’s Favourite Football Fanzine AUSTRALIA V KUWAIT www.goalweekly.com $4 PREVIEW FOOTBALL’S FLIRT WITH MUSIC BATTLE OF THE MAN U 1999 V 2009 Season 5: Issue 2 Monday 2nd March 2009 Photo: Daniel Flis

VICTORIOUS VICTORY! EVEN ERNIE CRACKS SMILE AFTER CLINCHING TREBLE VPL KICKS OFF / SOUVENIR VICTORY POSTER INSIDE TOP SHOT! You Snooze, You Lose: An unsighted United ‘keeper reacts late to Tommy Pondeljak’s 59th minute strike as the ball and the 2009 A-League Championship slips out of The Reds’ reach. Victory striker realises the magnitude of the moment.

Photo: Daniel Flis

Grand Final 2009 A-LEAGUE FINALS VERSION IV MAGIC MOMENTS DEPT. Grand Final 2009 A-LEAGUE FINALS VERSION IV

MELBOURNE VICTORY TRIPLE TREAT 1 - 0 FOR VICTORY! ADELAIDE UNITED Pondeljak Strike Settles Tight Final The ingredients were all there on Saturday Back to the game; desperation started to night. The revenge factor, the history mak- mount following Pondeljak’s nicely placed strike MATCH DETAILS PLAYER RATINGS - MVFC ing chance on both sides, the goalkeeper stuck a dagger into Adelaide’s hopes 30 minutes 1. Michael Theoklitos: 7 - Pulled off vintage showdown, the chance for redemption and a from the end. The crowd got what it wanted and now Victory 1 ( 59’) saves all night to keep Victory in charge and record breaking full house to witness it all. it hungered for more but the fi nal run home was a Adelaide United 0 showed great authority at the back. As the favourite to win the A-League title suffered one. Close calls and another dubious send- Saturday 28 February 2. : 5 - Kept all the Victory boys in for the second time and against the same club it had off kept the crowd on its toes. Danny Allsopp felt the Telstra Dome check and managed some decent passing but humiliated two years ago Melbourne Victory did not wrath of Breeze’s breezy attitude to red cards after Referee. Matthew Breeze his lack of speed let him down disappoint and etched yet another milestone in the some argy bargy got the better of the number nine Assistant Referees: Matthew Cream, Dennis Silk 5. Sebastian Ryall: 4 - Failed to assert himself but alas the fi eld was level again. Fourth offi cial: Peter Green league’s history books. on the match and didn’t infl uence much of the A single strike from former St Albans Adelaide came close and credit to Vidmar Crowd: 53,273 play boy Tom Pondeljak made the difference on a perfect who didn’t hold back and kept pushing with nothing 7. : 6 - Had a good game but let footballing night providing a much more entertain- to lose but the Victory defense held fi rm and rode Melbourne Victory line-up: 1.Michael THEOKLI- himself down in crucial moments ing spectacle than the 6-0 rout handed down by the victory train all the way to the fi nal whistle. TOS (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (c), 5.Sebastian 8. : 2 - Came on and failed to Archie Thompson two years ago. Vidmar praised his side’s will to press on RYALL, 7.Matthew KEMP, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, make any sort of impact gets two points for the Red and yellow cards were the differ- after the send off saying how ‘gutted’ he was for the 10.Archie THOMPSON, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, fact that he didn’t make any game changing ence on the night and while I personally missed players. 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK (8.Grant errors the fi rst send-off due to the fact that I had to blagg “We deserved something more than pride. BREBNER 82’), 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 22.Nick 9. Dannny Allssopp: 5 - Found himself space my way into the stadium after Goal! Weekly was I certainly thought we had the upper hand, but when WARD ((19. 55’ (17.Jose Luis LO- and got onto through-balls but then let himself “overlooked”, I witnessed Cristiano’s lonely walk you go down to 10 men it changes your game plan PEZ 88’). down by getting sent-off. to the change rooms wondering why match referee and it made it very diffi cult for the players tonight, 10. Archie Thompson: 4 - Was a shadow of Mathew Breeze had decided to ruin such an event. but I couldn’t be any prouder of the players.” Substitutes not used: 11.NEY FABIANO, 20.Mitchell himself on the night. Couldn’t fi nd space in the The accidental elbow to Roddy Vargas’ drew blood “It was a fantastic effort and they really LANGERAK (gk). box and spend a lot of the time on the ground. leading to a decision that Breeze will surely regret. wore their hearts on their sleeves.” Added the proud 12. Rodrigo Vargas: 7 - Held on fi rm in defense If Adelaide’s underdog status wasn’t clear Vidmar. Yellow Cards: Tom PONDELJAK 59’. and managed to keep his head together after his enough the Reds played almost the entire game with On the other hand Victory’s man in Red Cards: Danny ALLSOPP 64’. early bump. a numerical disadvantage and much to Melbourne’s charge took off his gloves and made plans for a night 14. Billy Celeski: 6 - Distributed the ball well on credit it exploited it well. With Adelaide’s match out with the boys stating “I had my most relaxed day Adelaide United line-up: 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC occasions but his crosses were largely unthreat- plans thrown on their head, the match turned scrappy and I’m going to stay longer than 20 minutes at the (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 7.Lucas PAN- ening and the usual headliners failed to fi re much to disap- after-party tonight.” TELIS (9. 62’), 10.CRISTIANO, 15. Tom Pondeljak: 7 - Got the winner and de- pointment of newcomers expecting Thompson put “They pushed us all the way in the league 13. (c.), 14. (6. CAS- serves praise for a nicely placed shot but was too on a show. championship. They pushed us all the way tonight. SIO 73’), 15.Jonas SALLEY, 16.Daniel MULLEN, slow to match it with the younger players. The duel between the goalkeepers quickly They were tough competitors, but the bottom line 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 16. Carlos Hernandez: 6 - Let off a couple of took centre stage with Victory’s main man Michael is we’ve had a great year and we’ve thoroughly 24.Paul REID, threatening shots but was held in check most of Theoklitos producing jaw-dropping saves, which enjoyed it, but certainly it was a tough game tonight. the night. Reds’ keeper Eugene Galekovic matched at his end. While not even two championships will Substitutes not used: 27., 17. Jose Luis Lopez: 1 - Came on for the last Two years ago Galekovic tasted A-League success change some punters’ opinion of Merrick the man at 28., 30. two minutes after Berger fell on his head, which with victory but the bitter-sweet taste of losing the the helm of the country’s biggest club can take off (gk). didn’t give time to do much. top spot against Theoklitos saw him change colours. his shoes for now and savour this moment. 19. Evan Berger: 4 - Came on and tried hard Since then Galekovic has done well enough to catch That was it. Melbourne lived up to its Yellow Cards: Sasa OGNENOVSKI 37’, Scott JA- putting his body on the line for the sake of the the eye of national coach but despite name. The fans got a great piece of theatre, and MIESON 55’, Fabian BARBIERO 64’, Robert team. his personal triumphs Galekovic is still playing the new Etihad Stadium can keep watching Aussie CORNTHWAITE 80’, Travis DODD 90’. 22. Nick Ward: 1 - Had a shocking game and second fi ddle to Theoklitos who deserved the Joe football’s transformation into a giant. was rightly subbed off. Marsten medal for exploits on the night. Red Cards: CRISTIANO 11’. PLAYER RATINGS - AUFC

ADELAIDE UNITED 20 Eugene Galekovic - 7 -Made some timely saves another solid performance 2 Robert Cornthwaite - 8 - Pivotal in the strength of United, consistent good performance 7 Lucas Pantelis - 6 -Yet again down on form, small infl uence on the game 10 Cristiano - 6 -Time on the pitch promising, a zealous tackle gave him an early shower 13 Travis Dodd - 7-Gave his all as captain, featured everywhere on the park 14 Scott Jamieson - 8 - Sterling effort gave 110% eventually succumbing to his ankle injury 15 Gwaye Jonas Salley - 7 -Strong and aggres- sive in midfi eld, stood his ground 16 Daniel Mullen 7 Stood up great display of hard defence, had some great runs 18 Fabian Barbiero 7 -Had his chances but un- successful, slightly down on form from last week 19 Sasa Ognenovski 7-Intimidated and held defence solidly as per usual 24 Paul Reid 7 --Another great game in midfi eld, had his owns chances to score

Subs 9 Paul Agostino (70th) - 6 - Farewell perfor- mance could have gone from zero to hero but missed 6 Cassio (72nd) - 7 -Not as effective as he usu- ally is

By Carlos Ibarra The Sweet Smell of Victory: Melbourne players celebrate ater the deadlock was fi nally broken. Photos by Daniel Flis Inset: Adelaide’s Christiano trudges off after receiving harsh marching orders from referee Matthew Breeze.

ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p3 ERREA SCOREBOARD Round 1

Oakleigh Cannons v Dandenong Thunder Jack Edwards Res Fri 6 Mar KO 8:30PM

Altona Magic v Preston Lions Paisley Park Sat 7 Mar KO 7:30PM

Sunshine Georgies v Hume City Sun 8 Mar KO 5:00PM

Melbourne Knights v Richmond Eagles Knights Stadium Sun 8 Mar KO 5:00PM Action between Preston and Melbourne Knights. Cameron watson hits a beauty! South Melbourne v Heidelberg Utd Bob Jane Stadium ROUND 2 PREVIEW starts, and will be looking to consolidate with make amends for a humiliating loss last week. another victory over rivals Preston Lions who SCORE DRAW Sun 8 Mar KO 6:00PM OAKLEIGH V DANDENONG: are still smarting after throwing away the points Last 5 Meetings: South 1-2 Heid (2008), Heid Fri 6th Mar, 8:30pm against the Knights. Preston will be without 2-1 South (2008), Heid 3-0 South (2007), South Oakleigh sent out an early message to its league suspended Captain Michael Bosevski for this 3-3 Heid (2007), South 3-1 Heid (2006). rivals after demolishing Heidelberg last Friday match. Whittlesea Zebras night. The Cannons will be out to ensure the HOME WIN result was no fl ash in the pan when they face v the Thunder on Friday night. Dandenong will Last 5 Meetings: Altona 2-1 Prest (2008 Finals), WHITTLESEA V GREEN GULLY: Green Gully also be out to show their result against South Altona 4-0 Prest (2008), Prest 2-3 Altona Mon 9th Mar, 8.30pm TBA Melbourne was no fl uke. (2008), Altona 3-3 Prest (2007), Prest 2-1 To Be Confi rmed HOME WIN Altona (2007) Whittlesea looked like a team who couldn’t wait for the season to end on Friday night. Mon 9 Mar KO8:30PM Last 5 Meetings: Oak 5-2 Dand (2003), Dand SUNSHINE V HUME CITY: Their off-fi eld problems transformed onto to the 0-2 Oak (2003), Oak 2-4 Dand (2002), Dand Sun 8th Mar, 5:00pm Chaplin Reserve pitch as they were completely outplayed. On 1-1 Oak (2001), Dand 1-0 Oak (1996) It was just seven years ago that Sunshine played a positive note they do have plenty of time to TOP Hume City in a State 2 league match. turn things around, and what better chance then SHOTS! RICHMOND V MELBOURNE KNIGHTS: They now meet for the fi rst time in the top fl ight against Green Gully. Calling all sharp-shooters! Get your Fri 6th Mar, 8:30pm of Victorian Football. Both teams suffered open- best shooting boots on because thanks Having watched Richmond outplay the Zebra’s ing day defeats and will be out to pick up their Last 5 Meetings: Gully 0-0 Whitt (2008), to our friends at Erreà, the Top Scorer in round 1, the Eagles have managed to fl y fi rst points of the season in this fi xture. Whitt 0-1 Gully (2008), Whitt 2-1 Gully (2007 of this season’s VPL will receive a $500 under the radar during the off-season and have SCORE DRAW. Finals), Gully 1-2 Whit (2007), Whitt 0-2 Gully gift voucher. built a solid line up. They will be looking to test (2007). Since 1988 Erreà have strived to lead themselves against a new look Knights outfi t. Last 5 Meetings: Sun 2-0 Hume (2004), Hume in the creation, development and man- The Knights will be looking to continue their 1-1 Sun (2004), Hume 3-3 Sun (2002), Sun 0-1 For those who like a fl utter on the English ufacture of the most advanced techni- impressive record against the Eagles. Hume (2002), DNP. betting sites, my outside bet would be Heidel- cal sportswear and accessories for HOME WIN berg upsetting South Melbourne at home. This specialising in football. SOUTH MELBOURNE V HEIDELBERG: week’s safe bet: Altona to beat Preston. Remem- The company offers quality products Sun 8th Mar, 6:00pm Bob Jane Stadium ber bet responsibly. Last 5 Meetings: Knights 3-2 Rich (2008), Rich such as Italian Made football uniforms Ironically the last time South Melbourne 2-2 Knights (2008), Rich 0-2 Knights (2007), and accessories, and sponsors clubs defeated its bitter rival, a player by the name of Rich 1-1 Knights (2006), Knights 2-0 Rich of the calibre of Genoa, Middlesbrough, Vaughan Coveny was on the score sheet. The (2006) Parma and many clubs in Australia. ‘Horse’ has now returned to his old stomping By Andrew Fisher Good luck to all the punters, and re- ALTONA MAGIC V PRESTON LIONS: ground with the Bergers in his sights. Kiss of Death member ‘keepers, you have been Sat 7th Mar, 7:30pm Paisley Park. Heidelberg has had the edge over the lakeside warned! The regaining Champions got off to the best of club in recent times, and will be looking to

p4 Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2 Round 1 VPL

HUME CITY ALL GUTS BUT NO 0 - 1 GLORY FOR HUME ALTONA MAGIC Magic Opens Defence Of Title With Opportunist Win

Hume City FC out to impress in its fi rst game of the season in front of approximately 800 people against last season’s Champions Altona Magic. Hume took the fi eld missing fi ve of its star players, taking the park without Ross Thomspon, Tansel Baser, Andy Vla- hos, Dragi Nastevski and Jonathon Mu- noz. It was a chance for the youngsters of the team to step up and play against some experienced opposition, and play they did. Not intimidated by the opposition, Hume City created chance after chance only to be denied by the Altona Magic keeper Bojo Jevdejevic. Young striker Ramazan Savran was on fi re and created countless chances for his team mates and himself to score, but unfortunately missing three golden chances that would have had the defending champi- ons reeling. Hume City having the majority of the play in the fi rst half went into the half time break 0-0. The second half continued much in the way the fi rst half fi nished. Until the 80th minute when Altona Magic was awarded a free kick outside the box. The experienced outfi t ca- patalised on some loose marking in Hume City defence and scored from a set play through a Nick Kalmar header. Going into the last 10 minutes 1-0 up Altona used its experienced heads to keep Hume City FC at bay winning the match and taking 3 points from its fi rst match of the season.

By Ezel Hikmet Hume City keeper Lou Acevski makes a brilliant save of Pece Cergovski’s point blank shot at goal Photos by John Punshon

Debutantes battle it out ... Hume City’s (left) takes on Nick Kalmar (centre) celebrates his goal Kliment Traseski (Altona Magic)

ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p5 VPL Round 1

RICHMOND EAGLES EAGLES SWAMP 3 - 0 ZEBRAS WHITTLESEA ZEBRAS Cardozo and Visevic On Target

Richmond and Whittlesea Zebras com- nate own goal. with a driving fi nish. with games against last season’s Grand Finalists menced their 2009 Victorian Premier Whittlesea were doing themselves few favours Three mintues later another set-piece from Car- over the next two weeks, starting with the visit of League seasons on a hot Friday night by conceding free-kicks in dangerous areas around dozo threatened the Zebras goal, his twenty-four Melbourne Knights to Bartlett Reserve on Friday at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. Another dry the box, and two minutes after the goal a free-kick yard free-kick shot striking the base of the post and night. summer provided a pitch which was hard from the same spot saw Cardozo’s ball cleared bouncing to safety. A great ball from Tsiaras found Things will not get any easier for the Zebras, underneath a good cover of spongy grass, away just ahead of it fi nding George Goutzioulis. Visevic a minute later and he slipped the ball past hosting Green Gully on Sunday at a venue yet to condusive to fast fl owing football. A throw-in near the corner fl ag after seventeen Simioni before it cleared off the line. The half-time be confi rmed following a turbulent summer off the Eagles coach Michael Chatzitrifonos fi elded minutes saw Richmond double their lead. Lorenz break came with the Eagles holding a commanding pitch which has seen their continued use of Epping a starting eleven containing four club debutants, Kindtner found Visevic at the near post, his fl icked 3-0 lead. Stadium under threat. with the welcome rteurn to the strikeforce of header fi nding Cardozo following in behind him Half-time substitute Edemer Garcia was in one- Daniel Visevic another change to a side which to head the ball unchallenged into the net from six on-one with Zois fi ve minutes after the resumption, Richmond: P.Zois, D.Black, E.Karahan, reached the Finals last term. His counterpart Ivan yards. the new Richmond keeper quickly off his line S.McCluskey, D.Tsiaras, D.Visevic, G.Goutzioulis Jolic entered his fi rst full season in charge after It was one way traffi c for the home side, Visevic to pull off a great save. Catalano shot wide from (N.Kalambokis 67’), R.Cardozo, M.Catalano taking over following the mid-season resignation shooting over the bar from twenty-fi ve yards twenty-two yards after a ball from Goutzioulis. The (N.Govedarica 88’), L.Kindtner (T.Antoniadis of Peter Ollerton last time in. At his disposal was a after cutting in from the left and then Goutzioulis intensity of the fi rst period had disappeared and the 60’), A.Viola squad with few changes from the one only spared having a header defl ected just over the crossbar at goalmouth action became less frequent. relegation by the withdrawl of the A.I.S. from the a corner-kick. Tensions fl ared after twenty-three The seventy-ninth minute saw Nick Kalambo- Goals: Own Goal 9’ Cardozo 17’ Visevic 35’ competition, most notable being the return of Tex minutes when Visevic objected to some constant kis fi nd Visevic, who chipped a ball towards the Apostolikas after a year with Oakleigh Cannons. fouling with a push, and shortly after Stefan Pi- Cardozo on the penalty spot but Simioni arrived Yellow Cards: None The home side commenced the game defending orkowski took exception to being body checked by fi rst to clear. Five minutes later Whittlesea were Red Cards: None the Heyington Bridge end of the ground, and were Dimitri Tsiaras. close to getting off the mark when Garcia had a on the attck after fi ve minutes with Visevic shoot- Marco Santilli forced Peter Zois into a save shot blocked on the line by Terry Antoniadis. Car- Whittlesea Zebras: R.Simioni, M.Pistininzi ing wide from distance after recieving a ball to feet at the near post after half an hour had passed. dozo put a free-kick over the bar with fi ve minutes (H.D’Agostino 46’), S.Kovacevic, R.Antoniadis, from Richie Cardozo on the right. Three minutes The Zebras were pushing forward again fi ve remaining before Hayden D’Agostino let fl y from S.Martin, S.Piorkowski, J.Kozic, G.Lombardo later a free-kick from Cardozo reached Michael minutes later before a counter-attack which saw thirty-fi ve yards when latching onto a half-clear- (E.Garcia 46’), M.Kuna, T.Apostolikas, Catalano, who’s volley back across goal went close Richmond add a third goal. Kindtner found the ance, forcing another good save from Zois. Zois M.Santilli. to fl oating into the top corner of the goal. ball as an attack broke down, carrying it up the was tested again by Apostolikas from a similar It was another free-kick from Cardozo after middle of pitch from his own half. With Cardozo distance in the fi nal minute, comfortably dealing Yellow Cards: Santilli 20’ nine minutes which saw Richmond take the lead. and Visevic in support against just two defenders, with the effort to maintain a clean sheet and leave Red Cards: None From the left fl ank his ball into the crowded Kindtner slipped the ball to Visevic on his right as the fi nal score at 3-0. penalty area saw a Zebras headed clearance cannon he reached the edge of the penalty area, and after It was another great start to a VPL season by Man of the Match: Daniel Visevic (Richmond) into the back of a team-mate’s head and then fl y a touch the 2006 VPL Under 21 Player of the Year Richmond, a fourth opening round win in as many Venue: Kevin Bartlett Reserve past the stranded Robbie SImioni for an unfortu- marked his return to the Eagles fold with a goal years. A sterner test of their capabilities will come Crowd: 300

