Australia’s Favourite Football Fanzine And Even Bigger In Koo Wee Rup! FOOTBALL FOCUS ON www.goalweekly.com $4 HUME’S SERDAR PIR VPL FINALS WEEK FOUR Season 5: Issue 26 Monday 7th September 2009 Photo: John Punshon THUNDER STORMS AHEAD! VPL GRAND FINAL Altona Magic v Dandenong Thunder Bob Jane Stadium Saturday 12th September KO 3pm BILLY VOJTEK / SOUVENIR GOLD COAST POSTER SERDARHUME PIR CITY FC FULL NAME: Serdar Pir BIRTHPLACE: Melbourne BIRTH DATE: 28/8/1979 HEIGHT: 180cm WEIGHT: 80 MARRIED: Single CAR: Alfa Romeo NICKNAME: Sam PREVIOUS CLUBS: Carlton Soccer Club, Port Melbourne, Essendon Roy- als, Preston Lions REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS: Australian Schoolboys, Premiere League State Team CHILDHOOD FOOTBALL HERO: Maradona FAVOURITE O/S PLAYER: Christiana Ronaldo FAVOURITE VPL PLAYER: Isyan Erdo- gan Hume City FAVOURITE HAL PLAYER: Archie Thompson FAVOURITE FORMER SOCCEROO: Johnny Warren FAVOURITE CURRENT SOCCEROO: Harry Kewel MOST MEMORABLE MATCH AS A PLAYER: Win against Frankston Pines and saving relegation MOST MEMORABLE MATCH AS A FAN: Euro 08, Turkey VS Croatia MOST MEMORABLE GOAL YOU’VE SCORED: Playing with Essendon Royals scored the winner against Sunshine George Cross EARLIEST FOOTBALL MEMORY: Playing for Brunswick Juventus FUNNIEST MOMENT IN FOOTBALL: Too many to mention BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Not pursuing football overseas WORST INJURY: Ankle Reconstruc- tion MOST DIFFICULT OPPONENT: John Markovski FAVOURITE AWAY GROUND: Bob Jane Stadium SUPERSTITIONS: TYPICAL MATCH DAY MEAL: Fruit WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS: Tackling WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES: Scoring goals FAVOURITE TEAM WHEN GROWING UP: Manchester United FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTS: Tennis FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTSPER- SON: Mike Tyson FAVOURITE FOODS: Pasta FAVOURITE ACTOR/ACTRESS: Al Pacino Photo: John Punshon HOBBIES: Movies, bowling, pool FAVOURITE HOLIDAY RESORT: FOOTBALL FOCUS Phuket FAVOURITE NIGHTSPOT: CBD IDEAL DATE: Too many to mention FAVOURITE TV SHOWS: Two and Half men, footy show FAVOURITE MUSIC: Dance FAVOURITE FILM: Scarface LAST SOCCER SHIRT YOU BOUGHT: Boca Juniors FUNNIEST RUMOUR YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT YOURSELF: Getting old for the game BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: BIGGEST DRAG IN SOCCER: Scoreless games FOOTBALL AMBITION: Coaching WHICH PERSON IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO MEET? : Al Pacino YOUR TIP FOR THIS YEAR’S HAL: Gold Coast YOUR TIP FOR THIS YEAR’S VPL: Hume City Sunshine Georgies’ President, Charlie Borg FOOTBALL INSIGHT GEORGIES’ MESSIAH RETIRES Charles Leo Borg the President of the J@. Charlie did you and your committee have Sunshine Georgies Soccer Club has any plans once the sale went through to gener- called it a day after eight years at the ate income for the club in the form of a social helm of the former NSL club. club for members or similar? When Charlie stepped into the role of presi- CB. Absolutely, that was part of our plan and I dent, the club was at its lowest point in its his- really hope that the new board continue down tory having slid down from the Premier League that avenue as the members of the club have nev- in 1999 through to the second division, having er really had their own facility where they could gone through a season winless the year before. come together and share thoughts and ideas in Sponsorship was down, support for the club was the comfort of their own place. We would be able virtually non-existent and the junior division was to cater for the young for the old and the ladies of in a shambles. the club in a friendly atmosphere. As you know The direction at the club was undefi ned and John our facilities are primitive to say the least depending on who was leading the club goals and they are not deserving of the great people and aims changed like the weather, so much so that we have supporting our club and I hope that that loyal members and supporters were losing the new board follow through with what I con- interest in the club which led to their absence for sider as a priority. periods of time. Turn the clock forward eight years and the club J@. Charlie, looking back over your eight has turned around full circle thanks to the dili- years in charge of the club how do you rate gent leadership of Charles Borg and a hard work- your Presidency in that period? ing committee under his charge. The club rose CB. As you know John I love the club