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KEN GERIHRISTODOULOU Season 5: Issue 5 Monday 23rd March 2009 ? ? ? ? ? WHO IS AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST? BIG TONE’S COUNTDOWN ON WHO IS THE BEST EVER PLAYER FROM THESE SHORES

SL NW3 FIXTURES / FERENC PUSKAS / VPL ROUND 4 RISING STAR Southern FC’s Justin Fernand SUMMER STAR TO TRIAL AT S-LEAGUE As the inaugural Summer League drew to wick, where he is among the smallest and young- a close over the weekend one of the stars est player in the senior mens team and game is of the Under 18 Youth Boys competition, very physical. Justin Fernand of Southern FC, will head He said playing with younger players, allowed to Singapore for a trial in the Singapore him the chance to match up physically to oppo- Professional League (S-League). nents but they are fi tter and faster than the senior Justin will spend ten days with the professional men, he plays with in State League Three. S-league team Home United, training at their The Summer League has not only allowed the centre of excellence and with its youth team with under 18 boys to shine but has presented a chance the possibility of also training with the reserves for female players to make a case for inclusion in and fi rst team. the new W-league team, Melbourne Victory. He will also have the opportunity to been seen by A squad of 17 players will travel to Asia next a number of scouts and watch three professional month to play a series of matches against Chinese Home United games. teams, with seven of them having represented The trip was arranged by Southern FCs coach, Ian various Summer League clubs this season. Williamson, who offered it as a prize to the player Jolene Miller (Central FC), Ursula Hughson and who won the best and fairest for the Southern Kat Smith (Northern FC) along with Stephanie Zone. Brewer, Dee Niceski, Enza Barilla and Gulcan Justin said going and training overseas has always Koca (North East FC) have all been a part of the been a dream of his and represented a big op- elite zonal competition. portunity. Victory Women and tour coach, Matt Shepherd, I have always wanted to play overseas in English said the Summer League had provided a fruitful Premier League but you need to go through the pool of elite talent to choose from. right ways to get there, Fernand said. Its a great opportunity for the players to experi- My goal is just trying to achieve my best and ence elite level womens football in Asia, Shep- have fun and try to get overseas and play for a herd said. popular team. The Summer League concluded this weekend The Summer League has been a positive experi- with the semi fi nal’s and grand fi nals played out at ence for the 17-year-old St Francis Xavier Col- Epping Stadium. lege student, who has played with Berwick City In the Open Womens competition Central FC Mens State Three team for several years. defeated Northern FC 2-1 while North Eastern FC By doing this Summer League (Competition) it downed Goulburn North-East FC to set up a top can give you many options (to) know more of of the table clash in the fi nal. the game through different coaches and get more Southern FC snuck into the fi nal on penaties experience. against Northern FC while in the Under 18s Boys By playing in the Summer League it enables competition and Goulburn North-East defeated you to be seen by very experienced coaches and Central FC 1-0 to advance to the grand fi nal. scouts, he said. Fernand said the style of game in Summer League By Emma Field had been very different to one he plays with Ber- Have Boots Will Travel: Justin Fernand gets the chance to swing it in Photo by Tanya Fry Singapore. Photo: Tanya Fry of the Leader Community Newspapers CLUB CALL [email protected]