The Eagles are fl ying high after a convincing opening day of the season. By Mark Boric Inset: Double trouble: George Goutzioulis and Daniel Visevic, who helped demolish the Zebras. Photos by Peter Psarros

p6 Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2 Round 1 VPL

GREEN WINTONS GULLY WINNING START 3 - 0 SUNSHINE Gully Takes Opening Honours In Derby GEORGIES

David Winton has made a most of goal, narrowly missing the far post. frey Fleming, #10 John Adam, #11 Pablo succesful and impressive coaching To cap of the night, Andy Vargas release Cardozo, #12 Matthew Sanders, #16 Mile debut for the Green Gully Cava- The Cavaliers lifted the tempo in the sec- Kristijan Ivesic down the right fl ank, Medjedovic, #17 Andy Vargas, #18 Joel liers, winning the old Maltese Derby ond half as the visitors began to fade out. Kristijan left burn marks on the pitch as he Nikolic against the Sunshine Georgies by In fact, ex-Gully forward Campbell Banks, dashed into the Georgies penalty area and Subs: three goals to nil, in front of 1000 now a Georgies player via Hume City (long blasted the ball into the same top corner #00 Patric Ndongo, #6 Kole Delev, #8 strong bumper crowd. story), was stretching out the legs, with Vargas had found with his freekick. , #9 Daniel White, #14 Ryan The fi rst half was a tame affair, signs of cramp just prior to the halftime Joel Nikolic was unlucky to put wide a Ollerton and as new Gully Coach David Winton had break. chance setup by Kristijan Ivesic, as was expected, the newly promoted Georgies On the hour, Gully defender Mile Med- substitute Aziz Behich with a looping strike Sunshine Georgies: took the game to the Cavaliers, chasing jedovic connected to a speculative Andy on goal just over the bar in the fi nal 10 #1 Martin John, #5 Christos Konstas, down the ball all over the pitch and not Vargas freekick, and tapped the ball past minutes of the match. #10 George Papadopoulos, #12 Craig shying away from any physical contests. the advancing Martin John in the Sunshine So with a new season, new coach, Sweeney, #4 Wayne Wallace, #9 John Bar- In fact up until the 20th minute mark of goal. Within 10 minutes, Andy Vargas, new players, new look Gully team, the ros, #7 Matthew Cini, #15 Neal Hooks, #6 the match, the Georgies did look the more evidently inspired by his newly appointed signs are promising. Thomas Johnstone, #14 Campbell Banks dangerous of the two teams going forward. role as co-vie captain with Jeffrey Fleming, Subs: Gully midfi elder and man of the match pushed and Steven Burton Votes: #25 Antoni Pecora, #16 Ryan Filipovic, Andy Vargas later admitted the play- aside when Ivesic was brought down 30 3 Andy Vargas #13 John Sapasovski, #11 Peter Koutsou- ers were nervous at the beginning of the yards from the Georgies goal. Andy made 2 Kristijan Ivesic pias, #17 Steven Manceski match, and were weary of their rival op- no mistake with the freekick, curling in to 1 Mile Medjedovic ponents. With half an hour played, Gully the right top corner, as good as any freekick did manage to piece together some attack- David Beckham has struck, but as yet there Crowd: 1000 ing moves, Kristijan Ivesic was a busy is no truth the rumours that Andy Vargas boy down the right fl ank, and eventually will be signing for AC Milan, however Green Gully: By Markian Jaworsky a chance fell for Matthew “The Colonel” Vargas may still be a chance to release his #23 Steven Tilovski, #2 Kristijan Ivesic, Sanders, whose half-volley cross the face own line of aftershave. #3 Steven Burton, #4 Dean Fak, #7 Jef- Photos by Daniel Flis

ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p7 VPL Round 1

PRESTON LIONS ELEMENTARY MY 1 - 2 DEAR WATSON! MELBOURNE KNIGHTS Knights Snatch Win From Lions’ Jaws

Cameron Watson broke the hearts of Minutes later Georgioski saw his Lions a 75th minute lead. gioski, Miskas, Popovic, Oksuz (No 23?? the Preston Lions, as he scored two close range effort fl ash just wide after some Mate Dugandzic who returned 83’), Tolevski. late goals to steal all the points from good work from Captain Michael Bosevski from Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, a gallant Lions outfi t at BT Connor set up the chance. and youngster Tedros Yabio was thrown on Goals: Georgioski 75’ Reserve on Sunday. The new Knights strike duo of to give the Knights that extra fl air upfront. Both Preston Lions and the Draper and Groenewald combined well, It worked a treat as the duo created major Cautions: Miskas 45’, Tolevski 57’. Melbourne Knights have had major squad with Draper setting up Groenewald for a headaches for the Preston backline, who changes during the off-season and fi elded goal only for the assistant referee to rule conceded a dangerous free on the edge of Red Cards: Bosevski 90’. plenty of new faces. out the goal. the box in the 85th minute. Up stepped Former St Albans Saint’s duo That was as good as it got in the Cameron Watson who expertly placed his MELBOURNE KNIGHTS: Ozdemir, Damir Salcin and Ivan Filipovic made their fi rst half, as both teams failed to truly test shot over the wall and into the top corner. Elvin, Cumming, Fitzgerald, Grbesa, Wat- debuts for the Lions and Serkan Oksuz the opposition goalkeeper. The drama didn’t end there how- son, Groenewald (Dugandzic 65’), Draper also returned back to the club, while for Early in the second half Draper ever, as Preston captain Michael Bosevski (Cannell 90’), Hatzimouratis, Lagana the Knights no less then fi ve players made wasted a golden opportunity from fi fteen was given a straight red card in injury time (Yabio 74’), Kiratzoglou. debuts. Defender John Fitzgerald (Galway yards out, blazing over the bar after a good for a dangerous tackle. It only for worse for United, Ireland), Josh Groenewald (Heidel- run from Hatzimouratis set up the chance. the Lions, as a blunder between goalkeeper Goals: Watson 75’ 94’. berg), Greg Draper (Wellington Phoenix), At the other end Serkan Oksuz and defender in the 94th minute allowed Dimi Hatzimouratis (Western Suburbs) and was having a nightmare, having been kept Cameron Watson to slot the ball into an Cautions: Lagana 57’, Fitzgerald 70’, Frankie Lagana (Oakleigh Cannons) all quiet by the Knights defence for much of empty net and snatch all three points. Yabio 90’. starting the match. the game, the striker had two opportunities The loss was harsh on Preston, as It was the Knights who started within a minute, but was let down by poor a draw would have been the more fair re- Red Cards: None. the stronger with Alex Kiratzoglou and fi rst touches which summed up his night. sult. Next week Preston faces Altona Magic Frankie Lagana seeing early efforts go The game looked like it was on Saturday night at Paisley Reserve, MoM: Cameron Watson (MK) wide. However it didn’t take long for heading for a dull goalless draw, when it whilst the Knights take on Richmond at CROWD: Approx 2000 @ BT CONNOR some of the familiar Preston veterans to suddenly burst to life in the last fi fteen Kevin Bartlett Reserve on Friday night. RESERVE. start clicking. Blaze Georgioski setting up minutes. An inconspicuous long from was Robert Dolevski who saw his chip success- not dealt by the Knights defence and al- PRESTON LIONS: Salcin, Bosevski, By Andrew Fisher fully beat Ozdemir in the Knights goal, but lowed Blaze Georgioski to calmly chip the Dolevski (Arsovski 76’), Najdovski, Fi- agonizingly bounce back of the crossbar. ball over a stranded Ozdemir and give the lipovic, Micovski (Ladnjak 66’), Geor- Photos by Nome Risteski & Steve Starek

Preston get the show on the road with a well taken effort by Georgievski Cameron Watson celebrates his second goal yesterday. Photo: Nome Riseski to clinch a heartstopping derby win. Photo: Steve Starek

p8 Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2 Round 1 VPL

OAKLEIGH CANNONS CANNONS’ 4 - 1 CAKEWALK! HEIDELBERG UNITED Oakleigh Opens Season In Style

Oakleigh has maintained its recent supe- back for Oakleigh. found Waterson streaming down the right wing. Damianos 35’, Diaco 48’ riority over Heidelberg with a convincing Shortly after the half hour mark, a Waterson checked & played a lovely through Heidelberg: Ederaro 45+2’ 4-1 victory at Jack Edwards Reserve on solo effort by Alilovic fl ashed just wide of the ball to Diaco, who swept the ball into the back Friday night. The Cannons took an early uprights, as the visitors tried desperately to of the net past a sprawling Gavalas to restore the Player of the Match: Trent Waterson (Oak- lead and effectively sealed the three claw their way back into the match. However, three goal lead to Oakleigh. leigh Cannons) points shortly after the half hour mark, moments later, a well-constructed goal clinically With the game fi rmly in their keep, by which stage they had established a fi nished by midfi eld dynamo Bill Damianos, Oakleigh were content now to play on the coun- Crowd: approx. 1750 3-0 lead. saw Oakleigh to a commanding 3-0 lead. A bril- ter, and although Heidelberg continued to press, After playing out two scoreless draws liant counter-attack on the left by the Cannons any chances created were dealt with by Oak- Team Line-Ups: in the 2008 season, fans of both teams could with the ensuing cross-fi eld ball fi nding Diaco, leigh’s defence well enough. Both sides might have expected another tight contest, but it was who controlled the ball & casually laid it off to have scored with Heidelberg’s Ederaro fi nding Oakleigh Cannons: the home team who scored after just 3 minutes Damianos. who was able to steer a well-placed the side-netting from a goal-scoring position & Cagalj – Aristidis Drakos, Rozman, Matkovic, on the clock. After some neat lead-up play shot home. The 3-0 screline effectively made it tem-mate Hockless having a shot well-saved by Stelios Drakos – Hatzikostas, Damianos, by Kioussis on the Oakleigh left, the winger’s game over before half-time. Cagalj. For Oakleigh, Karpeh came close with a Kioussis (Obradovic 45’), Waterson (Mur 80’) dangerous cross found its way to Trent Water- To their credit, Heidelberg pressed on low shot well-parried by Gavalas, and substitute – Diaco (Roias 82’), Karpeh son. The latter expertly played in recruit Dario & Alilovic might have scored, but his low shot Simon Mur almost shooting homewith his fi rst Matkovic, whose well-timed run from deep on on the turn was well parried away by Cagalj. touch. Yellow cards: Kioussis, Matkovic the right allowed him time to take aim and blast New signing Osagie Ederaro pulled one back Overall, this was a great start to 2009 Red cards: Nil home for a 1-0 lead to Oakleigh. The goal stung for the visitors on the stroke of half-time, after for the Cannons, who now host newly-promoted the visitors, who looked to hit back through Ste- a neat one-two ball with Alilovic played the Dandenong Thunder next Friday night at Jack Heidelberg United: fanou, but the defender’s header was just over striker in on goal. He maintained his composure Edwards Reserve. For the visiting Heidelberg, Gavalas – Stefanou (Ameti 63’), Roberts, Cagalj’s crossbar. well enough to slot the ball past Cagalj & give they travel to Bob Jane Stadium next Sunday Jones, Drossos (Vassiliadis 45’) – Ouliaris, With just 20 minutes on the clock, the Cannons the ‘Bergers a glimmer of hope going into the to face arch-rivals South Melbourne, looking to Ederaro, Magnacca (Petta 67’), Hockless, doubled their lead, after again exposing the visi- second half. exact some revenge for their 3-0 loss to South Gasparis, Aliliovic tors’ defensive frailties. Again, Kioussis’ lead Both coaches made a change at half- in the Hellenic Cup Final recently, but perhaps up work on the left led to a scrambling Jones time, with Obradovic introduced for the Can- more importantly, aiming to secure its fi rst Yellow cards: Gasparis, Ouliaris half-clearance that fell obligingly for Waterson nons replacing Kioussis & Vassiliadis replacing points of the 2009 season, Red cards: Nil to rifl e home a low strike past Gavalas. The Drossos for the ‘Bergers. Once again, it was Cannons at this stage were well on top, with Oakleigh who started the half with a goal, this Final Score at Jack Edwards Reserve: Oak- their counterattacks causing the Heidelberg time on 48 minutes through striker Ricky Diaco. leigh Cannons 4 defeated Heidelberg United 1 defence no shortage of headaches. Heidelberg The goal was set up, by his strike partner Jerry (HT 3-1). By John Fotinos were certainly getting their share of possession, Karpeh, who picked up a loose ball & with the but Rozman & Stelios Drakos held sway at the Heidelberg defence in retreat, his angled ball Goals: Oakleigh: Matkovic 3’, Waterson 20’, Photos by John Punshon

Oakleigh’s Man of the Match Trent Waterson gets ready for the challenge from Heidelberg skipper Tony Ouliaris.

ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p9 VPL Round 1

SOUTH MELBOURNE SOUTH 0 - 1 THUNDERSTRUCK! DANDENONG THUNDER Thunder Stuns In VPL Debut

Dandenong Thunder have com- out of the blocks quite slowly in an attempt in goal. menced Victorian to feel out their opponents. The second half commenced in a SMFC Line-up life in stunning style by defeating South’s fi rst genuine goal scoring oppor- similar manner to the fi rst, with both sides Tommi Tomich, Shane Nunes, Rhodri South Melbourne FC at Bob Jane tunity came when former New Zealand quite reserved in the opening 20-25 min- Payne, Steven O’Dor, Vaughan Coveny, Stadium on Sunday evening. International hit the upright from a tight utes of play. Gianni De Nittis (Nick Curtis), Joseph South came into the game in angle, following some excellent work by South though seemingly had the Youssef, Rama Tavsacioglu, Fernando De form following a clinical 3-0 victory over Goran Zoric on the left fl ank. better opportunities of the period, with both Moraes (Danni Radojicic), Stiven Mrkela Heidelberg last Sunday in the Hellenic Cup Dandenong, despite ample pos- Goran Zoric and Joseph Youssef having (Sebastian Petrovic) fi nal and had high expectations going into session really didn’t muster an opportunity chances foiled by the desperate Thunder today’s game. until former South winger Hamlet Arme- defence. Dandenong Line-up Dandenong on the other hand nian broke down the right to send a danger- With Dandenong sitting back, Stuart Webster, Jack Hingert, Levant came into the game as an unknown quan- ous cross into the path of Colin Quirk who South continued to pile on the pressure Osman, Aron Wilford, Hamlet Armenian, tity with plenty of VPL experience in for- failed to capitalise on the golden chance. and with fi ve minutes to go missed another Marcus Stergiopoulos, Ryan Davidson, mer South Melbourne NSL players Levent However it was Dandenong that chance at goal, with another Zoric shot be- James Thomas, Colin Quirk, Veton Kor- Osman and Marcus Stergiopoulos, as well would go into the break with a one goal ing blocked by the defence. carevski as former Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper advantage following a mix-up in the South As the whistle blew, hundreds of Stuart Webster. Melbourne defence that saw newly ap- travelling Thunder fans hailed the victory, By George Kouroumalis The fi rst half started off in true pointed club captain Rama Tavsancioglu their fi rst ever in the Victorian Premier round 1 fashion, with both sides coming slot the ball past a helpless Tommi Tomich League. Photos by Peter Psarros