with a from the second division to once again take its passion, I believe to be a president you need place among the elite of Victorian football in the to be witty politically minded and you need to Premier League. Sponsorship was at an all time have good public relations skills. Whether I have high receiving great support from local business, been a good President is not for me to say but for and support for the club was looking respectable people like you and the club members and others again in the outer with a loud and passionate sup- to judge. porter base chanting the praises of their team on a weekly basis. Outgoing Sunshine Georgies President Charlie Borg (right) leads his team j@. Charlie, what are a couple of highs and Charlie Borg’s beginnings at the club came out in a derby match with Green Gully counterpart, Charlie Farrugia. lows that you have experienced in your time about after his best friend Freddie Calleja brought which enabled them to expand the amount of J@. Where do you see the club in the future, that have stuck in your memory? him down on a Thursday night to meet the mem- teams they had. what does it need to survive over the next de- CB. Beating Green Gully always gave us a thrill bers and he left a lasting impression on everyone Former George Cross player Steven Chetcuti cade. but one of my highlights was when after 34 he met with his humorous jokes and sharp wit. who was better known as a Green Gully cham- CB. As you know John I did my apprentership games without a win we beat Croxton Park 1-0 Wearing a white Mickey Mouse windcheater and pion player was given the team to rebuild on the under Alfred Zahra for whom I have the ut- and the celebration we witnessed was worthy of a cheeky smile on his face you knew this guy was recommendation of myself, and for the fi rst time most respect for as I regard him as the greatest grand fi nal win. a lad, one of the boys, and that he would fi t in in 20+ years the club won a senior trophy going Sunshine President of all time. I carried on his well at the club, and that is how he was from start through the State League cup undefeated. De- program when I took over the presidency at the J@. Ah yes I remember that Charlie it was to fi nish always happy to share a joke and have spite the team being undefeated after fi ve rounds club and as he use to say, Chaplin Reserve is the a celebration and a half, the residents would a chat with anyone who cared to do so, happy of the season proper the rails came off the tracks life blood of the club and the key to its future. I have thought it was a rock concert on how to talk football or politics; just ask anyone from which saw the club part company with their believe the future is bright for the club provid- hard we sang the song. any club who have had the pleasure of dealing coach replacing him with a former club great ing that the new board of directors carry on with CB. As for the the lows probably what I will re- with Charlie and they will confi rm this as he is in Chris Taylor who fi nished the job started by the business plan we have in place now. In other gret is not sticking around to fi nish the job at the respected by many across the Football commu- his predecessor to win promotion. The team was words we need to continue on with the sale of club which has been a dream of mine for a long nity here in Victoria. again promoted the following year to fi nd itself Chaplin Reserve and establish the club elsewhere time, but as you know John time beats us all as Charlie’s fi rst experience in Football politics back in the Premier League and the transition of on council land. If this happens then I believe I will be 65 years old in December and I believe came in 2000 when he joined the club commit- the club was complete. there will be sunny days ahead for the Sunshine there is life after George Cross for myself and it’s tee under legendary club President Alfred Zahra The fi rst season in the VPL would see the club George Cross Soccer Club. time to start living it for myself. as a membership offi cer, at a time when the club survive relegation on the last day of the season was struggling and an issue of amalgamation and just a few games into the following season J@. Charlie at what stage were you with the j@. Your fi nal words Charlie before you offi - was on the table with neighbouring club Altona we would see the demise of Taylor as Sunshine sale of the land before your retirement? cially start your retirement after this article. City. Opinion was divided in the club on the is- coach who was replaced by Pepi Motemurro.