THE PORT MELBOURNE SOCCER CLUB “SHARKS” The River Plate Football Academy Australia invites all players between 7 to 16 years of age Celebrating 40 years to join our upcoming coaching programs: PFA Australia “We will always fi ght on”

Autumn Coaching program: Play The World Game South/Eastern Suburbs: Easter Clinics @The Best Club In Melbourne Start 21st March till 13th June North/ Western Suburbs: Join UK Academy Coach (UFEA recog- We are looking for players of all ages Start 10th April till 3rd July nised) and development specialist Lee Term Fees: $450 per term of 12 weeks (conditions Waddington for our Easter clinics. Small Sided Football apply) 5 to 8 Year Old – “Shark Bites” Dates: April 6th & 7th Just Fun, Fun, Fun Starts Wed 4th March 6pm School Holiday Clinics: Venue: Glenroy, Melbourne For 7 to 13 years old, Girls, Girls, Girls – Ages 11 to 16 Southern Region: ONLY OPEN TO PFAA ACADEMY PLAY- Wednesdays 6pm Lois Twohig Res, Dandenong North ERS 3 days, Mon 6th April to Wed 8th April 9am untill Boys U10, U12, U14, U16, U18 1pm Dates: April 8th & 9th Come And Play On The Best ground In Melb Venue: Glenroy, Melbourne All Teams Have Payed Qualifi ed Coaches Eastern Region: Parkhill Primary School, Open to all players aged between 7 –17 U10- Wednesdays 6pm Parkhill Drive, Ashwood years old U12 – Thursdays 5.30pm Tues 14th April to Thurs 16th April U14 – Tuesday – Thursdays 6pm Womens Coach Wanted 9am until 1pm Dates: April 14th & 15th U16 – Thursdays 6pm Clinic fees: $150 for the 3 days. U 18 – Tuesday – Thursdays 6.30pm Venue: Cranbourne, Melbourne South Yarra SC are seeking an Players enrolling in the Autumn Program will Availability: bookings being taken now receive a %50 OFF the 3 day school holiday clinic. Special Offer for Boys U18 enthusiastic coach for (condition Apply) Open to all players aged between 13-17 Unbelievable never to be repeated its senior womens reserves team. Please Note that Indoor and outdoor boots are years old FEES ONLY $270 required for all clinics and programs. Why Pay More - Don’t Miss Out - Great opportunity to coach a se- Players are encouraged to bring own lunch and Dates: April 16th & 17th Only A Few Places Left Join Now!! drinks. Some food and drinks will be available ... nior team Venue: Brighton, Melbourne - Excellent club culture and support For Enquiries Email: Open to players aged between 7-17 years CLUB PHONE – 96451408 - Will work closely with senior [email protected] old All enquiries for Juniors are to go through coaches Vicki Matzakof – 0401556953 - Costs only provided For Enrolment, Send the complete form with an Register for all camps by emailing pfaa@ Vic2005optusnet.com.au attached cheque made to: River Plate Oceania Inc, pfaauastralia.com Contact to POBox 79 Olinda, Victoria 3788 Nicki Zapantis – 0402237408 www.riverplateaustralia.com efi [email protected] or call Check out www.pfaaustralia.com for more [email protected] 0439974490 details or call 03 9525 5844 p2 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 [email protected] SOCCER HOTLINES THIS WEEK’S LINE UP SUMMER LEAGUE CLIMAX Football Insight 3 Central FC and Goulburn North East Claim Summer League Honours Errea Scoreboard Page 4 Central FC claimed the Open Women’s Summer League fi nal with a last minute Eagles v Georgies 5 goal over North Eastern while in the Under 18 Boys Summer League fi nal Thunder v Magic 6 Goulburn North East took out the cham- pionship. Hume v Bergers 7 Central FC scored in the dying minutes of the Open Women’s Summer League Final to claim Monday Night Football 10 the