Melbourne’s defence. In 2002 he was selected in South Melbourne’s Team of the Century and at the age of 38 continues to breakdown attacks from opposing clubs.

MEHMET DURAKOVIC PROFILE
At South Melbourne (NSL): 89/90 – 94/95, 00/01 – current
Born: October 13, 1965
NSL Games: 350
South Melbourne NSL Games: 217
NSL Goals: 8
South Melbourne NSL Goals: 5
Individual NSL Honours: –
International “A” Appearances (& years): 39 (1990-1997)
All International Appearances (& years): 59 (1990-1997)
Other National Honours: –
Overseas clubs: Selangor (Malaysia)

Friday, 28 February 2003 12:00 AM

Date: Saturday 1 March 2003
Venue: Parramatta Stadium
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEDST

Radio: Radio 2 1611AM 7.30pm live broadcast (Sydney only);
Radio 2 1629AM 7.30pm live broadcast (Melbourne only)

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 7 Parramatta wins 1, South Melbourne wins 5, Draws 1

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

Last Encounter: South Melbourne 1-0 home win

LAST WEEK:
Parramatta 3-0 away loss Vs Newcastle
South Melbourne 2-2 away draw Vs Marconi

Position on Ladder: 6th Vs 13th

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

IN: A Ceccoli
OUT: D Brown (omitted), J Sobczyk (knee – season)

SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD: E Galekovic (gk), F De Amicis, P Kisnorbo, M Durakovic, N Tolios, S Panopoulos, V Coveny, P Buljan, M Murdocca, V Lia, C Boutsianis, B Damianos, S Poutakidis, S Pace, D Anastasiadis (gk)

Friday, 28 February 2003 12:00 AM

The South Melbourne Soccer Club confirms that it has parted ways with senior coach Danny Wright.

The club wishes Danny Wright every success in the future.

South Melbourne has a proud finals record as the most successful soccer club and is committed to maintaining it’s excellent record.

All media enquires should be directed to the club on (03) 9645 9797.

Friday, 21 February 2003 12:00 AM

Date: Friday 21 February 2003
Venue: Marconi Stadium
Kickoff: 7.30pm AEST

Radio:
Radio 2 1611AM 7.30pm live broadcast (Sydney only)
Radio 2 1629AM 7.30pm live broadcast (Melbourne only)
Radio 3XY 1422AM 7.30pm live broadcast (Melbourne only)

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 51 Marconi wins 22, South Melbourne wins 19, Draws 10

HEAD TO HEAD (at Marconi):
Played 24 (Regular Season) Marconi wins 10, South Melbourne wins 4, Draws 10

Last Encounter: South Melbourne 1-0 home win

LAST WEEK South Melbourne 1-0 away loss Vs Melbourne Knights;
Marconi 1-0 home loss Vs Newcastle

Position on Ladder: 13th Vs 6th

MARCONI STALLIONS SQUAD: M Turnbull (gk), C Gibson, D Longo, A Costanzo, L Casserly, R Enes, S Webb, M Thwaite, J Spiteri, A Brosque, T Perinich, C Care, P Cotte, D McDonald,
S Alogdellis (gk)

IN: P Cotte
OUT: T Sekulic (suspended – 2 matches), G Last (suspended – 1 match)

SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD: E Galekovic (gk), F De Amicis, M Durakovic, D Clarkson, S Panopoulos, V Coveny, P Buljan, M Baird, M Murdocca, V Lia, C Boutsianis, B Damianos, P Kisnorbo, S Poutakidis, D Anastasiadis (gk)

IN: F De Amicis, M Murdocca, C Boutsianis
OUT: N Tolios, (knee – 1 week), Z Susa (knee – season), S Iosifides (groin)

Thursday, 20 February 2003 12:00 AM

South Melbourne’s silky midfielder Zeljko Susa badly injured his knee in last Sunday’s Melbourne derby and will miss the remainder of the season. Susa damaged his medial ligament, cartilage and has partial tear to his anterior cruciate ligament. Susa injured the same knee he had surgery to and will see the surgeon tomorrow.

This is the third time a South Melbourne player has been sidelined this season due to knee injuries. Susa joins captain Paul Trimboli and defender Robert Liparoti who both suffered major knee injuries this season.

Young Nick Tolios who began the past two matches had internal bleeding to his knee after Sunday’s match. The sturdy defender is currently recovering and should be fully fit for Friday’s match against Marconi.

Fellow defender Steve Iosifidis, who missed last Sunday’s derby because of a Grade 1 tear to his groin, is back on the training track but a spot in South Melbourne’s travelling squad looks unlikely as time to fully recover is against the 29 year old.

On a positive note, new signing Con Boutsianis who has out of the game for the past six months, has been training well after being and looks in surprisingly good condition. Boutsianis will be up for selection this Friday night.

South Melbourne has three matches remaining and face bottom placed Marconi Stallions in a match the Albert Park Club is expected to win. South Melbourne has only won one match away from home this season but a win will see the club step closer to confirming a spot in the top six.

In other Round 23 matches that will have a large bearing on the make up of the top six, Parramatta travel to third placed Newcastle while Adelaide City host inform Northern Spirit. Perth Glory host Olympic Sharks in the top of the table clash and a match that could decide the top two positions.

Monday, 17 February 2003 12:00 AM

South Melbourne Soccer Club has secured championship-winning player Con Boutsianis, who returns to the club in a much-anticipated strategy to bring the NSL Championship back to Victoria. Boutsianis has been training for several months in order to resurrect his domestic and international career.