p10 Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2 Song & Dance Dept. MELODY MAKERS KICKING OUT OF TUNE! Flicking Through Football’s Song Book In a partnership, bond or any other nable marriage of R&B and opera brought sort of union, compatibility is the most about by Il Divo and Toni Braxton’s The Time binding of characteristics. Find someone of Our Lives. While the offi cial anthem came you’re attracted to and share interests with in the form of Herbert Grönemeyer’s multi- – get married. You enjoy tennis, you meet lingual Celebrate the Day. someone else who also plays – you become So after almost 20 years of the of- tennis partners. You own a factory that manu- fi cial combining of football and music and factures mortars, they own a pestle producing we seem no closer to fi nding compatibility. factory – you merge. Where compatibility However, FIFA is not alone in playing match- exists, it makes sense for a bond to be formed. maker between football and song. English But in the coupling of football and song, logic football authorities seized on the commercial has been rarely consulted and the output has opportunities and provided the national side largely been discordant array of songs. with tunes to call their own. So why then has the marriage of and Liverpool star John football and song for the most part been such Barnes pre-empted rap greats Tupac and Big- an uneasy union? The two hold such success- gie with his rap jaunt on New Order’s World ful and signifi cant individual existences but in Motion, England’s 1990 World Cup an- their coming together is one that has spawned them. The song headed to the top of the charts progeny that suggests an incompatibility on the back of precise on-pitch advice and between the genes of its forebearers. synthesised drum beats, and Barnes managed The two have been forced to co-min- to evade the rap wars of the time that took the gle on a commercial level and have produced lives of so many of his fellow rappers. what would kindly be referred to as ‘varied’ While the song still spoke in clichés results (to be truthful, there isn’t a great deal and idealism, a minor breakthrough had been of variance in the product, the majority are Who needs a Fat Lady to sing when you’ve got these three guys on the made: the incorporation of football knowledge rubbish). It’s the forced collaboration between bench to belt one out? The Three Tenors get their XXXL size shirts ready for and identities. football and music that has produced the a rousing performance at Italia 90. 1996, the English national side is on mutant musical products, and it’s with FIFA’s its way to Euro ’96 and Britpop is at its peak. offi cial backing that the greatest mutations through the magical moments. four minutes and twelve seconds that defi ed A moment on the timeline of football songs have occurred. Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Ben- all scientifi c research with their offering Glo- akin to the splitting of the atom is about to It isn’t that the two haven’t long nato led the World Cup anthem line in 1990 ryland. 50 percent of pop music duo Hall and occur as Britpop outfi t The Lightning Seeds been intertwined. Music has an inescapable with their contribution Un’estate Italiana (An Oates put together this gospel inspired-num- team with comedians David Baddiel and bond with football. Atmospheric chants from Italian Summer). Probably the selection that ber which offered advice for existential and Frank Skinner to create Three Lions, a rare the stands have the power to enliven the dull- has made the most sense of all the anthems: religious advancement; it also had football musical entity that spoke of football reality. est affairs and spur on team performance. Oa- Italian World Cup, Italian performers per- connotations (if you listened hard enough and Amidst the symphony of music and sis’ Noel Gallagher even traces his informal forming an Italian song. And they provided an were willing to be extremely fi gurative). football mismatches, Three Lions made sense. musical training to the unrefi ned hollering he answer for all those who ever wondered what Puerto Rican knee-wobbler Ricky It galvanised public opinion of the nation’s used to lead in City’s stands. Journey and Pat Benatar would sound like if Martin was next up lending the 1998 French football side, acknowledging its foibles and In the terraces of football clubs big they teamed up for a collaboration in Italian. World cup The Cup of Life for its offi cial still managing to instil optimism. After some and small the world over, fans annex songs to On to the land of the free and home song. Martin’s bi-lingual, cliché-sodden tune repackaging, the song reached number one honour club and player, or demean con- of the brave, and Daryl Hall and The Sounds presumed all teams were equal, and that status for a second time in 1998 as part of stituents of the opposition. It’s a casual bond of Blackness crammed levels of corniness into desire was the determinant of the champion. England’s World Cup campaign. between football and song that is long-lasting, His opening cries of “Do you really want it?” But this great discovery did not its compatibility drawn from the passion presumably directed at the tournament’s con- redefi ne the relationship between football and for the game of the thousands of part-time stituents. Somehow I don’t think it was Saudi song. The lovey-dovey, artifi cially inspired performers from whose strained voices they Arabia’s strength of desire that cost them the recipe continues to be favoured. Do football emanate. trophy, Ricky. authorities really think fans are need their So successful was one of these By now, a discernable protocol had insecurities consoled? Or do they seek to play chants, it made the reverse transition from been established: songs had to be all about on delusions of grandeur, hoping to draw fans the stands to the studio. Niall Quinn’s Disco inspiration and idealism. Anyone can win the in with false expectations of ultimate success? Pants, a harmonious tribute to Niall Quinn’s World Cup. Reach for the stars. Never give It’s not likely we’ll hear ultra-real- cut-off jeans, fi rst sung by Manchester City up. Everyone is equal. Insert idealistic apho- ism along the lines of “You’re going home af- fans on seeing the lanky Irishman dancing in rism here. ter the fi rst round with zero points and a goal an Italian nightclub in truncated denim duds, Onward the World Cup jukebox con- difference of negative nine” in amongst the later achieved offi cial release and moderate tinued, method fi rmly established. lyrics of an offi cial football anthem anytime success thanks Sunderland fans. The fi rst World Cup of the new soon, but they would make a welcome change The compatibility between song and millennium, and the fi rst on Asian soil. A from the pedestrian template that continues to football in the informal context of the stands chance to capture Asian culture through song be employed. suggests there is hope for the pairing. So sure perhaps? Not quite. So we await news of selection for the 2010 of the bond between music and football – or at American thunder throat Anastacia offi cial song and the next chapter in the song least the commercial viability of the combi- blessed, no, burdened the football world with book of football as the search for compat- nation of the two – the wise heads at FIFA her offi cial 2002 contribution, Boom. Is there ibility continues. Anyone for a Britney Spears have come to offi cially sanction the marriage, anyone more synonymous with football than and Guns N Roses collaboration...? presiding over the union every four years as Anastacia? I think not. Perhaps they were part of World Cup festivities. going for the ‘Soccer Mum’ appeal. Despite Since 1990, it’s been customary for Anastacia’s insistence she’s yet to reach her FIFA to assign an offi cial song to its quadren- thirties. Regrettably Anastacia didn’t test out nial football spectacular, imparting on the her lyrical query of “If I go away would you football masses a concoction of music and follow me?”, and we were stuck with her for their beloved sport that generally makes about the entirety of the tournament. as much sense as David James and Scott Carl- The World Cup music scene doubled son starting up front for England. its output in 2002, producing both an offi cial Every four years brings about a mu- song and anthem. Reputable Greek composer sical attempt at inspiration, with the perform- Vangelis contributed the imaginatively titled ers seemingly picked through some random FIFA 2002 World Cup Anthem as the musical process that doesn’t in anyway discriminate companion of Anastacia’s Boom. in favour of ability or relevance. In case To Germany 2006, the epicentre the memorable World Cup do-diddies have of electronic music but a land, according to By Sebastian Kipman Ricky Martin gets ready to clear the slipped your mind or been erased through FIFA, better personifi ed by the unconscio- Photos by Various Artists years of psychiatric treatment, let’s run throat with some pre-season training ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p11 SOCCER SIDESHOW A Bit of This & That Dept. BECKHAM ADMITS FRUSTRATION David Beckham admitted on Friday Last week Milan vice-president while insisting that he is determined to re- COUCH he has become frustrated over the Adriano Galliani said the Italian giants main in the Italian fashion capital. protracted transfer saga surround- would not be increasing their reported three “I want to stay at Milan, I’ve not ing his proposed move from Los An- million dollars bid for the 33-year-old for- heard anything from Galaxy but when it’s POTATO geles Galaxy to AC Milan. mer England captain. like that you could say it could be good This week’s football Beckham’s mood was not helped That was a bid that Galaxy de- news,” he said after the 1-0 win over Cagli- television & radio listings. by Milan’s departure from the UEFA Cup scribed as “ridiculous”, claiming it would ari. on Thursday night as once again they blew not even come close to covering the amount a lead before crashing out of Europe’s sec- they would lose should Beckham leave Ma- ond-tier competition to Werder Bremen. jor League Soccer. FOXTEL CUP Milan were 2-0 up at half-time but Galliani had said that Milan would The Victorian Football Show Every Wednesday C31 8pm the Germans fought back to draw 2-2 and be prepared to wait until October or No- qualify for the next round on the away goals vember when Beckham could invoke a get- The Green Gully Football Show rule after a 1-1 draw in the fi rst leg. out clause and leave Los Angeles for free. Every Saturday C31 10.30am But it is the uncertainty surround- At the moment he is due to return ing his proposed permanent move to Milan to Galaxy on March 9 but that is not some- that has left the on-loan Galaxy player feel- thing he wants to consider. ing blue. “You’re better off asking someone Asked if he was frustrated, Beck- else about that because it doesn’t change ham simply replied: “Of course. There’s a me wanting to play at this club and I’m sure ASIAN CUP Australia v Kuwait lot going on and a lot being said and every it doesn’t change other people’s desire for Thursday 5 March day there’s someone asking me questions. me to stay and play for this club either, so 1 7.00 pm “It is being said every day but so we’ll just have to wait and see,” he said. (KO 8.00 pm) far I’ve been able to concentrate on the “At the moment its all just being

football.” discussed and negotiated.” ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE David Beckham (pictured) admitted on Friday Wed Mar 4 Portsmouth v Chelsea However, Beckham admitted that Last week the former Manchester he has become frustrated over the protracted 6.40 am Fox Sports 2 he felt in the dark over the transfer and said United and Real Madrid star had said he transfer saga surrounding his proposed move Wed Mar 4 West Brom v Arsenal he knew of no new developments. thought something would happen this week from Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan. 6.40 am Fox Sports 3 Thurs Mar 5 Newcastle v Ma Utd 6.40 am Fox Sports 2 Thurs Mar 5 Man City v Aston Villa FOOTBALL 6.40 am Fox Sports 3 WAG OF THE WEEK Thurs Mar 5 Stoke v Bolton 6.40 am Viewers Choice QUOTES Thurs Mar 5 Wigan v West Ham “You can’t play with a one-armed goal- 6.40 am Viewers Choice keeper - not at this level!” Thurs Mar 5 Blackburn v Everton 6.55 am Viewers Choice Kevin Keegan Thurs Mar 5 Tottenham v Middlesbrough 6.55 am Viewers Choice “My favourite is classical art - there have been so many great artists. But MAGAZINE SHOWS I like modern as well. It’s nice on the Fox Sports FC Tuesday 3 March eye.” Steven Gerrard Fox Sports 1 7.30 pm “I’ve had 14 bookings this season, 8 of which were my fault but the other 7 were disputable!” Paul Gascoigne

“I wouldn’t be bothered if we lost every match this year as long as we win the league!” Tuesday 3rd March 6:30am Blue Square Premier Histon vs Cambridge LIVE “Alex Ferguson is the best manager I’ve ever had at this level. Well, he’s the only Wednesday 4th March manager I’ve actually had at this level. 12:00am MUTV: League Cup Final Man Utd vs Tottenham But he’s the best manager I’ve ever 6:00am SPL Falkirk vs Dundee Utd LIVE had.” 8:30pm Barca TV: Atl Madrid vs Barcelona David Beckham

Thursday 5th March 3:15am CHTV: EPL Portsmouth vs Chelsea “The only thing I have in common with 6:00am SPL Kilmarnock vs Celtic LIVE George Best is that we come from the 9:30am Copa Libertadores Deportivo Tachira vs same place... play for the same club... Boca Juniors LIVE and were discovered by the same man.” 11:30am SPL Rangers vs Inverness CT 3:00pm MUTV: EPL Newcastle vs Man Utd Norman Whiteside 10:30pm German Cup B Leverkusen vs B Munich “I don’t want to be modelling G-strings Friday 6th March - it’s not that good for my image. I’m a 6:30am FA Youth Cup Quarter Final Spur vs Arsenal LIVE Charlotte Mears Age: 25 footballer not a tart.” Insignificant other: Tottenham Striker, Jermain Defoe Michael Owen Saturday 7th March 6:30am Schalke 04 vs Cologne LIVE 11:00pm FA Cup Quarter-Final Coventry vs Chelsea LIVE

Sunday 8th March 1:45am SPL St Mirren vs Celtic 3:45am FA Cup Quarter-Final Fulham vs Man U LIVE 11:30pm FA Cup 5th Round Arsenal vs Burnley LIVE PEDRO’S PIT Monday 9th March Authentic Italian Pizza 2:30am FA Cup Quarter Final Everton vs Middlesbrough LIVE 327 Bay Street, Port Melbourne Tel: 9646 4110 7:00am St Etienne vs Nantes LIVE 9:00am Quarter Final Rangers vs 2 LARGE TRADITIONAL SUPER TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS Hamilton PIZZAS DELIVERED $24 LARGE TRADITIONAL PICK UP $10 ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p12 Round 1 STATERound 8 LEAGUE ONE Fri 27 Mar 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Frankston Pines Kingston Heath Sat 23 May 3PM Pascoe Vale v Southern Stars Hosken Res Round 15 Sat 28 Mar 3PM Fawkner Blues v Northcote City CB Smith Res Sat 23 May 3PM Northcote City v St Albans Saints John Cain Memorial Park Sat 18 Jul 3PM Clifton Hill v Bulleen Royals Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 28 Mar 3PM Langwarrin v Bulleen Royals Lawton Park Res Sat 23 May 3PM Langwarrin v Springvale White Eagles Lawton Park Res Sat 18 Jul 3PM Southern Stars v Northcote City Ross Res Sat 28 Mar 3PM Southern Stars v St Albans Saints Ross Res Sat 23 May 7PM Frankston Pines v Clifton Hill Monterey Res Sat 18 Jul 3PM Langwarrin v Fawkner Blues Lawton Park Res Sat 28 Mar 3PM Clifton Hill v Pascoe Vale Kevin Bartlett Res Sun 24 May 3PM Fawkner Blues v Western Suburbs CB Smith Res Sat 18 Jul 6:30PM Springvale White Eaglesv Bentleigh Greens White Eagles Stdm Sat 28 Mar 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Western Suburbs White Eagles Stdm Mon 25 May 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Bulleen Royals Kingston Heath Sat 18 Jul 7PM Frankston Pines v Pascoe Vale Monterey Res Mon 19 Jul 3PM Western Suburbs v St Albans Saints Ralph Res Round 2 Round 9 Fri 3 Apr 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Langwarrin Kingston Heath Soccer Complex Sat 30 May 3PM Clifton Hill v Langwarrin Kevin Bartlett Res Round 16 Sat 4 Apr 6:30PM Springvale White Eaglesv St Albans Saints White Eagles Stdm Sat 30 May 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Southern Stars White Eagles Stdm Sat 25 Jul 3PM Northcote City v Springvale White Eagles John Cain Mem Park Sat 4 Apr 7PM Frankston Pines v Northcote City Monterey Res Sun 31 May 3PM Western Suburbs v Frankston Pines Ralph Res Sat 25 Jul 3PM Pascoe Vale v St Albans Saints Hosken Res Sun 5 Apr 3PM Western Suburbs v Clifton Hill Ralph Res Sun 31 May 3PM St Albans Saints v Fawkner Blues Churchill Res Sat 25 Jul 7PM Frankston Pines v Langwarrin Monterey Res Sun 5 Apr 3PM Fawkner Blues v Pascoe Vale CB Smith Res Sun 31 May 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Pascoe Vale Kingston Heath Sun 26 Jul 3PM Fawkner Blues v Southern Stars CB Smith Res Mon 8 Jun 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Southern Stars Veneto Social Club Mon 1 Jun 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Northcote City Veneto Social Club Sun 26 Jul 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Clifton Hill Kingston Heath Soccer Complex Mon 27 Jul 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Western Suburbs Veneto Social Club Round 3 Round 10 Sat 18 Apr 3PM Langwarrin v Northcote City Lawton Park Res Sat 13 Jun 3PM Northcote City v Bentleigh Greens John Cain Memorial Park Round 17 Sat 18 Apr 3PM Southern Stars v Bentleigh Greens Ross Res Sat 13 Jun 3PM Langwarrin v Western Suburbs Lawton Park Res Sat 1 Aug 3PM Langwarrin v Pascoe Vale Lawton Park Res Sat 18 Apr 3PM Clifton Hill v St Albans Saints Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 13 Jun 3PM Southern Stars v Clifton Hill Ross Res Sat 1 Aug 3PM Clifton Hill v Northcote City Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 18 Apr 3PM Pascoe Vale v Western Suburbs Hosken Res Sat 13 Jun 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Pascoe Vale White Eagles Stadium Sat 1 Aug 3PM Southern Stars v Frankston Pines Ross Res Sat 18 Apr 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Bulleen Royals White Eagles Stadium Sat 13 Jun 7PM Frankston Pines v St Albans Saints Monterey Res Sat 1 Aug 6:30PM Springvale White Eaglesv Fawkner Blues White Eagles Stdm Sat 18 Apr 7PM Frankston Pines v Fawkner Blues Monterey Res Sun 14 Jun 3PM Fawkner Blues v Bulleen Royals CB Smith Res Sun 2 Aug 3PM St Albans Saints v Bulleen Royals Churchill Res Sun 2 Aug 3PM Western Suburbs v Bentleigh Greens Ralph Res Round 4 Round 11 Fri 24 Apr 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Springvale White Eagles Kingston Heath Sat 20 Jun 3PM Clifton Hill v Springvale White Eagles Kevin Bartlett Res Round 18 Sat 25 Apr 3PM Pascoe Vale v Frankston Pines Hosken Res Sat 20 Jun 3PM Pascoe Vale v Northcote City Hosken Res Sat 8 Aug 3PM Langwarrin v Southern Stars Lawton Park Res Sat 25 Apr 3PM Northcote City v Southern Stars John Cain Memorial Park Sun 21 Jun 3PM Western Suburbs v Southern Stars Ralph Res Sat 8 Aug 3PM Northcote City v Western Suburbs John Cain Memorial Park Sun 26 Apr 3PM St Albans Saints v Western Suburbs Churchill Res Sun 21 Jun 3PM St Albans Saints v Langwarrin Churchill Res Sat 8 Aug 3PM Pascoe Vale v Bulleen Royals Hosken Res Sun 26 Apr 3PM Fawkner Blues v Langwarrin CB Smith Res Sun 21 Jun 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Fawkner Blues Kingston Heath Sat 8 Aug 7PM Frankston Pines v Springvale WHITE EAGLESMonterey Res Mon 27 Apr 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Clifton Hill Veneto Social Club Mon 22 Jun 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Frankston Pines Veneto Social Club Sun 9 Aug 3PM Fawkner Blues v Clifton Hill CB Smith Res Sun 9 Aug 3PM Bentleigh Greens v St Albans Saints Kingston Heath Round 5 Round 12 Sat 2 May 3PM Langwarrin v Frankston Pines Lawton Park Res Sat 27 Jun 3PM Northcote City v Fawkner Blues John Cain Memorial Park Round 19 Sat 2 May 3PM Southern Stars v Fawkner Blues Ross Res Sat 27 Jun 3PM Pascoe Vale v Clifton Hill Hosken Res Sat 15 Aug 3PM Southern Stars v Pascoe Vale Ross Res Sat 2 May 3PM Clifton Hill v Bentleigh Greens Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 27 Jun 7PM Frankston Pines v Bentleigh Greens Monterey Res Sat 15 Aug 3PM Clifton Hill v Frankston Pines Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 2 May 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Northcote City White Eagles Stadium Sun 28 Jun 3PM St Albans Saints v Southern Stars Churchill Res Sat 15 Aug 6:30PM Springvale WHITE EAGLESv Langwarrin White EaglesStdm Sun 3 May 3PM Western Suburbs v Bulleen Royals Ralph Res Sun 28 Jun 3PM Western Suburbs v Springvale White Eagles Ralph Res Sun 16 Aug 3PM St Albans Saints v Northcote City Churchill Res Sun 3 May 3PM St Albans Saints v Pascoe Vale Churchill Res Mon 29 Jun 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Langwarrin Veneto Social Club Sun 16 Aug 3PM Western Suburbs v Fawkner Blues Ralph Res Mon 17 Aug 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Bentleigh Greens Veneto Social Club Round 6 Round 13 Fri 8 May 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Western Suburbs Kingston Heath Sat 4 Jul 3PM Clifton Hill v Western Suburbs Kevin Bartlett Res Round 20 Sat 9 May 3PM Pascoe Vale v Langwarrin Hosken Res Sat 4 Jul 3PM Southern Stars v Bulleen Royals Ross Res Sat 22 Aug 3PM Southern Stars v Springvale WHITE EAGLESRoss Res Sat 9 May 3PM Northcote City v Clifton Hill John Cain Memorial Park Sat 4 Jul 3PM Langwarrin v Bentleigh Greens Lawton Park Res Sat 22 Aug 3PM Langwarrin v Clifton Hill Lawton Park Res Sat 9 May 7PM Frankston Pines v Southern Stars Monterey Res Sat 4 Jul 3PM Pascoe Vale v Fawkner Blues Hosken Res Sat 22 Aug 3PM Northcote City v Bulleen Royals John Cain Memorial Park Sun 10 May 3PM Fawkner Blues v Springvale White Eagles CB Smith Res Sat 4 Jul 3PM Northcote City v Frankston Pines John Cain Memorial Park Sat 22 Aug 3PM Pascoe Vale v Bentleigh Greens Hosken Res Mon 11 May 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v St Albans Saints Veneto Social Club Sun 5 Jul 3PM St Albans Saints v Springvale White Eagles Churchill Res Sat 22 Aug 7PM Frankston Pines v Western Suburbs Monterey Res Sun 23 Aug 3PM Fawkner Blues v St Albans Saints CB Smith Res Round 7 Round 14 Sat 16 May 3PM Southern Stars v Langwarrin Ross Res Sat 11 Jul 3PM Northcote City v Langwarrin John Cain Memorial Park Round 21 Sat 16 May 3PM Clifton Hill v Fawkner Blues Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 11 Jul 3PM Western Suburbs v Pascoe Vale Ralph Res Sat 29 Aug 3PM Pascoe Vale v Springvale WHITE EAGLESHosken Res Sat 16 May 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Frankston Pines White Eagles Stdm Sun 12 Jul 3PM Fawkner Blues v Frankston Pines CB Smith Res Sat 29 Aug 3PM Clifton Hill v Southern Stars Kevin Bartlett Res Sun 17 May 3PM Western Suburbs v Northcote City Ralph Res Sun 12 Jul 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Southern Stars Kingston Heath Sun 30 Aug 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Northcote City Kingston Heath Sun 17 May 3PM St Albans Saints v Bentleigh Greens Churchill Res Sun 12 Jul 3PM St Albans Saints v Clifton Hill Churchill Res Sun 30 Aug 3PM St Albans Saints v Frankston Pines Churchill Res Mon 18 May 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Pascoe Vale Veneto Social Club Mon 13 Jul 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Springvale White Eagles Veneto Social Club Sun 30 Aug 3PM Western Suburbs v Langwarrin Ralph Res Mon 31 Aug 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Fawkner Blues Veneto Social Club Head over heals! GW photographer Steve Starek catches George Abatzidis’ celebrations after Round 22 scoring for St Albans Saints against Keilor Park Sat 5 Sep 3PM Springvale WHITE EAGLESv Clifton Hill White Eagles Stadium in a Division One fi xture last season. The saints Sat 5 Sep 3PM Southern Stars v Western Suburbs Ross Res Sat 5 Sep 3PM Langwarrin v St Albans Saints Lawton Park Res won that day 2-0 with the other goal from Josip Sat 5 Sep 3PM Fawkner Blues v Bentleigh Greens CB Smith Res FIXTURE LISTLoncaric. 2009 Draw Notes: Sat 5 Sep 3PM Northcote City v Pascoe Vale John Cain Memorial Park CATCH-UP ROUNDS - 6th June 2009 & 12 September 2009 - Clubs will be notifi ed by FFV of matches to be played on this weekend during the course of the season. Sat 5 Sep 7PM Frankston Pines v Bulleen Royals Monterey Res MELBOURNE VICTORY FC Photo: Daniel Flis