premiership defeating North Eastern FC 2-1 at Epping Stadium on Sunday. Blast From The Past 11 Substitute, Raquel Lewis, slotted in the win- Big Tone’s Top 50 14 ning goal for Central FC in the 87th minute to break the deadlocked match and hand the cham- MacKenzie At Large 16 pionship trophy to her team in the inaugural zonal competition. London Calling 26 North Eastern had a number of what looked like unmissable chances in the second half but Football Focus 27 couldn’t convert to seal the match. It was a game of two halves for Central who Champs! The Goulburn North East FC wrote itself into the history books yesterday. Front Cover were dominated by North Eastern FC in the Central again found them selves again with minute capitalising on a Southern FC defensive Knights’ Josh Groenwald reels away fi rst half but managed to scored fi rst through Mancella Marquis in the 25th minute against the numbers ten minutes later when Stephanie error when keeper Mark Blanco dropped the after scoring a super 25yard free- run of play. Simpson sent her attempt just wide of the post. ball and Brown pounced on it tucking it away kick against the Cannons on Friday Central’s opening goal was set up by Melissa Central FC coach, Bob McGuiness, said he stamp Goulburn’s dominance on the game in the night. Photo: Peter Kakalias. Rodiguez Lorenzo who found Keryn Walters on was pleased with his teams second half perfor- fi rst half. the right. mance after an average start and said his team’s Southern FC shot out of the blocks in the sec- Walters sent in a blistering cross which was victory was all the more stunning given Central ond half fi ring in two quick goals in the fi rst ten fumbled by North Eastern’s keeper, Stepanie FC was missing fi ve of its regular players. minutes through aggressive mid fi elder Justin Brewer, leaving Merquis to clean up the crumbs In the Under 18 Open Boys Summer League Fernand and captain Justin Irvine, who had a and put her team in front. Competition Goulburn North East FC scored a terrifi c game. North Eastern had already had two close at- hard fought 4-2 victory over Southern FC. The match became a physical scrap with a tempts and they responded nine minutes later to It was a tough, physical game with much dra- number of players cramping from the warm Goal! Weekly is available every Monday from level the match. ma as six yellow cards and one red was doled conditions, while the ref tried to keep control of all good newsagents. Sarah Gooney was instrumental in North out and Southern FC mounted a late comeback the teenage tempers issuing a bagful of yellow from three goals down in the fi rst half. cards to both teams. Publisher Eastern’s equalizer, after winning the ball ten Alimental Enterprises Pty Ltd metres from the box she spotted Deanna Niceski Goulburn’s Tim Brown scored fi rst in the Southern FC chances of levelling the match PO Box 142 in space, who made no mistake with only the fourth minute getting his foot to lovely cross off were dealt a blow when one of their goal scor- Port Melbourne VIC 3207 keeper to beat. the boot Mitchell Anderson from the right. ers, Fernand, was sent off for a second yellow Tel 9645 1440 In the second half North Eastern looked more Southern FC looked like they responded min- and the team was forced to play with ten boys.. likely to break the dead lock when Tyla Vlajnic utes later only to have the goal disallowed. Goulburn sealed the match in the 90th minute Printer fed the ball wide to Katrina Smith at the top of Zac Walker added Goulburn’s second 15 when Walker showed composure beyond his Streamline Press minutes laster when Liam Carey fl icked a nicely years to