South players join Asia-Oceania Blind Football Cup

South Melbourne FC footballers have arrived in India to join the Australian national team, the Bilbies, in the 2022 IBSA Asia-Oceania Blind Football Championships.

The South Melbourne squad trains fortnightly between April and October and attend three National Training Camps each year. They compete in the National Blind Football Series at these camps and thus far remain undefeated lifting the inaugural Championship trophy in 2022.

Club President Nicholas Maikousis said “we are proud to have played a part in helping these footballers develop and join the national team. They are part of the Australian team who will be playing competitive blind football on the international stage for the first time ever . These players took their first steps on Lakeside Stadium two years ago and tonight they’ll be representing their Country in the 2022 IBSA Asia-Pacific Championships. It’s a tremendous journey”

South Melbourne FC Blind Football Captain Amir Abdi explained it was a “huge honour” to be named in the squad. “The future for the sport in Australia is exciting and we will be training hard to achieve a good result in India,” he said.

South Melbourne players in the Bilbies squad:

• Amir Abdi
• Brendan Spencer
• Nathan Letts
• Nathan Meneses (GK)

South Melbourne players in the Bilbies squad:

• Ankit Singh (Team Manager)
• Bess Hepworth (Goal Guide)

The Bilbies will play their first fixture against Iran tonight, kicking off at 11:30pm Melbourne time. You can watch the match free on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/qA2wLxw2a0A

You can follow the progress of the team on the on their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ausblindfootball

Blind Football is an internationally recognised sport. Australia is eligible to compete in the Asia-Oceania Championships, the World Championships and the Paralympics. It is played outdoors by athletes who are totally blind (B1) on a 40m x 20m pitch with side kickboards and an audible ball. There are two teams of five; four outfield players and a goalkeeper. The outfield players wear eye-shades to equal their sight and the goalkeeper can be fully or partially sighted.

You can read more about the South Melbourne FC program here: https://www.smfc.com.au/blind-football/

South Melbourne FC can confirm the signing of attacking midfielder Ali Sulemani for the 2023 NPL Victoria season.

Sulemani joins the club following a successful 2022 campaign with the Thunder, regarded as one of the more dangerous and creative attacking players in the competition with an ability also to play on either wing or through the front three.

As well as being able to create, Ali has an eye for goal and found the net on half a dozen occasions for the Thunder last season.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni was excited to welcome Ali to the club. “We have been watching Ali for a few years whilst both at Kingston and Dandenong Thunder and have noticed his growth as a footballer in that time to be one of the more dangerous players in the competition. He’s a quick and intelligent footballer who we look forward to seeing on Lakeside Stadium during this upcoming season.”

We can’t wait to see him at Lakeside in 2023.

Danielle Wise to call Lakeside home in 2023

Turnbull and Tsacos to lead Under 15 girls.

South Melbourne FC is happy to announce its coaching team for the Under 15 NPL girls team in 2023.

John Turnbull will be returning to the coaching team for the second year running having joined the club in 2022 from his previous role as the Senior Women’s Coach at Port Melbourne SC.

Joining him as coach of the Under 15s will be Christie-Lee Tsacos. Christie joins us after a successful season leading Wesley College to their first ever APS title. An experienced player, Christie played for Adelaide Sensation in the National Soccer League and for over ten years in the South Australian Premier League, captaining Metro United.

South Melbourne Women’s Football Director Theo Chronis said “I’m excited to welcome Christie to South Melbourne and have her join John in leading our Under 15 girls in 2023. Christie has extensive experience as a player at the elite level and having coached Wesley College I look forward to seeing her share her football journey with our young players.”

John and Christie will be looking to build on a successful 2022 for our Under 15s where they made the Grand Final narrowly going down in a penalty shoot-out.

Online abuse of any kind is not acceptable.

The South Melbourne Football Club has been made aware of comments by individuals in the Victorian football community targeted at Football Victoria staff and officials in recent days.

The club condems all forms of abuse, discrimination and violence including comments made on social media.

South Melbourne FC endorses and embraces Football Victoria’s values of Respect, Integrity, Unity, Leadership and Inclusive.

The club is obligated to comply with the Football Victoria Grievance, Disciplinary and Tribunal ByLaws. The club is responsible for the actions of its players, officials, staff and supporters. Significant penalties for both the individual and the club can be applied, including misconduct charges for social media comments. These can include financial penalties as well as point deductions. The ByLaw also includes a positive obligation for our club to cooperate with any investigation directed by Football Victoria including the identification of players, offiicals, staff and supporters.

Penalties for this type of abuse may stretch beyond the game, with strict laws and criminal penalties for online harassment and intimidation and circumstances such as this may be referred to police.

We actively discourage any South Melbourne FC player, official, staff or supporter from engaging in such behaviour. Individuals making abusive, discriminatory or violent comments including on social media are not representative of the the South Melbourne Football Club.

We also take this opportunity to provide a reminder of the Spectator’s Code of Conduct for all those attending the Grand Final this weekend.

FOOTBALL VICTORIA SPECTATORS’ CODE OF CONDUCT

Football Victoria’s priority is to ensure all spectators are able to enjoy football in a safe and comfortable environment.

Accordingly, by entering this venue, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Spectator Code of Behaviour; the Venue Conditions of Entry and FV’s Member
Protection and Misconduct By-Laws. All persons present at an FV event shall:

1. Respect the decisions of the Match Officials;
2. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their race, colour, religion, language, ability, politics, sexual orientation, or national
   or ethnic origin;
3. Not engage in the use of violence in any form, whether it is by other Spectators, Team Officials (including coaches) or Players;
4. 4. Not engage in discrimination, harassment or abuse in any form, including but not limited to the use of obscene or offensive language or gestures, the incitement of hatred or violence, or indecent or racist chanting;
5. Comply with FV’s “Conditions of Entry” at all venues;
6. Not carry, light or throw flares or missiles (including on to the field of play or at other spectators);
7. Not enter the field of play or its surrounds without lawful authority; and 8. Conduct themselves in a manner that enhances, rather than injures, the
   reputation and goodwill of FV, Football Federation Australia (FFA) and football generally.

Any person who does not comply with this Code or who in the opinion of FV causes or attempts to cause a disturbance may be asked to leave and may be prohibited from attending future FV run events and/or programs. FV reserves the right to investigate any breaches of this Spectator Code of Conduct and may issue penalties in accordance with its rules and policies as appropriate, including sanctions as per the Grievance, Discipline and Tribunal (GDT) By-Law, and the deduction of match points to the respective team, and finals eligibility.

Poutakidis to continue as Women’s Technical Director in 2023

South Melbourne FC can announce Sam Poutakidis will continue as the club’s NPLW Technical Director in 2023.

Poutakidis had two stints at South Melbourne FC as a player. He represented the club 55 times (scoring 4 goals) as a full back in both the National Soccer League (2002-2004) and then the Victorian Premier League (2008). His playing career spanned over a decade at the top level in Victoria and included two club best and fairest awards.

Since retiring from playing, Sam has played an active role in coaching over the past decade. In all of his roles, the FFA A Licensed coach has had player development at the forefront.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Director of Women’s Football Theo Chronis was thrilled to have Sam remaining with the club in 2023. “Sam is a very experienced coach and well-respected Technical Director in Victorian football. His skill and knowledge have added value right across our NPL Women’s and Girls programs.”

“Sam has a wealth of experience in football over almost two decades and we are naturally delighted to have someone of his quality involved in the club and the female program. We look forward to having Sam working closely with Senior Women’s Coach George Georgiadis into the future.”

We look forward to having Sam continue with us at Lakeside and Albert Park throughout 2023.