Altona Magic with the A-LEAGUE CHAMPIONS2008 VPL prize 2008/09 A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL I MELBOURNE VICTORY 1-0 ADELAIDE UNITED I ETIHAD STADIUM I SATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY I CROWD 53, 273 Round 1 STATERound 8 LEAGUE ONE Fri 27 Mar 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Frankston Pines Kingston Heath Sat 23 May 3PM Pascoe Vale v Southern Stars Hosken Res Round 15 Sat 28 Mar 3PM Fawkner Blues v Northcote City CB Smith Res Sat 23 May 3PM Northcote City v St Albans Saints John Cain Memorial Park Sat 18 Jul 3PM Clifton Hill v Bulleen Royals Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 28 Mar 3PM Langwarrin v Bulleen Royals Lawton Park Res Sat 23 May 3PM Langwarrin v Springvale White Eagles Lawton Park Res Sat 18 Jul 3PM Southern Stars v Northcote City Ross Res Sat 28 Mar 3PM Southern Stars v St Albans Saints Ross Res Sat 23 May 7PM Frankston Pines v Clifton Hill Monterey Res Sat 18 Jul 3PM Langwarrin v Fawkner Blues Lawton Park Res Sat 28 Mar 3PM Clifton Hill v Pascoe Vale Kevin Bartlett Res Sun 24 May 3PM Fawkner Blues v Western Suburbs CB Smith Res Sat 18 Jul 6:30PM Springvale White Eaglesv Bentleigh Greens White Eagles Stdm Sat 28 Mar 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Western Suburbs White Eagles Stdm Mon 25 May 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Bulleen Royals Kingston Heath Sat 18 Jul 7PM Frankston Pines v Pascoe Vale Monterey Res Mon 19 Jul 3PM Western Suburbs v St Albans Saints Ralph Res Round 2 Round 9 Fri 3 Apr 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Langwarrin Kingston Heath Soccer Complex Sat 30 May 3PM Clifton Hill v Langwarrin Kevin Bartlett Res Round 16 Sat 4 Apr 6:30PM Springvale White Eaglesv St Albans Saints White Eagles Stdm Sat 30 May 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Southern Stars White Eagles Stdm Sat 25 Jul 3PM Northcote City v Springvale White Eagles John Cain Mem Park Sat 4 Apr 7PM Frankston Pines v Northcote City Monterey Res Sun 31 May 3PM Western Suburbs v Frankston Pines Ralph Res Sat 25 Jul 3PM Pascoe Vale v St Albans Saints Hosken Res Sun 5 Apr 3PM Western Suburbs v Clifton Hill Ralph Res Sun 31 May 3PM St Albans Saints v Fawkner Blues Churchill Res Sat 25 Jul 7PM Frankston Pines v Langwarrin Monterey Res Sun 5 Apr 3PM Fawkner Blues v Pascoe Vale CB Smith Res Sun 31 May 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Pascoe Vale Kingston Heath Sun 26 Jul 3PM Fawkner Blues v Southern Stars CB Smith Res Mon 8 Jun 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Southern Stars Veneto Social Club Mon 1 Jun 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Northcote City Veneto Social Club Sun 26 Jul 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Clifton Hill Kingston Heath Soccer Complex Mon 27 Jul 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Western Suburbs Veneto Social Club Round 3 Round 10 Sat 18 Apr 3PM Langwarrin v Northcote City Lawton Park Res Sat 13 Jun 3PM Northcote City v Bentleigh Greens John Cain Memorial Park Round 17 Sat 18 Apr 3PM Southern Stars v Bentleigh Greens Ross Res Sat 13 Jun 3PM Langwarrin v Western Suburbs Lawton Park Res Sat 1 Aug 3PM Langwarrin v Pascoe Vale Lawton Park Res Sat 18 Apr 3PM Clifton Hill v St Albans Saints Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 13 Jun 3PM Southern Stars v Clifton Hill Ross Res Sat 1 Aug 3PM Clifton Hill v Northcote City Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 18 Apr 3PM Pascoe Vale v Western Suburbs Hosken Res Sat 13 Jun 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Pascoe Vale White Eagles Stadium Sat 1 Aug 3PM Southern Stars v Frankston Pines Ross Res Sat 18 Apr 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Bulleen Royals White Eagles Stadium Sat 13 Jun 7PM Frankston Pines v St Albans Saints Monterey Res Sat 1 Aug 6:30PM Springvale White Eaglesv Fawkner Blues White Eagles Stdm Sat 18 Apr 7PM Frankston Pines v Fawkner Blues Monterey Res Sun 14 Jun 3PM Fawkner Blues v Bulleen Royals CB Smith Res Sun 2 Aug 3PM St Albans Saints v Bulleen Royals Churchill Res Sun 2 Aug 3PM Western Suburbs v Bentleigh Greens Ralph Res Round 4 Round 11 Fri 24 Apr 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Springvale White Eagles Kingston Heath Sat 20 Jun 3PM Clifton Hill v Springvale White Eagles Kevin Bartlett Res Round 18 Sat 25 Apr 3PM Pascoe Vale v Frankston Pines Hosken Res Sat 20 Jun 3PM Pascoe Vale v Northcote City Hosken Res Sat 8 Aug 3PM Langwarrin v Southern Stars Lawton Park Res Sat 25 Apr 3PM Northcote City v Southern Stars John Cain Memorial Park Sun 21 Jun 3PM Western Suburbs v Southern Stars Ralph Res Sat 8 Aug 3PM Northcote City v Western Suburbs John Cain Memorial Park Sun 26 Apr 3PM St Albans Saints v Western Suburbs Churchill Res Sun 21 Jun 3PM St Albans Saints v Langwarrin Churchill Res Sat 8 Aug 3PM Pascoe Vale v Bulleen Royals Hosken Res Sun 26 Apr 3PM Fawkner Blues v Langwarrin CB Smith Res Sun 21 Jun 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Fawkner Blues Kingston Heath Sat 8 Aug 7PM Frankston Pines v Springvale WHITE EAGLESMonterey Res Mon 27 Apr 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Clifton Hill Veneto Social Club Mon 22 Jun 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Frankston Pines Veneto Social Club Sun 9 Aug 3PM Fawkner Blues v Clifton Hill CB Smith Res Sun 9 Aug 3PM Bentleigh Greens v St Albans Saints Kingston Heath Round 5 Round 12 Sat 2 May 3PM Langwarrin v Frankston Pines Lawton Park Res Sat 27 Jun 3PM Northcote City v Fawkner Blues John Cain Memorial Park Round 19 Sat 2 May 3PM Southern Stars v Fawkner Blues Ross Res Sat 27 Jun 3PM Pascoe Vale v Clifton Hill Hosken Res Sat 15 Aug 3PM Southern Stars v Pascoe Vale Ross Res Sat 2 May 3PM Clifton Hill v Bentleigh Greens Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 27 Jun 7PM Frankston Pines v Bentleigh Greens Monterey Res Sat 15 Aug 3PM Clifton Hill v Frankston Pines Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 2 May 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Northcote City White Eagles Stadium Sun 28 Jun 3PM St Albans Saints v Southern Stars Churchill Res Sat 15 Aug 6:30PM Springvale WHITE EAGLESv Langwarrin White EaglesStdm Sun 3 May 3PM Western Suburbs v Bulleen Royals Ralph Res Sun 28 Jun 3PM Western Suburbs v Springvale White Eagles Ralph Res Sun 16 Aug 3PM St Albans Saints v Northcote City Churchill Res Sun 3 May 3PM St Albans Saints v Pascoe Vale Churchill Res Mon 29 Jun 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Langwarrin Veneto Social Club Sun 16 Aug 3PM Western Suburbs v Fawkner Blues Ralph Res Mon 17 Aug 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Bentleigh Greens Veneto Social Club Round 6 Round 13 Fri 8 May 8PM Bentleigh Greens v Western Suburbs Kingston Heath Sat 4 Jul 3PM Clifton Hill v Western Suburbs Kevin Bartlett Res Round 20 Sat 9 May 3PM Pascoe Vale v Langwarrin Hosken Res Sat 4 Jul 3PM Southern Stars v Bulleen Royals Ross Res Sat 22 Aug 3PM Southern Stars v Springvale WHITE EAGLESRoss Res Sat 9 May 3PM Northcote City v Clifton Hill John Cain Memorial Park Sat 4 Jul 3PM Langwarrin v Bentleigh Greens Lawton Park Res Sat 22 Aug 3PM Langwarrin v Clifton Hill Lawton Park Res Sat 9 May 7PM Frankston Pines v Southern Stars Monterey Res Sat 4 Jul 3PM Pascoe Vale v Fawkner Blues Hosken Res Sat 22 Aug 3PM Northcote City v Bulleen Royals John Cain Memorial Park Sun 10 May 3PM Fawkner Blues v Springvale White Eagles CB Smith Res Sat 4 Jul 3PM Northcote City v Frankston Pines John Cain Memorial Park Sat 22 Aug 3PM Pascoe Vale v Bentleigh Greens Hosken Res Mon 11 May 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v St Albans Saints Veneto Social Club Sun 5 Jul 3PM St Albans Saints v Springvale White Eagles Churchill Res Sat 22 Aug 7PM Frankston Pines v Western Suburbs Monterey Res Sun 23 Aug 3PM Fawkner Blues v St Albans Saints CB Smith Res Round 7 Round 14 Sat 16 May 3PM Southern Stars v Langwarrin Ross Res Sat 11 Jul 3PM Northcote City v Langwarrin John Cain Memorial Park Round 21 Sat 16 May 3PM Clifton Hill v Fawkner Blues Kevin Bartlett Res Sat 11 Jul 3PM Western Suburbs v Pascoe Vale Ralph Res Sat 29 Aug 3PM Pascoe Vale v Springvale WHITE EAGLESHosken Res Sat 16 May 6:30PM Springvale White Eagles v Frankston Pines White Eagles Stdm Sun 12 Jul 3PM Fawkner Blues v Frankston Pines CB Smith Res Sat 29 Aug 3PM Clifton Hill v Southern Stars Kevin Bartlett Res Sun 17 May 3PM Western Suburbs v Northcote City Ralph Res Sun 12 Jul 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Southern Stars Kingston Heath Sun 30 Aug 3PM Bentleigh Greens v Northcote City Kingston Heath Sun 17 May 3PM St Albans Saints v Bentleigh Greens Churchill Res Sun 12 Jul 3PM St Albans Saints v Clifton Hill Churchill Res Sun 30 Aug 3PM St Albans Saints v Frankston Pines Churchill Res Mon 18 May 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Pascoe Vale Veneto Social Club Mon 13 Jul 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Springvale White Eagles Veneto Social Club Sun 30 Aug 3PM Western Suburbs v Langwarrin Ralph Res Mon 31 Aug 8:15PM Bulleen Royals v Fawkner Blues Veneto Social Club Head over heals! GW photographer Steve Starek catches George Abatzidis’ celebrations after Round 22 scoring for St Albans Saints against Keilor Park Sat 5 Sep 3PM Springvale WHITE EAGLESv Clifton Hill White Eagles Stadium in a Division One fi xture last season. The saints Sat 5 Sep 3PM Southern Stars v Western Suburbs Ross Res Sat 5 Sep 3PM Langwarrin v St Albans Saints Lawton Park Res won that day 2-0 with the other goal from Josip Sat 5 Sep 3PM Fawkner Blues v Bentleigh Greens CB Smith Res FIXTURE LISTLoncaric. 2009 Draw Notes: Sat 5 Sep 3PM Northcote City v Pascoe Vale John Cain Memorial Park CATCH-UP ROUNDS - 6th June 2009 & 12 September 2009 - Clubs will be notifi ed by FFV of matches to be played on this weekend during the course of the season. Sat 5 Sep 7PM Frankston Pines v Bulleen Royals Monterey Res Time Capsule Dept. VPL LAUNCH

Photos: Daniel Flis FOOTBALL VICTORIA COMMEMORATES

Tony Dunkerly (FFV President), Bridget Marcou (FFV Board Director ), Mark A trio who have contributed considerably towards Victorian foot- Rendell (FFV CEO) and Matt Usher (FFV General Manager Business Devel- ball’s most recent playing history; George Katsakis (Heidelberg opment), gather to enjoy a monumental evening steeped in over a century of United coach), Alan Davidson (former Socceroo, South Mel- sporting history. bourne, Melbourne Knights star and living legend) together with Green Gully captain Dean Fak. FOOTBALL Federation Victoria current VPL and the nine WPL club bourne between them have produced senting Australia on the world stage. launched its 2009 Victorian Premier strips, along with special guest speak- well over 50 Socceroos. Barbieri and Roddy Vargas are but two and Women Premier League’s at ers including former Socceroo Alan ”The WPL comprises some powerful of the many who have come through Young and Jackson’s Hotel last night, Davidson and current Matilda’s goal- teams, some of which are stand alone FFV elite leagues and have represent- almost 125 years ago tothe day that keeper . clubs like Bendigo Vipers and Casey ed Australia. football was born in this state. FFV President, Mr Tony Dunkerley, Comets –but all of which are part of “We celebrate two things this week On February 29, 1884, , a group of said the role of both the men and the rapid improvement of the women’s and that is the launch of a new season “gentlemen’ of the Anglo-Australian women’s premier league’s remained game in Victoria and Australia.” of elite football in Victoria, and the 125 Club fi ttingly met vitally important in the current evolu- Dunkerley also stated, as well as being year old vision generated in the Young at Young and Jackson to make fi nal tion of football in not only Victoria, but showcases of high-quality football, the and Jackson’s building by the gentle- arrangements for forming clubs in the Australia. VPL and WPL also have vital roles in men of the association. various suburbs in and around Mel- “Many of the 12 VPL clubs are power- producing the new generation of elite ”I’m sure that the picture today is very bourne. houses of Australian football history,” footballers in Victoria and beyond. different from the one they imagined The meeting was a great success and Mr Dunkerley said. The competitions enable many players but is one with which they would be It wasn’t long before teams like Carl- ”Heidelberg, Preston, Sunshine, Green throughout the state to fulfi ll their po- nonetheless delighted.” ton, South Melbourne, Richmond and Gully, South Melbourne and Melbourne tential because they are crucial stages The VPL season kicked off on the Prahan were competing on a regular Knights have all played at a national in the pathway from junior competition, weekend, while the WPL in early April. basis. level in the NSL. to the A-League and W League, inter- Last night saw the unveiling of all 12 “Melbourne Knights and South Mel- national clubs and ultimately to repre-

Matilda, Melbourne Victory and Box Hill Inter star Me- lissa Barbieri, was also in attendance to represent the WPL. She amused the crowd with an anecdote of her Former Socceroo goalkeeper joins Carlos Alberto Diego and Diego childhood playing days, disclosing she was actually of the Four Diegos on the mike to chat fondly about World Cup ’74, Schintler once banned from playing for a short period of time Reserve and the prospect of Australia hosting a World Cup in the future. because she kept goal for a boy’s team. ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 16 FOOTBALL CLASSIFIEDS Getting The Right Results Dept.