control a high ball and turn onto his 155 Johstone St the box and was met by Central’s keeper, Jamie Fitzroy VIC 3065 Floros. weighted ball into space, an Walker use his right blasting in the fi nal goal and handing Tel 9417 2766 Smith managed to out muscle Folros drag- speed to lose his opponent and found the net. his team the Under 18 Boys Summer League ging her out to the right and sent in a magnifi - The game had a frenetic pace in warm condi- championship. Distributer cent cross but her team mate Deanna Niceski tions with Goulburn always looking the more All Day Distribution Pty Ltd couldn’t get her head to it in front of an open dangerous team. By Emma Field PO Box 42 goal. Goulburn’s third goal came in the 30th North Carlton VIC 3054 Photo by Michael Brown Tel 9482 1145

News Room 03 9645 1440 Advertising 03 9645 1440 KEARNEY FOR CROSS Email [email protected] Letters [email protected] Web www.goalweekly.com Another Irish Recruit For Andy’s Army Editor Costa Koutropoulos SUNSHINE George Cross coach Andy In August 2007 he signed for Water- Art Director Carlos Ibarra Design/Creative Ivan Andreevski O’Dell has signed former Everton ford United in the League of Ireland and Production MJ Ali. academy player Alan Kearney who fl ies retained his Premier Division status by out of Dublin in May to join the Premier switching to Cobh Ramblers for the 2008 Regular Contributors League outfi t. campaign. Nat Adamopoulos, Mark Boric, Bruce Darnell, Andrew Fisher, Roy Hay, Markian The 21-year-old had been with Everton for In July last year Kearney lined up for Cobh Jaworsky, George Katsamboukas, Eddie a long time when he fi nally left at the age against the then Roy Keane-led Sunder- Krncevic, Bart Hulley, John Kyrou, Sebastian of 19 in 2007. Earlier that year Toffees boss land as part of the English Premier League Kipman,George Kouroumalis, Michael Lilika- kis, Josip Loncaric, Craig MacKenzie, Jeremy David Moyes released Kearney on loan for outfi t’s pre-season tour of Ireland. O’Neil, Teo Pellizzeri, Walter Pless, Tony a month to Chester City. However, the youngster may not recall Persoglia, Julius Ross, Roger Sleeman, Mike The fi rst mention of him in the Everton much of that game. An accidental clash of Salter, George Stogiannou, Reuben Schem- Youth Academy was in 2003–04, when he heads with Sunderland’s Grant Leadbitter bri, Lachlan Taylor, Elias Simopoulos, Michal Skrodsky, Addy Wetzler, Bruno Zovko, Leroy broke into the Under-17s and made an ap- in the 85th minute led to Kearney receiv- Jerome Robinson (UK), Adam North (UK). pearance in the fi nal game of the season for ing treatment for six minutes before being the Under-19s. stretchered off, apparently still uncon- Photographers Essentially a left-sided player, he went on scious, and wearing an oxygen mask before Adam Butler, Therese Duffy, Daniel Flis, Dean Grant, Geoff Jones, Peter Kakalias, Darryl to put in a couple of steady seasons with being taken to hospital. Kennedy, Lee McCormick, Mark McGeady, both the Everton senior academy team and He shouldn’t have too much trouble fi t- John Punshon, Brett Robson, Steve Starek, the reserves, where he fi rmly established ting in at George Cross as he’ll likely fi nd George Stogiannou. himself as a regular. another recent Irish recruit, Joe Clancy, Goal! Weekly endeavours to be as accurate The Irish underage international played his playing behind him in the left-back slot. as possible with everything it publishes. schoolboy football with the all-conquering Clancy is a former Bohemians player who The Fair Trading Act 1999 requires Goal! Maymount Celtic side before signing for spent a few seasons in the US on a college Weekly to disclaim any belief in the truth or Everton. Kearney is a versatile player who scholarship. falsity of information which is supplied to it Former Everton youth player and which is published in other than editorial can operate both in midfi eld and up front. — CRAIG MACKENZIE content. Alan Kearney.

ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p3 ERREA SCOREBOARD VPL Round 4

Richmond Eagles P W D L F A PT v Preston Lions 1. Richmond Eagles 4 3 1 0 5 0 10 Kevin Bartlett Reserve 2. Dandenong Thunder 4 3 1 0 3 0 10 Fri 27 Mar KO 8:30PM 3. Green Gully Cavaliers 4 2 2 0 4 0 8 4. Heidelberg Utd 4 2 1 1 4 5 7 Oakleigh Cannons 5. South Melbourne 4 2 0 2 9 4 6 v 6. Melbourne Knights 4 2 0 2 4 4 6 Sunshine Georgies Jack Edwards Reserve 7. Hume City 4 1 1 2 4 3 4 Fri 27 Mar KO 8:30PM 8. Altona Magic 3 1 1 1 1 1 4 Green Gully Cavaliers 9. Oakleigh Cannons 3 1 0 2 4 3 3 v 10. Sunshine Georgies 4 1 0 3 1 5 3 Melbourne Knights 11. Preston Lions 3 0 1 2 2 9 1 Green Gully Reserve Sat 28 Mar KO 5:00PM 12. Whittlesea Zebras 3 0 0 3 0 7 0 Dandenong Thunder Richmond 3 Sunshine Georgies 4, Dandenong Thunder 1 Altona Magic 1, Hume City 2 Heidelberg Utd 1, South Mel- bourne 2 Melbourne Knights 1, Preston Lions 0 Green Gully v Cavaliers 1, Richmond Eagles1 Sunshine Georgies 0 P W D L F A PT V.I.S 3 3 0 0 8 3 9 Hume City South Melbourne 4 3 0 1 8 4 9 Dandenong Thunder 1 Altona Magic 0 Melbourne Knights 5 3 0 2 5 5 9 George Andrews Reserve Heidelberg Utd 4 2 1 1 5 3 7 Hume City 1 Heidelberg Utd 1 Altona Magic 4 2 1 1 4 3 7 Sat 28 Mar KO 6:00PM Green Gully Cavaliers4 2 1 1 4 4 7 Whittlesea Zebras 3 2 0 1 5 1 6 Preston Lions 0 Green Gully Cavaliers 0 Richmond 5 2 0 3 9 9 6 Hume City 4 2 0 2 4 6 6 Oakleigh Cannons 3 1 1 1 3 3 4 South Melbourne 2 Melbourne Knights 1 Sunshine Georgies 4 1 1 2 5 6 4 Dandenong Thunder 4 0 1 3 3 9 1 Whittlesea Zebras v Oakleigh Cannons (Playing to- Whittlesea Zebras v South Melbourne RICHMOND V PRESTON: GREEN GULLY V MELB KNIGHTS: WHITTLESEA V SOUTH MELBOURNE: Fri 27th Mar, 8:30pm Kevin Bartlett Reserve Sat 28th Mar, 5:00pm Green Gully Reserve. Mon 30th Mar, 8:30pm To Be Confi rmed. Epping Stadium Mon 30 Mar KO8:30PM The Eagles continued their impres- Green Gully will be pushing for a positive South Melbourne has the chance to sive start to the season with a gritty win result here, having failed to score in their past make it three games on the bounce, and will against Sunshine last week. They are under two games. The Cavaliers have an impressive go in as heavy favourites against the luckless lights again this Friday nights, when they take record against the Knights at Green Gully Zebra’s outfi t. The likes of Coveny, Zoric and Heidelberg Utd on the out of soughts Lions. Richmond com- Reserve, despite being beating in last year’s De Moraes should pose too much of a threat pleted an impressive double over the Lions last semi-fi nal. The visitors will be looking to for the home side. AWAY WIN v season. The visitors will be buoyed by their bounce back after a demoralising loss to rivals Altona Magic positive result against Green Gully. HOME South Melbourne. HOME WIN Last 5 Meetings: South 1-1 Whit (2008), Whit WIN 0-1 South (2008), Whit 3-2 South (2007), Olympic Park (Village) Last 5 Meetings: Gully 1-1 Knights (2008 South 4-1 Whit (2006), Whit 1-1 South 2006) Last 5 Meetings: Prest 1-5 Rich (2008), Rich Finals), Gully 2-0 Knights (2008), Knights 0-0 Mon 30 Mar KO 8:30PM 5-1 Prest (2008), Rich 1-2 Preston (2007), Gully (2008), Knights 3-2 Gully (2007), Gully HEIDELBERG V ALTONA MAGIC: Prest 4-1 Rich (2007), Pres 2-1 Rich (2006) 1-0 Knights (2007) Mon 30th Mar, 8.30pm Olympic Village.