Together with the signing of the promising Sam Poutakidis, coach Danny Wright is excited about the club prospects.

“Adding a player of Con’s calibre to what is already a dynamic and talented squad, only serves to enhance our ability to compete with the leading clubs in the country.”

“Particularly with the absence of our greatest NSL player of all time, captain and inspiration Paul Trimboli, I was determined to ensure we maintained our commitment to the Championship aspirations of the team and fans.”

Wright is pleased with the balance of his squad leading into another finals series for Australia’s most successful club.

With veteran defender Fausto De Amicis overcoming the frustration of an injury plagued season, the adrenalin is pumping for another South Melbourne assault on the NSL Championship.

Thursday, 13 February 2003 12:00 AM

Returning from suspension, South Melbourne striker Vaughan Coveny scored the only goal in the Albert Park Clubs 1 – 0 victory over Brisbane at Bob Jane Stadium last night. The win lifts South Melbourne to third spot on 31 points.

South controlled the game from the outset and should have been convincing leaders at half time. Coveny struck in the 32nd minute which was enough to secure the points.

South Melbourne will now take on the Melbourne Knights at Knight Stadium on Sunday, 16 February 2003. Kick Off 6.00PM.

Thursday, 13 February 2003 12:00 AM

Date: Sunday 16 February 2003
Venue: Knights Stadium
Kickoff: 6.00pm AEST

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 51 Melbourne Knights wins 12, South Melbourne wins 23, Draws 16

HEAD TO HEAD (at Knights) Played:
20 (Regular Season) Melbourne Knights wins 6,
South Melbourne wins 10, Draws 4

Last Encounter:
South Melbourne 4-2 home win

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

Position on Ladder: 11th Vs 3rd

MELBOURNE KNIGHTS SQUAD: M John (gk), N Sabljak, A Marth, I Erdogan, D Vasilevski, V Buljubasic, A Pelikan, L Buhic, L Lapsansky, A Kovacic, D Rocco, R Vargas, H Fa’Arodo, B Natsioulas, A Hrehoresin (gk)

IN: A Pelikan, A Marth, L Buhic
OUT: S Horvat (calf), D Piorkowski (bruised foot), G Biscayzacu

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

IN: P Kisnorbo
OUT: P Trimboli (knee – season), R Liparoti (knee – season), S Pace

Wednesday, 12 February 2003 12:00 AM

Michael Baird scored his last goal in Round 7 in the thriller against Olympic where he netted a double. Tonight the blonde striker has a point to prove against his former club, Brisbane Strikers.

The Young Socceroo striker joined South Melbourne this season and looked lively in the first part of the season. But since that scintillating 6-4 win over the Sharks, the boy from up North has had a dry patch.

You don’t have to tell Michael Baird how important a win is tomorrow, as he knows all too well that a victory over his former club is very important.

“I have had a dry patch of late. Every striker goes through a dry patch and no striker likes it no more than I do but once one goal comes the goals will begin to flow”.

“The match against Brisbane will be the turning point of the season and it will all start happening from there. South Melbourne will show it’s true colours in the finals series”, says Baird.

Due to International duties the 19 year old didn’t take part in South’s Round 12 away loss to the Strikers at Ballymore Stadium. He is very much looking forward to playing a primary role in tonight’s encounter.

“I would certainly like to play well against my former club and team mates but the rivalry isn’t between myself and Brisbane it’s between South Melbourne and the Strikers”.

“We need to beat them convincingly and continue some good form in the upcoming rounds”, says Baird.

Michael Baird urges all South Melbourne members and fans to get along to Bob Jane Stadium tonight to support the team, which gives the club a huge advantage at it’s home ground.

“We need the support of all the supporters which always helps us. All teams that come to South Melbourne don’t like the South Melbourne fans because they are so intimidating and passionate for their club”.

“This is a huge advantage for us”, says Baird.

A win tonight will push South Melbourne to third spot in the lead up to the Melbourne derby this Sunday at Knights Stadium.

Wednesday, 12 February 2003 12:00 AM

Date: Sunday 12 February 2003
Venue: Bob Jane Stadium
Kickoff: 7.30pm AEST

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 26 South Melbourne wins 12, Brisbane wins 10, Draws 4

HEAD TO HEAD (at South Melbourne):
Played: 11 (Regular Season) South Melbourne wins 6, Brisbane wins 1, Draws 4

Last Encounter: Brisbane 2-1 home win

LAST WEEK:
South Melbourne 3-2 home loss Vs Adelaide City;
Brisbane 3-0 home win Vs Parramatta Power

Position on Ladder: 6th Vs 9th

SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD: E Galekovic (gk), S Iosifides, M Durakovic, N Tolios, S Panopoulos, V Coveny, M Murdocca, P Buljan, M Baird, Z Susa, B Damianos, V Lia, S Pace, R Sekulovski, D Anastasiadis (gk)

IN: V Coveny (returns from suspension)
OUT: P Kisnorbo (suspended – 1 match)

BRISBANE STRIKERS SQUAD: J Kearton (gk), J McKain, S Stefanutto, S McLaren, P Grierson, F Rech, A Webber, F Tagawa, D Pilic, W Heath, M McKay, J Rose, A Roche, S Laybutt, C Baldock (gk)

IN: S Laybutt (returns from suspension)
OUT: D Dreger (omitted)