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Orders not available from Nike Australia direct to public and must go through a registered Nike Stockist. p18 Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2 Fantastic Footy Flashback Dept. BLAST FROM THE PAST PREMIER PLATFORMS The fi rst season of the Victorian Premier League, 1991 The VPL was launched last week at a col, Steve Smith, Rino Minichiello, Dino function which celebrated 125 years Grillo, Sean Lane, and Fausto de Amicis. of football in Victoria and this year Smith was top scorer with 14 goals. Despite will be the 19th season of the Premier winning the league, Juventus was not pro- League. moted to the NSL as following the Bradley In 1991 an unwieldy 18-team State League Report, promotion and relegation were was cut to a more streamlined 14-team frozen for two years. competition; rebadged and attempting to Fabio Incantalupo of Bulleen was a popular concentrate the talent and raise standards in and well-deserved winner of the Gold Medal local football. Not everyone was delighted sponsored by Diabetes Australia. He also with the change but the Victorian Soccer received the Bill Fleming medal from the Federation under its President, John Dimtsis, Victorian football media. Yet it was a bitter- and Chairman, Vito Cilauro, was determined sweet season for Incantalupo as his club to make it work as an attractive second tier missed the title and he suffered a broken leg competition in Australia. Joe Caruso chaired which meant he missed the last three rounds the Premier League Management Commit- of the season. His absence might have made tee. a difference to Bulleen’s championship Albion, Altona Gate, Brunswick United drive. Sash Becvinovski of Green Gully Juventus, Bulleen, Croydon City, Doveton, was the Premier League’s top scorer with 17 Fawkner, Green Gully, Mooroolbark, Mor- goals. Melbourne Victory’s current assistant well Falcons, Northcote City, Oakleigh, St coach, Aaron Healey, was the recipient of Albans and Thomastown took part in that the Weinstein Medal as the junior player of inaugural season. the year, and Socceroo received The competition was relentless throughout the Andy Kun Trophy as the Victorian Soc- the season with Juventus stumbling in the cer Personality of 1991. At the end of 1991, penultimate round at Northcote City and George Wallace stepped down as Executive Bulleen coming home with a wet sail so that Director of the VSF and was succeeded by only goal difference separated the two teams his deputy Terry Jones. in the end. Morwell Falcons came third, fi ve At the start 1991, Heidelberg United Alex- Top of the table action from 1991 between Brunswick Juventus and Bulleen. John ander, Melbourne Croatia, Preston Makedo- points adrift of the leaders who each had 38. Corvan rises high to win the header for the Zebras. Photo: John Punshon Altona Gate was a further point behind and nia, South Melbourne Hellas and Sunshine Thomastown and Fawkner each gained 29 George Cross were members of the National points. In that fi rst season there was no fi nals Soccer League, though George Cross was series, so the home and away results deter- relegated after was sacked as mined the championship. At the other end of coach. He had brought a host of young talent the table Doveton was tailed off on 8 points into the club and saved the club money on and was relegated along with Northcote City transfers and wages, but that was not enough which had twice as many. North Geelong to save him. and Knox City were to take their places for South Melbourne Hellas won the Dockerty 1992. Cup, beating Sunshine George Cross by Maria Carmigiani overcame scepticism three goals to two in the fi nal. Paul Wade about a woman as president of Juventus, with two and Peter Tsolakis scored for Hel- though she was unable to solve one of the las and John Waddell and Luciano Fabrizio club’s major problems, the lack of its own for the Georgies. Hellas reached another cup home ground. It had a ground sharing ar- fi nal but Preston Makedonia took the Vic rangement with Hellas, but that collapsed Health Gold Cup by two goals to one. Louie and its fi nal two matches were played at Bekiaris and Andrea Zinni were on target for Olympic Park and Schintler Reserve. Billy Makedonia and Peter Tsolakis for Hellas. Rogers coached Juventus to the title in his fi rst season with a squad which included Words by Roy Hay veteran keeper Peter Laumets, Steve Marley, Jeff Doyle, Pat Della Rocca, Brian MacNi- Photos sourced by Roy Hay Joe Caruso, chair of the State League, right, and veteran journalist Fred Villiers. Photo: Les Shorrock collection, Deakin University Library. Victorian Soccer Federation Premier League 1991 P W D L F A Pts GD Brunswick Utd Juventus 26 16 6 4 49 13 38 36 Bulleen 26 15 8 3 54 28 38 26 Morwell Falcons 26 14 5 7 49 30 33 19 Altona Gate 26 13 6 7 40 26 32 14 Thomastown 26 12 5 9 30 20 29 10 Fawkner 26 10 9 7 33 30 29 3 Green Gully 26 9 10 7 35 32 28 3 Albion 26 9 8 9 43 32 26 11 St Albans 26 8 10 8 37 35 26 2 Croydon City 26 9 7 10 28 34 25 -6 Oakleigh 26 6 7 13 27 40 19 -13 Mooroolbark 26 8 1 17 27 54 17 -27 Northcote City 26 6 4 16 22 53 16 -31 Doveton 26 1 6 19 11 58 8 -47

Also in 1991... wins the European Cup...Portugal wins the FIFA U-20 World Cup...Col- lapse of Yugoslavia...Mike Tyson is arrested for raping Miss Black America contestant Desiree Premier League top scorer in 1991, Sash Washington...Collapse of the Soviet Union...Michael Schumacher makes his Formula 1 debut John Dimtsis, President of the VSF in in the Belgian Grand Prix...The Republic of Macedonia becomes independent...LA Laker Becvinovski of Green Gully. 1991. Photo: Les Shorrock collection, Magic Johnson announces that he has HIV...Paul Keating replaces Bob Hawke as the new Photo: Les Shorrock collection, Deakin Deakin University Library. prime minister of Australia...Freddie Mercury dies... Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm begins. University Library. ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p19 The Big Mac THE REGULARS MacKenzie At Large An Occasional Offering from Craig MacKenzie

Gardiner heads for Greens Two major midfi eld departures are that FFV banner and how well the federation ing days at Hearts and McPherson is BENTLEIGH Greens have massively of Marcelo Pena and Mitch Pino. Pena polices its own rules. convinced that the Tannadice outfi t rep- revamped their senior squad for sea- and his family have returned to South For the past few weekends I’ve watched resents the best prospect for fast-tracking son 2009 and the club is aiming for a America while Pino never reported back pre-season games at Springvale White young Stirton’s talents. Premier League berth next season. to training last December. Eagles’ Serbian Sports Centre (how on Dean Hennessy, who guided Southern On the goalkeeping front, Hennessy has earth was the ground able to retain the Why Vidmar was so pissed off Stars in 2008, took over as Greens senior signed Robbie Acs from Casey Comets name?) and seen Knox City strutting its SOURCES close to the Adelaide coach last October and this week wel- and Marijo Roza from Westgate. Another stuff, resplendent in a strip that carries United camp have thrown light on the comes 22-year-old Scottish recruit Ross Westgate signing, Milan Savic, and Craig a St Andrew’s Cross, the symbol of my well-publicised outburst a fortnight Gardiner, a central defender or left back Smart from Frankston Pines will provide home country Scotland. back by coach who recently released by Montrose after going drive and guile in midfi eld while Smart’s Being a supporter and one-time member famously referred to the South Austra- through Dundee United’s youth ranks ex-Pines teammate, striker Craig Met- of the Scottish National Party (which lian capital as “a piss-ant town”. and turning pro in 2003. calfe, also has joined the Greens. may mean that the FFV media pass I I understand that Vidmar’s venom was Gardiner made his Scottish Premier But the signings don’t stop there. Hen- received last week could be revoked, directed at some United board members League debut for United against In- nessy also has snared the signature of gulp) I say more power to Knox City who had shown great interest a few days verness Caley in April 2006 but after Jimmy Latinopoulos (ex-Richmond but I wonder how Knox and many other earlier in ’s intentions for failing to make an impact at senior level and Kingston City) while striker Fikret clubs can breach the (albeit discrimina- the following season. he was released in April 2007 and joined Husanovic (from Fawkner) has returned tory) rules that ban use of non-Australian However, at least one of those board Montrose for the 07/08 season. to the club. emblems. members allegedly went a step fur- Gardiner’s father John, a goalkeeper, Adam Rudzki has followed Hennessy to I guess it’s like the handful of clubs that ther and asked some players what they played with former South Melbourne Bentleigh from Southern Stars and will condone the use of fl ares and the many thought about possibly having Kosmina Hellas star George Campbell at Aberdeen vie for the right-sided midfi eld slot with clubs that sell alcohol in bottles and cans return to Adelaide United’s coaching in the 1970s and Campbell’s recent trip former Springvale White Eagles and on matchdays rather than in plastic cups. helm. to Scotland (reported last week in Goal! Langwarrin winger Rados Tomic. Their motto seems to be if you can get When Vidmar heard about the clandes- Weekly) led to Hennessy’s interest in the Promising youngster Andy Jerez, who away with it then go for it. tine goings on he understandably was fu- defender. broke his leg during his stint with Mel- rious, especially so when his task was to Ross Gardiner looms as the perfect re- bourne Victory’s youth team, should be Dundee United for Stirton maintain his players’ focus on overturn- placement for Aaron Wilford who signed back in action by May as should ener- TEENAGER David Stirton heads ing a 2–0 defi cit in the two-legged major with Bentleigh from Southern Stars only getic midfi elder Bill Natsioulas, who has off to Tannadice in April to trial with semi-fi nal against Melbourne Victory, a to switch to Premier League newcomer returned to the club from South Mel- outfi t Dundee task that proved beyond them. Dandenong Thunder shortly after. bourne. Natsioulas is recovering from a United. I’m not sure if Vidmar’s use of “piss- “I wasn’t going to stand in Aaron’s way knee reconstruction. Stirton, identifi ed as a special talent by ant” was intended to mirror conversa- and we wish him all the best,” said Hen- Rangers’ Hall of Famer Bobby Russell tions between then US president Lyndon nessy. “I really rate him, in fact I think Knox City the brave during a coaching clinic in Melbourne B. Johnson and his advisers during the he could become one of the best central NEXT time you go to the Football in 2007, headed to Murray Park to Vietnam War when LBJ often referred defenders in Premier League never mind Federation of Victoria website go to trial with the Scottish giants late last to Vietnam as “that damn piss-ant little First Division.” competition/leagues/rules and regula- year. country”. tions and open the Men’s Leagues pdf “Piss-ant” can also be used as an epithet fi le then move to rule 3.12. for an inconsequential, irrelevant, or There, under the heading “National worthless person, especially one who is Flags, Slogans & Emblems” you can read irritating or contemptible out of propor- six subclauses that represent the culmina- tion to his or her signifi cance. tion of many years of forced assimilation. It’s that second use of the word that Consistently couched under less con- springs to mind as an apt description for fronting terms what amounts to the board members wanting to boot out a ethnic cleansing of Australian soccer/ coach that took his charges to the Asian football has proven, by two measures at Champions League fi nal last November, least, spectacularly successful as we’ve in the process creating history for the seen in recent times with attendances at game here at club level and fi rmly estab- A-League and Socceroos matches and lishing Adelaide on the Asian sporting coverage throughout the electronic and map. print media. And much of this during the beat of A lifelong Rangers fan whose father Iain , chairman of Football had two seasons with the Ibrox outfi t (in Federation Australia. That’s the same 1979/80 and 1980/81), the youngster’s Frank Lowy who arrived here in 1952 treatment at Rangers’ state-of-the-art and opened his fi rst shop, a deli opposite training complex can best be described as Blacktown railway station in ’s shabby. west and now is executive chairman and Not so at Kilmarnock where he was wel- Robbie Acs has switched from co-founder of Westfi eld and surely the comed with open arms and so impressed Casey Comets to Bentleigh Greens richest Hungarian Jew to migrate to these the Rugby Park coaching staff that the where he will challenge Marijo Roza shores. club invited him back towards the end of (signed from Westgate) for the num- Now back to the FFV website and the the current season. ber one goalkeeping spot. rules and regulations pdf. It takes little During his time in Scotland contact was Photo: DARRYL KENNEDY. imagination to think of the prevalence made with former Rangers and Hearts of similar wording in Lowy’s Soviet- defender Dave McPherson, who rep- Hennessy also has signed ex-Chelsea and dominated home country in the 1950s but resents Celtic and Socceroo star Scott Was Adelaide United coach Aurelio Partick Thistle midfi elder Andy Ross. I think this is 2009 and I fi nd the current McDonald among others, and McPherson Vidmar reacting angrily to the spec- Hennessy and Ross have previously wording unsettling. has arranged the Dundee United trial. tre of John Kosmina returning to the linked up at Richmond, Kingston City Then there’s the issue of whether or not McPherson and United manager Craig South Australian club’s coaching and Southern Stars. these words apply to all clubs under the Levein are close friends from their play- helm? p20 Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2 Gas Bagging Dept. THE REGULARS

With Mark Boric

Another A-League Grand Final, anoth- ropean reserves teams and calling it’s leading er refereeing shocker. Still though they marksmen “hopeless” does wonders for it’s Tsigan: GW’s Ambassador for did not play a great game in the fi nal, credibility. Football hams it up with the no one can deny Melbourne Victory Poor Pim seems to be copping plenty of crit- masses cicra 2007. were worthy champions in 2009-09 giv- icism, even though he has just about achieved en they beat Adelaide around ten times the goal of qualifi cation for the World Cup. and spanked them 6-0 in the semi over For mine anyone who thinks Robert Cornth- two legs. waite is national team material in any shape of Would it be ironic if a riot was started at form is more of a goose than a Guus. a game because the replay of a controversial It’s a bit worrying that the VPL season incident was NOT shown on the big screen? has kicked off yet one club still has “To Be A bloke I was seated near, called Mirko, was Confi rmed” as it’s venue. What a sad state threatening to start a such a riot. The day it of affairs it is. It’s politics. Politics and hid- happens is getting closer. den agendas. Because of a pissant mentality, Ernie Merrick must be a genius. Winning this competition will never get anywhere! You the Grand Final with Nick Ward in your start- know! You know! ing line-up sure is a tremendous feat. Shame on for his efforts at Tel- Melbourne Victory paid $8.00 for a 1-0 win stra Dome/Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The on TAB Sportsbet. Grant Brebner would have SBS face of football seemed happy enough to partied extra hard if he was on some of that, pose with punters for photos, as long as they but given history his money may have been were female. That’s sexism Les! You are better on Adelaide. than that. Does Pim Verbeek get a bonus from the Note to the FFA. Melbourne Victory won they ever win it again. Thanks. Have we at Goal! Weekly lost Tsigan? For- FFA for his marvellous public relations work the Grand Final, not Sydney FC. Play the Ben Buckley. Archie Fraser. Do the AFL ever? I have heard he has left us to become a in promoting the A-League? He really should, proper version of “We Are The Champions” have a good offi ce cleaner the FFA can poach pastor. Or was it to get some pasta? Either way suggesting players are better off playing in Eu- for us, and the gay version for them, should as well? I will miss him.

With George Katsamboukas

This weeks Katsas Korner will have a slight Reason for selection? A-League tinge to it as…. The tide had to turn sooner or later Ernie’s Boys experienced their for Adelaide against the Victory and $4.85 second Happy End in 4 years and are now for an Adelaide win for a two horse race was A-League Champions for Season 2008/09. rather tempting. However, their victory, (pardon the It was not to be though, what do pun), may feel as hollow as a punter scoring they say about a fool and his money? a Happy End at their local Over 28’s with a From the big stage, to the not so big fair maiden who has played and lost with a stage we go, where… bottle of Vodka, as one Man in Black, in this Round 1 of the Foxtel Cup kicked instance Man In Yellow, M Breeze, placed of, and what a big Friday Night of Soccer it Adelaide United behind the eight ball early was. on in the piece, having sent off Adelaide Jack’s Place was buzzing on Friday United’s Christiano after 10 minutes of play, night for the Cannons’ clash with the Bergers. following a very dubious heading dual with The Blue Boys started the season of Rodrigo Vargas. with a bang, putting 4 past the Bergers, whilst My take on it is that there was over in Boo Land, the Richmond Boys started nothing in it as both Christiano and Vargas off on the right foot, slipping three past jumped for a Header, and Christiano’s contact Whittlesea. to Vargas’ scone was unintentional. Not for the fi rst time the man in the middle makes a whopper of a decision The interesting unreported stats Now the Good Men In Black will which takes a huge bearing on the outcome of Australia’s showpiece match from this game though are: How many Balls have us all believe that elbows and hands on the local football calender. Inset: The original Whopper yesterday. went on to Monash Freeway? How many should be kept down when performing the act were recovered? And more importantly, was of Heading,(minds out of the gutters please), Take nothing away from Ernie’s attending than the venue will hold? Black Forest Cake plus Cream available at however it is near on impossible to jump to boys though, they still took care of Business Problem solved, call Aurelio Vidmar half time? head a ball without the use of one’s arms and and won the Grand Final, as well as fi nishing to solve the problem for you. elbows. in top spot after the Home and Away Series. His comments two weeks ago after Until next week Without taking anything away from As I sat down to watch the Grand Adelaide United’s loss to the Victory may This is Katsa – 700 Games – Hard Games! Tommy Tom Pondeljak who took out the Joe Final, I also had with me a Dictionary and have been the reason for the poor attendance And remember, there is no such thing as a Marston Medal, awarded to the Man of the Thesaurus, as I believed that Foxtel’s Andy for last week’s Preliminary Final against Bad Dim Sim! Match, referee Mathew Breeze should feel a Harper would be doing the commentary. Frankie’s Queensland Roar. touch hard done by that he did not take out I also postponed my meeting with They say people vote with their feet… Coach’s Casualty List this prestigious award, as his performance J Walker as I needed to be fully alert so as to PS Viddy, what does the term Pissant mean? certainly infl uenced the outcome of the look up some of Andy’s words and terms. match. This wasn’t to be though as Harp’s missed Back to the Grand Final we go Last Year This Year Such a dubious decision so early on out on the commentary and was saved for the where Katsa developed Brebneritis just be- in the piece of a Grand Final not only kills it post match reviews. fore kick off, so he visited his trusted Internet a spectacle for the Fans, but takes the gloss of Do you have a function organised, Betting Site and plonked a tidy amount on 1 - 0 1 - 0 the team that wins it. where there will be potentially more people Adelaide United. Weeks Outs Weeks Outs

ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 Creme de la Creme Dept. ‘BORO BURY REDS’ HOPES EPL Title Is United’s To Lose European league football is fast approach- lead. number of wins, draws and losses throughout the ing its climax with title deciding matches Chelsea made the most of Liverpool’s slip up, season, with the Glasgow sides winning 18, losing EPL STANDINGS occurring left right and centre at this late leap-frogging the Reds into second place, cour- three and drawing six apiece; however, Rangers P GD PTS stage of the season. tesy of a 2-1 win at Wigan. lead via a superior goal difference - +38, in com- 1 Manchester United 26 +35 62 Goal! Weekly reporter Julius Ross checks Now equal on 55 points with Liverpool, but ahead parison with +34. 2 Chelsea 27 +31 55 out the action from Europe’s top leagues on goal-difference, the Blues recorded victory However, the Hoops’ 7-0 drubbing of St Mirren 3 Liverpool 27 +23 55 and examines where the respective league through goals from stalwarts John Terry – with a has gone a long way towards closing this gap be- titles could be heading. terrifi c volley – and Frank Lampard with a last- tween their title rivals, thanks to Nakamura’s hat- 4 Aston Villa 26 +15 51 gasp winner against the Latics. trick, a Scott Brown brace, a fi rst goal for Spanish 5 Arsenal 27 +13 46 LIVERPOOL SLIP HANDS UNITED TITLE? Arsenal’s guns have appeared to stop fi ring, as midfi elder Marc Crosas and an own-goal from 6 Everton 27 +8 44 Liverpool’s hopes of clinching the English Pre- they were booed off the pitch by their fans at the John Potter. 7 Wigan Athletic 27 +1 35 mier League title from the grasp of their fi erce Emirates Stadium after a fourth successive 0-0 St Mirren’s nightmare afternoon commenced 8 Fulham 26 +2 34 rivals Manchester United appear all but over draw in the Premier League. when defender Jack Ross was given his marching 9 West Ham United 26 -2 33 as they slumped to their second defeat of the This latest goalless draw came against orders for a foul on Australian Scott McDonald, 10 Manchester City 26 +8 32 season on Saturday. rivals Fulham, with Robin van Persie’s header, leaving gaps in the Buddies’ defence, and Celtic 11 Sunderland 26 -6 31 Middlesbrough infl icted the painful result on the which grazed the post, the closest chance for the with a numerical advantage. 12 Bolton Wanderers 26 -9 30 Merseyside club, with Xabi Alonso netting a di- Gunners who are having a quite miserable sea- Rangers had done the business earlier that day, 13 Hull City 26 -16 29 sastrous own-goal and Turkish star Tuncay adding son. with striker Barry Ferguson claiming his fi rst goal 14 Tottenham Hotspur 26 -4 28 a second to give Boro a 2-0 victory at the River- In Saturday’s fi nal fi xture, Everton’s Australian of the season – and fi rst since May last year – to 15 Newcastle United 26 -9 28 side Stadium. star scored a trademark header, and give Rangers a small amount of breathing space 16 Portsmouth 26 -14 28 It is quite extraordinary that a side, which has lost injury-jinxed Louis Saha turned back the years to at the top of the League, prior to Celtic’s rampant 17 Middlesbrough 27 -16 26 only twice all season, can be ruled out of the title net a sublime second to give the Toffees a 2-0 win victory against St Mirren. 18 Stoke City 26 -19 25 race with 11 matches still to play; however, Rafa against West Brom at Goodison Park. Elsewhere, Hibernian and Falkirk battled out 19 Blackburn Rovers 25 -14 23 Benitez’ side has drawn far too many matches, 10 a 0-0 draw, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock settled 20 West Brom Albion 27 -27 22 from 27. CELTIC IN SEVENTH HEAVEN for the same score line, Motherwell recorded a Further, the Reds have faltered since Christmas, In Scotland, Celtic recorded a remarkable 7-0 2-1 away victory over bottom-placed Inverness, while defending Champions United have gone demolition of 10-man St Mirren, with Japanese and fourth-placed Dundee United lost at home to BUNDESLIGA from strength to strength to record a 10-match midfi elder Shunsuke Nakamura hitting a hat- third-placed Heart of Midlothian. P GD PTS winning streak which has seen them not only trick, to close the gap at the top of the Scottish 1 Hertha BSC 22 +9 43 overtake the Anfi eld club at the top of the table, Premier League to a mere four goals. REAL CHANCE AS MADRID CLOSES GAP 2 Hamburger SV 21 +5 42 but register a seemingly unassailable seven-point Both Celtic and Rangers have recorded the same TO FOUR POINTS 3 Hoffenheim 22 +18 41 The Spanish La Liga title race has been blown 4 Bayern München 21 +14 38 wide open, with second-placed Real Madrid 5 VfL Wolfsburg 21 +15 36 closing the gap on title rivals Barcelona after a 6 Bayer Leverkusen 22 +14 36 2-0 win away at struggling Espanyol. 7 Schalke 04 22 +8 34 It was the reigning Champions’ 10th consecutive 8 VfB Stuttgart 21 +7 33 league win – a winning-streak which has helped 9 Borussia Dortmund 22 +6 33 Madrid whittle league leader Barcelona’s previ- 10 1. FC Köln 22 -5 29 ous 12 point lead at the top to just four – with the 11 Werder Bremen 21 +8 27 Catalans only managing one point from their last two matches. 12 Hannover 96 22 -13 24 Meanwhile, a Frederic Kanoute double has given 13 Eintracht Frankfurt 22 -9 23 Seville a comeback victory over Athletic Bilbao, 14 VfL Bochum 22 -9 21 and a six point cushion in third position. 15 Arminia Bielefeld 22 -13 20 16 Energie Cottbus 22 -17 20 JUVE CLOSE CAP ON INTER 17 Karlsruher SC 21 -19 17 In Italy, Claudio Ranieri’s Juventus bounced 18 Borussia M’gladbach 22 -19 16 back from their midweek Champions League defeat at the hands of Chelsea, to record a 1-0 victory over Napoli. SPL STANDINGS Ranieri fi elded an attacking line up with Alles- P GD PTS sandro del Piero and David Trezeguet partnered 1 Rangers FC 27 +38 60 in attack for the fi rst time this season, and the Bi- 2 Celtic FC 27 +34 60 anconeri took a 44th minute lead through Claudio 3 Heart of Midlothian 27 +1 45 Marchisio to lift Juve to within six points of Serie 4 Dundee United FC 27 +2 40 A leaders , who played Roma on Sun- day night. In the Italian Capital, Lazio recorded their fi rst SERIE A STANDINGS win at the Stadio Olimpico since December last year, with a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened P GD PTS Bologna. 1 Inter Milan 25 +26 59 Argentinean Mauro Zarate chipped in with a brace 2 Juventus 26 +21 53 to push his side into seventh spot on the table, and 3 AC Milan 25 +17 48 back in the hunt for European football, while Bo- 4 Fiorentina 25 +13 45 logna sit in a precarious position; one point clear 5 Genoa 25 +11 44 of the relegation zone. 6 AS Roma 25 +6 43 7 Lazio Roma 26 +0 38 TITLE RACE WIDE OPEN IN 8 Cagliari 25 +5 37 DEUTSCHLAND 9 Atalanta 25 +5 36 With only fi ve points separating fi rst from 10 Palermo 25 +1 36 fourth, the Bundesliga may provide the most 11 Napoli 26 +2 35 the exciting fi nish in Europe this season. 12 Udinese 25 -3 31 Hertha Berlin currently hold supremacy on 43 13 Catania 25 -6 30 points, after they returned to the top of the table 14 Sampdoria 25 -5 29 with a 2-1 win over Borussia Moenchenglad- 15 Siena 25 -7 27 bach. 16 Torino 25 -14 23 Hamburg SV, who played on Sunday, trail Berlin 17 Bologna 26 -15 23 by a point, while German minnows Hoffenheim – 18 Lecce 25 -17 22 in their fi rst season in the top fl ight – trail by two points after slipping from fi rst to third after going 19 Verona 25 -17 20 four matches without a win, including a lacklustre 20 Reggina 25 -23 17 0-0 against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Tuncay Sanli during their English Premier league football match at The Riverside Champion Bayern Munich rounds out the top Stadium, in Middlesbrough. Liverpool´s fading title hopes suffered a major blow four, and the German giants had the chance to By Julius Ross as they slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Premier League strugglers close the gap in Sunday’s fi xture against Werder Photos by Soccer Way Middlesbrough. Bremen.

p22 Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2 AUSTRALIA V KUWAIT ASIA CUP PREVIEW CAPITAL GAINS? Verbeek’s Domestic ‘Roos To Confront Kuwaiti Challenge In Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has placed confi dence in an exclusively domestic but relatively inexperi- enced squad to secure his team’s fi rst victory of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign against Kuwait this Thursday. The Dutch maestro has restored faith in local talent for Australia’s second qualify- ing match against the Kuwaitis, despite a GROUP A disappointing showing by his home-grown P W D L F A +/- Pts side in their fi rst Group B encounter against 2 2 0 0 4 1 3 6 Indonesia last month, which ended in a JAPAN 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 stagnant 0-0 draw. YEMEN 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 Verbeek will be hoping for a more promis- 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0 ing and positive display from his 24-man squad on home soil this week, which is as- sembled from players from six of eight A- GROUP B League sides; Melbourne Victory, Adelaide P W D L F A +/- Pts United, Central Coast Mariners, Queen- OMAN 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 4 sland Roar, Newcastle Jets and Sydney INDONESIA 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 FC. AUSTRALIA 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Despite opting for a comparatively un- KUWAIT 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0 changed squad from the clash with Indone- sia, Verbeek’s selection preferences for this encounter have echoed a change in direc- GROUP C tion, with four players receiving their fi rst Pim’s anyone?: Pim Verbeek has decided to go with a local brew in the P W D L F A +/- Pts senior call-up. UAE 2 1 0 1 5 1 4 3 This suggests that Verbeek may be utilising quest for Asia Cup 2011 qualifi cation. Hopefully he’ll be the toast of the capital come Thursday against Gulf side, Kuwait. UZBEKISTAN 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 the Asian Cup qualifying matches to sharp- MALAYSIA 1 0 0 1 0 5 -5 0 en the next generation of Australian play- points of the campaign. that Canberra is serious about having an A- ers, with youngster Ben Kantarovski from The team struggled against Indonesia on League side. GROUP D Newcastle Jets, Queensland Roar’s Mitch a hot and humid night in Jakarta, with An Australian victory may see Verbeek’s Nichols, and Adelaide United duo Fabian Melbourne Victory strike partners Danny side leapfrog both Indonesia and Oman into P W D L F A +/- Pts Barbiero and Daniel Mullen all awarded a Allsopp and Thompson controversially fi rst place after two matches, with the top SYRIA 2 2 0 0 5 2 3 6 debut place in the squad. labelled in a press conference by Verbeek two teams progressing to the AFC Asian CHINA P.R. 2 1 0 1 8 4 4 3 It will be interesting to see whether Ver- as “absolutely hopeless” in that particular Cup 2011 when the qualifi cation process VIETNAM 2 1 0 1 4 7 -3 3 beek will present these youngsters with a match – comments which have seen sparks concludes. 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0 Socceroo cap and – more importantly – a fl y between players, coach and the Austra- Oman are the current leaders of Group B chance to show their abilities against Ku- lian media. with four points, followed by Indonesia GROUP E wait. Kuwait will be no easy beats, despite the (two), Australia (one) with Kuwait yet to Those fans fearing that the Socceroos Gulf side also failing to impress in their open their account. P W D L F A +/- Pts may be lacking experience will be relaxed opening fi xture, with the team losing 1-0 to I.R. IRAN 2 1 1 0 6 0 6 4 somewhat with the news that Queensland Group B leaders Oman. Australia’s 24-man Squad 2 1 0 1 2 7 -5 3 Roar stalwart – whose 42 in- In an attempt to avoid defeat on Australian (By A-League Club) THAILAND 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 ternational caps make him the most experi- turf, Kuwait has undergone intense prepa- 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1 enced player in the squad – will captain the ration for the upcoming Asian Cup clash, Melbourne Victory side and be on hand to nurture these future taking part in a number of recently friendly Danny Allsopp, Billy Celeski, stars. matches in New Zealand. Tom Pondeljak, Michael Theoklitos, THE ROAD TO Moore will be joined on the ‘experienced’ Across the Tasman, the Kuwaitis have Rodrigo Vargas, Archie Thompson 19 Jan 2009 OMAN - INDONESIA 0:0 list by Melbourne Victory forward Archie looked the part, defeating club sides Auck- Thompson who has donned the green and 28 Jan 2009 INDONESIA - AUST 0:0 land City 2-0 and Waitakere United 2-1 in Newcastle Jets gold on 31 occasions; however the next confi dence boosting encounters. Ben Kantarovski, , 28 Jan 2009 KUWAIT - OMAN 0:1 experienced squad member is Thompson’s Kuwaiti striker Badr Al Mutawa has hit top Matthew Thompson, Nikolai Topor- 5 Mar 2009 AUSTRALIA - KUWAIT fellow Victory teammate – and 2009 A- form against Kiwi opposition, contributing Stanley 14 Nov 2009 AUSTRALIA - OMAN League Grand Final hero – Tom Pondeljak two goals from two matches and Fahd Al 14 Nov 2009 KUWAIT - INDONESIA who has received just fi ve fi rst team caps Rashidi has also shone, particularly in their Adelaide United 18 Nov 2009 OMAN - AUSTRALIA for the ‘Roos. side’s inspiring victory against Auckland Fabian Barbiero, Robert Cornthwaite, 18 Nov 2009 INDONESIA - KUWAIT The selection of a domestic squad is almost City, and the pair may be a handful in Can- Eugene Galekovic, Scott Jamieson, certainly a result of the unavailability of berra. Daniel Mullen, Paul Reid 6 Jan 2010 INDONESIA - OMAN European and overseas-based players, as Canberra Stadium will be an interesting 6 Jan 2010 KUWAIT - AUSTRALIA Verbeek has, in the past, openly voiced his venue for the Socceroos, who may fi nd it Sydney FC 3 Mar 2010 OMAN - KUWAIT opinion that he would prefer to select play- as foreign as their visitors; the home side Shannon Cole 3 Mar 2010 AUSTRALIA - INDONESIA ers playing at the highest level. having last played in the stadium back in On this occasion he has had to settle for lo- November 1996 in an Oceania Cup match Central Coast Mariners ASIAN CUP cal talent, but Verbeek’s “say it like it is” against Tahiti. , , Australia v Kuwait attitude has revealed his inferior view of The match in the Capital city may also be Thursday 5 March the A-League, in comparison with Euro- a great opportunity for Canberra to dem- Fox Sports 1 7pm (KO 8pm) pean leagues. onstrate its support for the Socceroos in an Queensland Roar The ‘A-League’ Socceroos will have to im- important Asian Cup qualifi er and a large Matthew McKay, Craig Moore (c), By Julius Ross prove on their last AFC Asian Cup qualify- crowd on Thursday may well send a strong , Asia Cup Correspondent ing match if they are to take their fi rst three message to Football Federation Australia p23 Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2

Tasmania INTERSTATE SUMMER CUP HEATS UP! Clarence United and Tilford Zebras in Cup Final Clarence United are in the southern Tas- chances in the opening few minutes. manian Summer Cup Final on 9 March for With Zebras going full speed ahead, Eagles the fi rst time in the club’s history. found the time and space to launch dangerous They will meet the holders, Tilford Zebras, who counter-attacks and should have scored twice reached the fi nal by virtue of having scored one from these. goal more than South Hobart. But, it was Zebras who got off the mark in Zebras and South Hobart both had a goal-dif- the 10th minute when youngster Braydon Pace ference of plus 6, but the Zebras’ 6-0 win over headed in Andrew Telega’s cross from the right. New Town Eagles meant they had scored one In the 17th minute, Pace’s fi ne pass found Ben goal more than South Hobart. Crosswell, who beat Andrew Savage to make it South Hobart threw away the chance of play- 2-0 at the break. ing in the fi nal when they were held to a goal- It was not until midway through the second less draw by Hobart Olympic, who then earned half that Josh Thorpe added the third with a long- the bonus point by winning the resulting penalty range shot. Savage got a hand to the ball but shoot-out 4-2. could not keep it out of the top corner. Clarence dominated their game against Uni- With two minutes remaining, Crosswell made it versity and ran out 3-0 winners, but only after a 4-0 with a penalty, awarded when he was brought scoreless opening half. down by Barry Pope. In the second period, atrocious defending by It was still 4-0 going into stoppage time and University gifted the match to Clarence, two of Zebras appeared to have blown their chance, but the goals coming from set-pieces. two goals in four minutes produced the miracle. Luke Cripps netted the fi rst following a corner, First, Crosswell completed his hat-trick with but he knew little about it, the ball defl ecting off a superb low drive to make it 5-0, and in the 4th him and into the net. minute of stoppage time, Pace headed home Aar- Summer Cup fi nalists Clarence United...the starting XI for the game on Brazendale’s cross from the right to send the Julian McMahon headed the second from a high, Zebras supporters into raptures. looping cross from the left by Ben Hamlett, while against University. In the other game of the weekend, a 21st-min- ute lob by captain Josh Fielding gave Glenorchy Ben Parker forced Ben Phillips’s corner into the though South’s Shae Hickey and Hugh Ludford for South, while Olympic’s Michael Bulis, Chris Knights a 1-0 win over Kingborough Lions Unit- net for the third. both hit the woodwork. Tsakiris, Nester, and Danijel Djekanovic were ed. Clarence keeper Michael Moschogianis touched Olympic’s goalkeeper, Dmitri Nester, was successful. the ball only fi ve times during the course of the the hero of the penalty shoot-out, scoring from Zebras went into their match with New Town game and two of those touches were from goal- a spot-kick himself and saving penalties from Eagles needing to win by six clear goals to pip By Walter Pless kicks. South’s Ludford and Greg Downes. South for a berth in the fi nal. Photos by Walter Pless South Hobart and Hobart Olympic drew 0-0, al- Only Bart Beecroft and Jonathon Ladic scored They started like wildfi re, but squandered four

New South Wales INTERSTATE CHANGES APLENTY AS NSWPL KICKS OFF Okon To Coach Tigers, Wollongong Saved At The Death The TeleChoice NSW Premier League is surely Sydney Olympic. Under NSWPL leg- for the last two seasons, and with several stars kicks off for 2009 on March 1, with sev- end Aytek Genc, who enjoyed huge success with retained, and experienced midfi elders Tayfun eral clubs under new coaches, and a cou- Blacktown City, Olympic have held on to many Devrimol and Milorad Simonovic added to the ple sporting new names as well. of their prized assets from last season, and have ranks, they will provide a stiff challenge to the Last year’s champions Wollongong added a formidable new weapon in lightning- top teams in 2009. FC have endured a turbulent off-season, dur- quick striker Tolgay Ozbey, who will be keen The consistent Manly United side will ing which the club endured a fi nancial collapse to put the disappointment of last season’s lean be respected once again, and young striker Josh which threatened its continued participation in spell with Marconi behind him. Ozbey has been Sama will provide a useful new option up front, the competition. The Illawarra community ral- scoring for fun in pre-season, and Olympic have but several of the more consistent performers of lied around the club, however, and a new entity, looked an imposing prospect overall. On the last season have been released, and Phil Moss’s the Wollongong Community Football Club, will minus side, they will be without Shannon Cole, men could struggle to reproduce their form of be taking part in the 2009 NSW Premier League. whose free kicks and scything left-wing runs 2008. The competition’s other two teams, Pen- Last year’s assistant coach Tony Pace will be were such a feature of the side last season. rith-Nepean United and the West Sydney Berries, in charge, and although the men from the south The Sydney Tigers – formerly APIA- look unlikely to challenge for honours in 2009. have lost talismanic striker Osagie Ederaro and Leichhardt – will be at a new ground this season, key midfi elder Michael Hawrysiuk, they have under a distinguished new coach. Muddy Lam- enough experience and talent in their ranks to bert Park has been abandoned in favour of the FNSW RESULTS mount a decent challenge. Nevertheless, the mo- grandeur of Leichhardt Oval, and former Soc- tivational gifts of long-time coach John Turner ceroo captain will make his manageri- The skippers from Sydney Olympic TELECHOICE PREMIER LEAGUE: ROUND will be missed. al bow in the NSW Premier League. The squad at (Peter Zorbas) and Bankstown City 1: FIRST GRADE: Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 Wollongong’s opponents in last year’s his disposal is not short of talent, although Rob- Lions (Zlatko Joseski) as they prepared (Almir Dizdaric 1m) Sydney Tigers 5 (Stefan grand fi nal, the Sutherland Sharks, look a di- ert Younis, APIA’s star of last season, is a serious for battle for last season’s NSW Grand Donevski 45m Marino Musumeci 59m Jamie minished unit. With Pedj Bojic and Brendan Gan loss. The arrival of Shane Lyons from Sutherland Final. McMaster 65/67/81m), Manly United FC 0 making the move to the A-League successfully, and the Musumeci brothers from Olympic should Fallen giants Marconi and Blacktown Sutherland Sharks 0, Bankstown City FC 1 (Ibra- they have been deprived of their two brightest ensure plenty of penetration out wide, however. look unlikely to resurrect their fortunes in 2009. him Haydar 62m) Wollongong FC 0, Marconi stars of last season, although prolifi c striker Brad Sydney United have another former Marconi have made one or two interesting sign- Stallions 2 (Ali Al-Hilfi 26m Alexander Canak Boardman is still wearing the sky blue of the Socceroo taking over the coaching reins in Ante ings, including Iraqi international Ali Abbas and 74m) Penrith Nepean United 0, Blacktown Sharks. Infl uential winger Shane Lyons has also Milicic, and the former NSL stalwart will be ap- ex-Sydney FC striker Ben Vidaic, but their other City Demons 0 Sydney United 3 (Luka Gla- departed, as has goalkeeper Phil Zabaks, a rev- pearing at the point of the attack as well. With acquisitions, mainly from the NSW second tier, vas 13/72m Mitchell Thompson 45m), Sydney elation last season, and coach Brian Brown, who talents such as Petar Markovic and Glen Trifi ro do not inspire great confi dence. As for Black- Olympic 1 (Tolgay Ozbey 60m) West Sydney deserved such credit for developing the Sharks also in the mix, the Croatian club will be a dif- town, they have recalled some aging former he- Berries 3 (Aheleas Kotsopoulos 7m Liam Austin into such an effective team last term. The news is fi cult opponent for anyone. As will Bankstown roes from Marconi, but the loss of such talents as 44m Dimitri Zakilas 61m). not all bad, however; many of last year’s impres- City, who welcome back Robbie Mileski and Brian Vanega and Ken Chun does not augur well sive performers have been retained, including Ibrahim Haydar after their exploits with the Syd- for the season ahead. Scottish midfi elder Neil Jablonski, speedy right- ney FC youth team, and Tallan Martin after his Bonnyrigg White Eagles will provide By Mike Salter back Mike Katz, and promising young striker unhappy season with Marconi. The Macedonian an intriguing addition to the league. The Serbi- Matthew Hall. club will be expecting to fi nish in the top fi ve this an-backed club have been utterly dominant in Photos by FNSW If there is a team to beat this season, it time around. the second division (the Winter Super League) ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p25 Tasmania INTERSTATE SUMMER CUP HEATS UP! Clarence United and Tilford Zebras in Cup Final Clarence United are in the southern Tas- chances in the opening few minutes. manian Summer Cup Final on 9 March for With Zebras going full speed ahead, Eagles the fi rst time in the club’s history. found the time and space to launch dangerous They will meet the holders, Tilford Zebras, who counter-attacks and should have scored twice reached the fi nal by virtue of having scored one from these. goal more than South Hobart. But, it was Zebras who got off the mark in Zebras and South Hobart both had a goal-dif- the 10th minute when youngster Braydon Pace ference of plus 6, but the Zebras’ 6-0 win over headed in Andrew Telega’s cross from the right. New Town Eagles meant they had scored one In the 17th minute, Pace’s fi ne pass found Ben goal more than South Hobart. Crosswell, who beat Andrew Savage to make it South Hobart threw away the chance of play- 2-0 at the break. ing in the fi nal when they were held to a goal- It was not until midway through the second less draw by Hobart Olympic, who then earned half that Josh Thorpe added the third with a long- the bonus point by winning the resulting penalty range shot. Savage got a hand to the ball but shoot-out 4-2. could not keep it out of the top corner. Clarence dominated their game against Uni- With two minutes remaining, Crosswell made it versity and ran out 3-0 winners, but only after a 4-0 with a penalty, awarded when he was brought scoreless opening half. down by Barry Pope. In the second period, atrocious defending by It was still 4-0 going into stoppage time and University gifted the match to Clarence, two of Zebras appeared to have blown their chance, but the goals coming from set-pieces. two goals in four minutes produced the miracle. Luke Cripps netted the fi rst following a corner, First, Crosswell completed his hat-trick with but he knew little about it, the ball defl ecting off a superb low drive to make it 5-0, and in the 4th him and into the net. minute of stoppage time, Pace headed home Aar- Summer Cup fi nalists Clarence United...the starting XI for the game on Brazendale’s cross from the right to send the Julian McMahon headed the second from a high, Zebras supporters into raptures. looping cross from the left by Ben Hamlett, while against University. In the other game of the weekend, a 21st-min- ute lob by captain Josh Fielding gave Glenorchy Ben Parker forced Ben Phillips’s corner into the though South’s Shae Hickey and Hugh Ludford for South, while Olympic’s Michael Bulis, Chris Knights a 1-0 win over Kingborough Lions Unit- net for the third. both hit the woodwork. Tsakiris, Nester, and Danijel Djekanovic were ed. Clarence keeper Michael Moschogianis touched Olympic’s goalkeeper, Dmitri Nester, was successful. the ball only fi ve times during the course of the the hero of the penalty shoot-out, scoring from Zebras went into their match with New Town game and two of those touches were from goal- a spot-kick himself and saving penalties from Eagles needing to win by six clear goals to pip By Walter Pless kicks. South’s Ludford and Greg Downes. South for a berth in the fi nal. Photos by Walter Pless South Hobart and Hobart Olympic drew 0-0, al- Only Bart Beecroft and Jonathon Ladic scored They started like wildfi re, but squandered four

New South Wales INTERSTATE CHANGES APLENTY AS NSWPL KICKS OFF Okon To Coach Tigers, Wollongong Saved At The Death The TeleChoice NSW Premier League is surely Sydney Olympic. Under NSWPL leg- for the last two seasons, and with several stars kicks off for 2009 on March 1, with sev- end Aytek Genc, who enjoyed huge success with retained, and experienced midfi elders Tayfun eral clubs under new coaches, and a cou- Blacktown City, Olympic have held on to many Devrimol and Milorad Simonovic added to the ple sporting new names as well. of their prized assets from last season, and have ranks, they will provide a stiff challenge to the Last year’s champions Wollongong added a formidable new weapon in lightning- top teams in 2009. FC have endured a turbulent off-season, dur- quick striker Tolgay Ozbey, who will be keen The consistent Manly United side will ing which the club endured a fi nancial collapse to put the disappointment of last season’s lean be respected once again, and young striker Josh which threatened its continued participation in spell with Marconi behind him. Ozbey has been Sama will provide a useful new option up front, the competition. The Illawarra community ral- scoring for fun in pre-season, and Olympic have but several of the more consistent performers of lied around the club, however, and a new entity, looked an imposing prospect overall. On the last season have been released, and Phil Moss’s the Wollongong Community Football Club, will minus side, they will be without Shannon Cole, men could struggle to reproduce their form of be taking part in the 2009 NSW Premier League. whose free kicks and scything left-wing runs 2008. The competition’s other two teams, Pen- Last year’s assistant coach Tony Pace will be were such a feature of the side last season. rith-Nepean United and the West Sydney Berries, in charge, and although the men from the south The Sydney Tigers – formerly APIA- look unlikely to challenge for honours in 2009. have lost talismanic striker Osagie Ederaro and Leichhardt – will be at a new ground this season, key midfi elder Michael Hawrysiuk, they have under a distinguished new coach. Muddy Lam- enough experience and talent in their ranks to bert Park has been abandoned in favour of the FNSW RESULTS mount a decent challenge. Nevertheless, the mo- grandeur of Leichhardt Oval, and former Soc- tivational gifts of long-time coach John Turner ceroo captain Paul Okon will make his manageri- The skippers from Sydney Olympic TELECHOICE PREMIER LEAGUE: ROUND will be missed. al bow in the NSW Premier League. The squad at (Peter Zorbas) and Bankstown City 1: FIRST GRADE: Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 Wollongong’s opponents in last year’s his disposal is not short of talent, although Rob- Lions (Zlatko Joseski) as they prepared (Almir Dizdaric 1m) Sydney Tigers 5 (Stefan grand fi nal, the Sutherland Sharks, look a di- ert Younis, APIA’s star of last season, is a serious for battle for last season’s NSW Grand Donevski 45m Marino Musumeci 59m Jamie minished unit. With Pedj Bojic and Brendan Gan loss. The arrival of Shane Lyons from Sutherland Final. McMaster 65/67/81m), Manly United FC 0 making the move to the A-League successfully, and the Musumeci brothers from Olympic should Fallen giants Marconi and Blacktown Sutherland Sharks 0, Bankstown City FC 1 (Ibra- they have been deprived of their two brightest ensure plenty of penetration out wide, however. look unlikely to resurrect their fortunes in 2009. him Haydar 62m) Wollongong FC 0, Marconi stars of last season, although prolifi c striker Brad Sydney United have another former Marconi have made one or two interesting sign- Stallions 2 (Ali Al-Hilfi 26m Alexander Canak Boardman is still wearing the sky blue of the Socceroo taking over the coaching reins in Ante ings, including Iraqi international Ali Abbas and 74m) Penrith Nepean United 0, Blacktown Sharks. Infl uential winger Shane Lyons has also Milicic, and the former NSL stalwart will be ap- ex-Sydney FC striker Ben Vidaic, but their other City Demons 0 Sydney United 3 (Luka Gla- departed, as has goalkeeper Phil Zabaks, a rev- pearing at the point of the attack as well. With acquisitions, mainly from the NSW second tier, vas 13/72m Mitchell Thompson 45m), Sydney elation last season, and coach Brian Brown, who talents such as Petar Markovic and Glen Trifi ro do not inspire great confi dence. As for Black- Olympic 1 (Tolgay Ozbey 60m) West Sydney deserved such credit for developing the Sharks also in the mix, the Croatian club will be a dif- town, they have recalled some aging former he- Berries 3 (Aheleas Kotsopoulos 7m Liam Austin into such an effective team last term. The news is fi cult opponent for anyone. As will Bankstown roes from Marconi, but the loss of such talents as 44m Dimitri Zakilas 61m). not all bad, however; many of last year’s impres- City, who welcome back Robbie Mileski and Brian Vanega and Ken Chun does not augur well sive performers have been retained, including Ibrahim Haydar after their exploits with the Syd- for the season ahead. Scottish midfi elder Neil Jablonski, speedy right- ney FC youth team, and Tallan Martin after his Bonnyrigg White Eagles will provide By Mike Salter back Mike Katz, and promising young striker unhappy season with Marconi. The Macedonian an intriguing addition to the league. The Serbi- Matthew Hall. club will be expecting to fi nish in the top fi ve this an-backed club have been utterly dominant in Photos by FNSW If there is a team to beat this season, it time around. the second division (the Winter Super League) ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p25 INTERSTATE CAMPBELLTOWN WINS FAIRMONT HOMES CUP On Friday 20th February Campbell- with a 3-0 win over Blue Eagles In the Group mistake pounding the back of the net for the with their third goal coming from dynamic town City Red Devils played out of A competition in a scoreless game that went Devils second. Campbelltown’s new sign- wingman Dominic Signoriello taking a solo their skins in their 3-0 victory to beat to penalties, with Stars keeper Daniel Godley ing Vas Parhas (Cumberland United) and run down the left side past three MetroStars front-runners MetroStars in the Grand making 3 Schwarzer-like saves to give his promoted young Devil Peter Sapa looked ex- players fi nishing with a left footed shot that Final of the 2009 Fairmont Homes side the outright victory. citing prospects for the club this season, their drilled past Godley in the 81st minute, much Summer Night Series at the Marden Throughout the competition Metro- strength in the back making a big impact on to the delight of the Campbelltown City faith- Sports Complex. Spectators were witness Stars coached by Michael Barnett looked the the game. Triple Medal winner ful. to a display of face-paced, top quality football team to beat, the nucleus of the 2008 squad Simon Catanzaro led by example with a bril- 2009 Red Devils Captain Simon from both of the eastern suburbs neighbours, being retained and their defence being bol- liant display of his expertise in the midfi eld, Catanzaro was delighted with the title win, “I the Red Devils capitalising on their oppor- stered by new signing Adam Van Dommele instigating many runs forward and executing was proud to lead the club to its fi rst trophy tunities with three great goals coming from (ex-Adelaide United). But Campbelltown pin point passes to his men up front; Trimboli up for grabs in 2009 against South Australia’s Stanko Zilic, new signing Michael Paleka and City made their intent known from the start and Paleka. Although the match was quite an strongest team. We rode our luck in the fi rst classy midfi elder Dominic Signoriello. of the fi nal, a tad lucky they were not two or even affair, ebbing and fl owing throughout 5 minutes then took our chances the rest of The annual competition is held in three goals down within the fi rst 10 minutes the 90 minutes, Campbelltown were more the game. This will be a stepping stone for the month of February where 8 invitational as MetroStars squandered numerous scoring effective with the ball and their passing. the club to have its most successful season teams compete in two groups with 2 games opportunities in a fl urry of missed chances by MetroStars did get themselves back into the in recent time. Personally I have had some being played every Wednesday and Fri- their forwards in front of goal. Rocky Aloisi’s game at one stage, luck not being on the side very good results over the past few seasons, day evenings. This years competitors were Red Devils then settled down to produce of strikers Michael Mattriciani and Scott Tun- picking up the Sergio Melta Medal for Super hosts , Campbelltown some great football, their one-twos and pas- bridge as they were unable to convert chances League’s Player of the Year in 2005, 2006 City, newly promoted Super League team sages of play forward fi nding their men and that were presented, fi nding the post and Dev- and 2008 and am very grateful. But what I Western Strikers and State League Top Five at times, dazing the normally rock-solid back ils keeper Scalzi hard to beat. In the second really want is some silverware to put into the trophy winners West Adelaide in Group A; line of MetroStars. The fi rst goal came early half MetroStars again tried to peg back the trophy cabinet of one of South Australia’s and MetroStars, Para Hills Knights, Premier in the game Zilic scoring with a 25m shot that 2 goal defi cit, but missed opportunities were biggest clubs Campbelltown City. League competitors Cumberland United and was hit low and hard leaving Stars keeper again their downfall, with sSome wayward State League Club NAB in Group B. The Godley with no chance. At the 20th minute passing and a steadfast Devil’s backline led By Nat Adamopoulos semi fi nals saw Campbelltown taking out the mark, a freekick taken by the Devils captain by staunch defender Michael D’Alosio all Group A title over Para Hills Knights with a Simon Catanzaro - a deadball specialist found standing in their way. Campbelltown then put In Adelaide strong 2-0 win and MetroStars coming away the head of Paleka, the newcomer making no the nail in the coffi n late in the second half

New South Wales INTERSTATE OKON’S TIGERS SHOW THEIR TEETH Paul Okon’s Sydney Tigers, formerly minute. The away side were awarded a free ting. second bookable offence on 70 minutes revived APIA-Leichhardt, gave notice of their kick twenty-fi ve yards from goal, and Aheleas came on for Olympic the home side, and on 77 minutes there arrived intentions by posting a fi rst-up 5-1 win Kotsopoulos sent in a scorching free kick which at the half, replacing young right-back David a glimmer of hope when Ozbey again went over competition newcomers Bonnyrigg fl ew into the far corner of the goal, leaving Smith, and immediately went on a run down the down in the box, and this time a penalty was as the NSW Premier League kicked off Michael Turnbull with no chance. right which produced a half-chance for Mayora. indeed awarded. Called back for encroach- on Sunday. Olympic were stunned, and although Another Olympic substitution followed a few ment on the fi rst attempt, which found its mark, Champions Wollongong went down they maintained their territorial dominance minutes into the half, club hero Peter Zorbas Ozbey fi red into McLean’s body on the second 1-0 at Bankstown City, while last season’s for the remainder of the half, they created few replacing the out-of-sorts Zunino. Kostopoulos try. premiers Sutherland were held to a 0-0 draw chances. Kotsopoulos almost made it two a threatened to score again when he latched on to Another searing left-foot shot from by hosts Manly at Cromer Park. Sydney United few minutes after the goal when Liam Austin a loose ball from Bobby Dragas on 56 minutes, Ozbey was saved on 81 minutes, as the home had an excellent start to the season, downing released him on the right, but this time Turnbull but he contrived to shoot straight at Turnbull. side pressed on grimly. A long-range shot from Blacktown 3-0 away, while Marconi started off was there to cover. Just after the hour, Biddle played Ozbey in on Zorbas fl ew just over four minutes from time, with a 2-0 win over near neighbours Penrith- Zunino, still rusty after his period the right nicely; sprinting past his defender, the and a tempting Biddle cross was mis-controlled Nepean United. overseas, was getting caught out on the Olym- former Blacktown star went down in the box… by Jordan Simpson as the minutes ticked away. Sydney Olympic 1-3 West Sydney Berries pic left with some regularity. Kosta Lagoudakis and was booked for diving. In the fi nal minute of normal time, substitute In a repeat of last season, the fi rst round’s and Austin both had chances on that side of the The frustration continued for the Anthony Doumains’s curling left-footer was “Greek derby” was taken out by the West Syd- pitch as the half drew to a close, and although home side when a snap-shot from Mayora was saved brilliantly by McLean. At the other end, ney Berries, who disposed of Sydney Olympic Mayora carved out another chance for himself held by Hamish McLean on 63 minutes, but Berries substitute James Kovas made room 3-1 at Belmore. on 43 minutes, shooting wide from close range, Ozbey pulled a goal back unexpectedly on 68 for a shot in the area, but Turnbull was not Olympic, coming out of the blocks it was the Berries who went further ahead just minutes, when a right-footed free kick from a troubled. quickly, had the better of the opening minutes. before the break. Omar Saadi broke forward tight angle evaded McLean and fl ew into the far The whistle went, and all Olympic’s Emmanuel Zunino, up from left-back, had a from left-back and sent a fi ne cross over to Aus- corner. But the Berries restored their two-goal second-half pressure was to no avail. A terrible half-chance in the second minute, and soon tin on the right, who evaded Zunino and sent buffer immediately, when a cross from the right start for the competition favourites. afterwards Matthew Mayora cut in from the left a precise right-footed volley beyond Turnbull. was met by a ferocious right-footed half-volley and shot wide with his right foot. Tolgay Ozbey, who had been shackled well by from Dimitri Zakilas, which rocketed past By Mike Salter Completely against the run of play, the Berries defence, fi nally found space on the Turnbull for the Berries’ third. the Beries opened the scoring in the ninth right in injury time, but fi red into the side net- The dismissal of Peter Peralta for a In Sydney

ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p25 Queensland INTERSTATE QUEENSLAND KICKS OFF! Sunshine State Comp Prepares To Shine In ‘09 2009 sees the return of the Hyundai regularly resorted to physical tactics in an QSL after a successful inaugural attempt to unsettle the youngsters, how- season in 2008, which saw Sunshine ever coach Mike Mulvey sees it all as an Coast FC crowned as both minor important part of the players development, premiers and champions. “We have some good young talent that will Originally launched with ten take great benefi t from playing in senior clubs, the league has sought to capitalise football. is only 16 and he now on its relative success with the introduction has a contract with the Queensland Roar, of an eleventh team to the competition for there are others who will make their own the new season, the Far North Queensland mark in the months and years to come”. Bulls, playing out of Mareeba. As with any sports league Redlands City Devils sponsorship is an important element of 2008 – 4th the fi nancial side of the QSL and the new Coach – Peter Bannon season has seen a host of organisations sign Captain – Ryan Bridge up in support of the league. Hyundai will Player to Watch – Russell Woodruffe continue to be the league naming rights sponsor for a further three years whilst the Redlands started strongly last season before Sunshine Coast FC will be hoping to continue its dominance of the QSL this Whitsunday Miners, FNQ Bulls and NQ fading with injuries taking a toll on a small year after completing the domestic double last season. Razorbacks have reached major agreements squad. In response the squad has been with Sea FM, Gorilla and McDonalds strengthened with proven goal scorer Rus- respectively. Capricorn Cougars NQ Razorbacks sell Woodruffe brought in from 2008 – 7th 2008 – 3rd The 2009/2010 season is shaping Strikers as a star signing. The Devils Rob Coach – Justin Kilshaw Coach – Mick Tonner up to be just as competitive as the last on Jones commented, “We have been inter- Captain – Dylan Kussrow Captain – Paul Sapelli the pitch, with most clubs keeping their ested in Russell for a while, and the time Player to Watch – Gerard Kelly Player to Watch – Chris Scuderi squad together. Sunshine Coast, Brisbane was now right. Russell was looking for a The Cougars completed a promising season After a successful 2008 season, where the Strikers and NQ Razorbacks are the com- change and new challenges. He is looking in 2008 with one of the better defences in club fi nished third, coach Mick Tonner petition heavyweights and are once again forward to the prospect of scoring goals for the league, much of that owing to inspira- is confi dent that this year’s squad will expected to battle it out for the premier- the talented Redlands outfi t”. ship, whilst Redlands City Devils are most tional keeper Gerard Kelly. Improvement continue to play the attractive football supporters pick for the dark horse. It won’t in attack will be essential to an improved that has gained the Razorbacks a high league fi nish and young local product Jesse level of respect from the football com- Sunshine Coast FC be smooth sailing for the favourites though 2008 – 1st as several of the lower placed sides have Thompson will be hoping to form a formi- munity throughout Queensland. Tonner dable striking partnership with experienced remarked “I am pleased to welcome three Coach – George Cowie pulled off some exciting signings, notably Captain – Ryan Smith Logan United FC and Bundaberg Spirit. forward Tristan Fraser. players who have been based in Brisbane. Goalkeeper will be Keiran Gonzales who Player to Watch – Shaun Blackman returns to his home base to play for the Ra- Sunshine Coast powered their way to the Brisbane Strikers FC FNQ Bulls title last season behind both the best attack 2008 – N/A zorbacks, whilst Ramone Close has moved 2008 – 2nd and defence in the league. The Kawana Coach – Peter Tokesi from Redlands. Additionally we are very Coach – Stuart McLaren side will likely be considered favourites Captain – N/A pleased to welcome 17 year old Lorenzo Captain – Matt Smith after returning with a largely unchanged Player to Watch – Joe Rusch Sipi, who spent his younger days in Towns- Player to Watch – squad for 2009. League top scorer Shaun Far North Queensland is represented in the ville, into the squad. He’s just done very Brisbane Strikers enjoyed a successful Blackman returns to lead the line after league in 2009 with the FNQ Bulls making well in a recent tour of Japan and Korea 2008, establishing themselves as a power- terrorising defences with his hold-up skills their inaugural appearance. The club is playing for the Australian schoolboys” house in the inaugural QSL competition. and powerful heading. Infl uential young hoping NSL winning coach Peter Tokesi The club is aiming to go one better in 2009 attacking midfi elder Tyson Holmes also will be able to get the best out of a group with star midfi elder Chay Hews expressing Olympic FC returns and he will be looking to further of players largely sourced from the 2008 – 5th their confi dence, “The squad is looking a progress after becoming a lynchpin of the area. Coach – Bobby Hamilton bit stronger”, he said. “Stuart has brought side in 2008. Captain – Chris Hagell in a couple of good experienced players and a couple of younger players who are Logan United FC Player to Watch – Shane Coffey looking good”. 2008 – 8th Olympic FC will be looking to make the Coach – Walter Oldenburg fi nals this season after missing the cut by Whitsunday Miners 2008 – 9th Captain – Robbie Laslo fi ve points in 2008. Olympic will once Bundaberg Spirit Coach – Steve McDowall Player to Watch – Reggie Davani again fi eld a strong attack spearheaded by 2008 – 10th Captain – Troy Mundy Logan United had a somewhat disappoint- Shane Coffey and Barry Browett. The side Coach – Lynn Hodgkinson Player to Watch – Brett Neeve ing season in 2008 but have made several will be looking to take an improved points Captain – N/A 2009 is shaping as an exciting season for exciting signings for the new season. The total from weaker teams this season with Player to Watch – James Naka the Miners with Sea FM on board as a strike force has been bolstered by the sign- coach Bobby Hamilton stating, “It is criti- Bundaberg had a year to forget in 2008, sponsor and a host of new signings bolster- ing of prolifi c PNG International Reggie cal to take points from teams below us on struggling with the level of competition and ing the squad. The Miners have secured Davani. Davani will play in front of recent the ladder”. registering both the worst attack and worst the services of Graham Harvey a former signing and long time friend, Fijian Inter- defence of the division. Despite this the Queensland Lions defender, who will bring national Raj Oshen. He also joins other re- team brought in the highest average crowds Queensland Academy of Sport size and experience to a defence that leaked cent signing Yochi Okada from Redlands in 2008 – 6th and hopefully this will be able to push the the most goals in the division in 2008. a re-vamped line up. The coaching staff has Coach – Mike Mulvey side higher up the table this season. The Also new to the Miners is midfi elder Dave also been enhanced with ex Everton, Crewe Captain – Michael Angus club has taken a step to move in the right Pritchard. Pritchard’s ability to attack down and Brisbane Strikers keeper Jason Kearton Player to Watch – Josh McVey direction by signing 2008 Oceania Football either fl ank will excite the crowds at Har- signing on as Goalkeeping Coach The QAS squad made a considerable im- Confederation Player of the Year James rup Park this season. Nakka from Kossa FC. pact on the league in 2008 playing an im- pressive possession based brand of football By Jarrod Ellis despite on many occasions fi elding a side with an average of only 16. Opposing sides Photos by Bruce Dinsdale GET THE BEST FROM THE REST EVERY MONDAY IN GOAL! WEEKLY ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p28 W-LEAGUE Maiden Season Overview MAIDENS BOWL ‘EM OVER Women’s National League Makes Its Mark When Kate McShea, the captain of tory, fi nishing fi fth and just missed the play team medal night on the 6 March and invita- augural season of the W-league. the inaugural premiership team in offs. tions to attend all the local A-league games. Recently retired Matilda captain, the new W-league, raised the pre- The competition was hastily put The competition also raised the , who played for the New- miership trophy to conclude the fi rst together and Melbourne Victory W-league profi le of the sport with ABC TV broadcast- castle Jets, told SBS TV of the hardship of season of the new national womens coach, Matt Shepherd, said despite only ing one match each week. playing and also having to earn a living out- competition it wasn’t just the crowd having two months to get his squad together It was rumoured that the ABC side football. cheering. he believed the fi rst season was a success. achieved around 125,000 viewers per game “The last twelve months have been For women players, and the entire and 1.3 million cumulative viewers, which, the hardest for me. To try and work full time, football community, it seemed that Australia “It was thrown together in a very short pe- if true, would make it more watched than train full time and have free time and try to had fi nally established a successful domes- riod of time, with a lot of great support (sic), the A-league which is only shown on pay recover as well. If we want to go forward we tic female football competition. But many we had to make it happen and I think it’s a television. have to be professional,’ she said. questions are being asked about whether good basis to build on,” he said. ABC TV W-league commentator, The teething problems that need to this success will last and how to ensure its “It opened up a lot of peoples eyes Steve Robilliard said getting the women ac- be sorted out next season include a more or- sustainability. in terms of what the potential is for the cess to good grounds and increasing main ganised and streamlined approach between The Westfi eld W-league is the na- league overall.” stream media interest in the competition the states and the FFA, more media cover- tional womens football competition run , captain of Melbourne would see the quality of the league im- age and sponsorship to increase its profes- by the Football Federation of Australia’s Victory W-league, described the competi- prove. sionalism. (FFA). It was launched in July 2008 and the tion as the biggest step forward that womens Coach of the highly successful But the players and coaches are en- ten game season commenced three months football has seen in Australia. Matilda’s, Tom Sermmani, was also very thusiastic, people are watching the game on later with seven teams linked to an A-league “While we missed out on the fi nals impressed by the competition. He told Rob- TV, womens football participation is grow- club plus Canberra United. we achieved a lot,” she said. billiard that after ten weeks of tough com- ing and with the support all football fans The Queensland Roar were the “Victoria, in womens soccer petition he could see that the skill level and we could be looking at another FFA success eventual winners in the inaugural season (terms), has been the underdog so, to make standard of play among some of his national story. defeating Canberra United 2-0 in Brisbane it to the top fi ve was an achievement.” players had improved. in front of 4,554 fans, a record number for a She said the W-league players were All those interviewed agreed that By Emma Field womens game. welcomed into the Melbourne Victory club the major shortcoming of the competition Photo by John Punshon The local team, Melbourne Vic- and evidence of this is their inclusion in the was that the players were not paid in the in-

Melbourne Victory’s Brittany Temko (right) intercepts Carys Hawkins ( Glory)

Monday 2 March 2009 ISSUE #2 Fantasy Football Dept. LONDON CALLING GLORY, GLORY MAN UNITED! But, Which Squad Is Best? 1999 or 2009? Just recently Paddypower - the 1999 TEAM 2009 TEAM quently they are no more than showboat- Aston Villa, admittedly all at home. Fight- Irish bookmakers – paid out to Peter Schmeichel Edwin Van Der Sar ing in front of defenders. ing back complacency Sir Alex Ferguson customers who bet on Manchester Gary Neville Rafael Da Silva The attack of Rooney and Ber- and Paul Scholes declared recently that United winning the league. Denis Irwin Patrice Evra batov has more technical skill than Yorke the title hasn’t been won yet. The title Their website explained it thus: Jaap Stam Rio Ferdinand and Cole. Yet a strikers currency is goals. isn’t over but they are the best team and “This morning we decided to pay out on Ronny Johnsen Nemanja Vidic Yorke and Cole between them were good winning the league looks certain. Man United to win not just the league, Ryan Giggs Park Ji-Sun for at least 40 league goals a season. Ok, Yet Paddy Power’s assumptions but the FA Cup and Carling Cup as well! David Beckham Cristiano Ronaldo there’s no doubt Rooney and Berbatov raise an interesting point. Despite the Irish Given that no other team in England Roy Keane Michael Carrick would have thrived alongside the 1999 bookmaker’s love fest for United on the seems capable of scoring against United, Paul Scholes Ryan Giggs midfi eld but neither player has demon- home front as I write they start as sec- never mind beating them, we just can’t see Wayne Rooney strated a propensity to be prolifi c goal ond favourites behind Barcelona to win anything other than the domestic treble for Andrew Cole Dimitar Berbatov scorers. the UCL. Leaving aside the three other the Red Devils this year” Overall while the 2009 team are trophies, it is accepted that the UCL will The question of whether Pad- The goalkeepers are close. Schmeichel has better team defensively, (As evidenced by be United’s toughest trophy to win this dypower are right to payout is a separate the edge. He was in his prime back then Van Der Sar’s clean sheet record in the season. issue. With United – at the time of writing and was the best in the world. There is no league) the midfi eld of Carrick, Ronaldo, Therein lays the answer to the – still in all four competitions (and having doubt though that their current defence is Giggs and the rejuvenated Park Ji-Sun question. They will not win all four been crowned world champions in Tokyo the best there has been in England since cannot hold a candle to their counterparts trophies this season. Not while Barcelona last year) my question is simple: Right Arsenal’s of the 1990’s. from 1999 and furthermore in big away remain in the competition. Fans may ar- now is this United team better than the The 1999 team had the fi nest games this season (lost 2-1 at Arsenal, gue citing their fi rst leg dominance against team that won the treble in 1999? midfi eld ever assembled in an English drew 0-0 at Aston Villa, lost 2-1 at Liv- Inter and their record 20 game unbeaten My gut feeling is no, though team. Giggs, Beckham, Scholes and erpool, at 1-1 with Chelsea, drew 0-0 at run in the UCL but it’s unlikely they’ll get having watched them outplay Inter Milan Keane went to Juventus and beat them Villarreal, drew 1-1 at Celtic, drew at Inter by an Inter team that will be every bit as last week in the UCL (UEFA Champions after being 2-0 down after 11 minutes. The Milan 0-0) they have failed to get results. resolute defensively as they are. United League) it is hard to argue against them. reason that midfi eld surpassed all others in So, with the 2009 season reach- fans may remember that the team has a The squad of 2009 is undoubtedly deeper England is because of its variety. Giggs - ing the business end, where trophies are habit of tripping up at home, remember with players like Anderson, Nani, Scholes, the tricky winger, a conjurer and trickster. handed out, the 1999 team is marginally Borrusia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Tevez and Neville being quality substi- Beckham - the deliverer of pinpoint passes better. That’s the problem though, the sea- Monaco? tutes. Don’t forget the long-term injury to and crosses. Keane biting away in central son isn’t over. If they win all four trophies Immortality isn’t far away though Owen Hargreaves, who would otherwise midfi eld, covering every inch of grass al- my arguments become mute. That raises for the team of 2009, starting with the have taken Michael Carrick’s place. But lowing Scholes to make subtle passes and another pivotal question. Will they win all mighty Spurs at Wembley and perhaps this article is assessing just the fi rst XI. get forward to score crucial goals. 4 trophies? ending in Rome. If it comes, I’ll have to This is how the two teams line up The 2009 midfi eld doesn’t have Paddy Power has them winning eat my column! side by side. I’ve picked what I believe to the same variety. As good an all round all three on domestic soil which is far be the strongest XI for both. player as Cristiano Ronaldo is, when was from a certainty. Consider there are still By Leroy Jerome Robinson the last time you saw him beat his man? 12 league games left and the Red Devils You may see lots of stepovers but fre- have yet to play Liverpool, Arsenal and In London

And they partied like it was 1999: The Red Devils create history and give History never repeats? : The present alumni are potentially on the verge of half of Manchester a heart attack after scoring two goals in the dying min- greatness. With all before them to achieve can the current crop of super- utes of the UCL Final against Bayern Munich to sweep all before them.V stars emulate the feats of their legendary predecessors? ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p30 MILOS LUJIC OAKLEIGH CANNONS FC FOOTBALL FOCUS FULL NAME: Milos Lujic BIRTHPLACE: Australia BIRTH DATE: 15/02/90 HEIGHT: 192 WEIGHT: 80kgs MARRIED: Not for a long time CAR: Mercedes OCCUPATION OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL: At the moment a Machine Operator NICKNAME: Mil, Milzy PREVIOUS CLUBS: AIS, Melbourne Victory Youth REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS: U17 Joeys, Under 20 Young Socceroos CHILDHOOD FOOTBALL HERO: My dad, Zdravko Lujic FAVOURITE O/S PLAYER: At the moment, Fernando Torres FAVOURITE VPL CUP PLAYER: Bonel Obradovic, Nikola Roganovic and Billy Da- mianos when he runs! lol FAVOURITE FORMER SOCCEROO: Zdravko Lujic FAVOURITE CURRENT SOCCEROO: MOST MEMORABLE MATCH AS A PLAYER: Playing against last year and against Korea... qualifying for the Under 20 World Cup! MOST MEMORABLE MATCH AS A FAN: Australia vs Uruguay MOST MEMORABLE GOAL YOU’VE SCORED: Every goal I’ve scored for Austra- lia is memorable EARLIEST FOOTBALL MEMORY: My fi rst goal FUNNIEST MOMENT IN FOOTBALL: Too many to choose! BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Last season’s performance for Oakleigh WORST INJURY: Knee reconstreuction MOST DIFFICULT OPPONENT: Both Ar- gentinian centre backs, and David Tarka FAVOURITE AWAY GROUND: Bob Jane SUPERSTITIONS: None TYPICAL MATCH DAY MEAL: Pasta WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS: Holding up the ball, good touch and scoring goals for most teams lol WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES: Usually my fi tness FAVOURITE TEAM WHEN GROWING UP: Arsenal FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTS: Tennis, Boxing, Fishing FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTSPERSON: Photo by John Punshon Novak Djokovic FAVOURITE FOODS: Mum’s Lasagne FAVOURITE ACTOR/ACTRESS: Denzel Washington and Brad Pitt HOBBIES: Going out with mates, Hittin’ the gym and fi shing FAVOURITE HOLIDAY RESORT: Serbia and South of France FAVOURITE NIGHTSPOT: Wheelers and Club Parada IDEAL DATE: In the back of my car! It’s very romantic lol FAVOURITE TV SHOWS: Entourage FAVOURITE MUSIC: House and some Rap FAVOURITE FILM: Casino, Goodfellas LAST SOCCER SHIRT YOU BOUGHT: Arsenal FUNNIEST RUMOUR YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT YOURSELF: Too many to choose from! BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: My mum and dad BIGGEST DRAG IN SOCCER: Pre-season FOOTBALL AMBITION: To be a professional footballer WHICH PERSON IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO MEET? Mike Tyson and YOUR TIP FOR THIS YEAR’S VPL: I’d have to say Oakleigh to keep Aki happy!