OAKLEIGH V SUNSHINE: DANDENONG V HUME CITY: Altona Magic tasted the fi rst defeat TOP Fri 27th Mar, 8:30pm Jack Edwards Reserve Sat 28th Mar, 6:00pm George Andrews of the season, and faces another tough task SHOTS! Reserve when they take on Heidelberg on Monday Calling all sharp-shooters! Get your Oakleigh welcome Sunshine to night. The Bergers’ managed to complete the best shooting boots on because thanks Jack Edwards on Friday night in an important The Thunder continue to astound double of the Reigning champions last season to our friends at Erreà, the Top Scorer match for both sides. The home side have their opposition. Four straight wins; four and will be looking to infl ict more misery. of this season’s VPL will receive a $500 failed to win in their past two home matches straight clean sheets the perfect record. They GOALLESS DRAW gift voucher. and will be keen to once again make it a for- will be in front of their faithful supporters Since 1988 Erreà have strived to lead tress. The visitors desperately require someone again when they face Hume City on Saturday Last 5 Meetings: Heid 3-2 Altona (2008), Al- in the creation, development and man- to step up and put the ball in the back of the night. This is the fi rst time these teams will tona 0-1 Heid (2008), Heid 0-1 Altona (2007), ufacture of the most advanced techni- net. They performed well last week against the meet in the Premier League, with Hume domi- Altona 1-2 Heid (2007), Altona 2-1 Heid cal sportswear and accessories for Eagles, but lacked the fi nish. Sunshine need to nating the clashes in the State Leagues. Hume (2006 Finals) specialising in football. pick up points quickly to avoid another relega- have not lost to Dandenong since 2003. I’ll The company offers quality products tion scrap. HOME WIN stick with the form side here. HOME WIN. For those who like a fl utter on the such as Italian Made football uniforms English betting sites, this week’s safe bet: and accessories, and sponsors clubs Last 5 Meetings: Sun 2-1 Oak (2007), Oak 2-2 Last 5 Meetings: Hume 3-0 Dand (2007), Richmond to beat Preston. Remember bet of the calibre of Genoa, Middlesbrough, Sun (2007), Sun 1-4 Oak (2006), Oak 2-1 Sun Dand 0-2 Hume (2007), Dand 1-1 Hume responsibly. Parma and many clubs in Australia. (2006), Oak 2-1 Sun (2005) (2006), Hume 4-0 Dand (2006), Hume 2-2 Good luck to all the punters, and re- Dand (2005) By Andrew Fisher member ‘keepers, you have been Kiss of Death warned!

p4 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 VPL Round 4 The Premiership EAGLES SCRAPE IT Georgies Unlucky In O’Dell’s Return To KB

RICHMOND SUNSHINE EAGLES 1 - 0 GEORGIES Unbeaten Richmond hosted Sun- shot wide from twenty-fi ve yards, leaving shine Georgies to open Round Four Sunshine trailing by a goal as the teams en- of the Victorian Premier League on tered the break. Friday night. Both coaches would have had plenty to The return of warm weather saw a healthy say at the interval. The failure to reach the crowd in attendance as Sunshine coach level of performance standard set so far this Andy O’Dell returned to Kevin Bartlett season would have displeased Eagles boss Reserve where he captured the 2003 State Michael Chatzitrifonos, with O’Dell upset League Division Two South East Champi- that some good work had been undone by onship with the Eagles. poor marking at a set-piece. Sunshine fi elded the same starting eleven Within the fi rst minute of the second pe- that was a little unlucky in losing by a soli- riod Banks laid the ball off for Sapazovski tary goal to Heidelberg United at Olympic to shoot, Zois making a save. A cross from Village on the previous Monday. Richmond Erhan Karahan found Cardozo at the top of restored Lorenz Kindtner to the starting the penalty area, and he turned inside and team at the expense of Nick Kalambokis. shot over the bar whilst being held by a Neither side was able to establish any defender. A cross from the right by Danny dominance early on. In the ninth minute a Black saw Cardozo’s glancing header from shot from Nick Robinson was defl ected seven yards go straight to Pecura. wide for a corner. Three minutes later a free- Stuart McCluskey was easily containing kick from Sunshine saw the ball bounce any balls played high and forward by Sun- around the penalty area, the Georgies hav- shine, assisted by Terry Antoniadis in the ing two shots blocked in the scrimmage that midfi eld. They faced more serious trouble Spoil sport: Richmond’s Dimi Tsi- followed. in the sixty-fi rst minute when following a Andy O’Dell’s troops gave a good aras’ 18th minute winner spoilt Andy A cross from the left by Michael Catalano corner-kick Johnstone played in Peter Kout- account of themselves and we’re un- O’Dell’s return to KB reserve on in the seventeenth minute was defl ected for soupias after picking up the ball at the far lucky not to come away with a share Friday night. a corner. The ball was swung in by Richie post. From a tight angle Koutsoupias had a of the spoils. Cardozo for Dimitri Tsiaras to get his head shot saved by Zois. Play was halted three After some open football in the second to, the header from beyond the penalty spot minutes later when Tsiaras and Wayne Wal- half in which both teams had their chances, Yellow Cards: Cardozo 54’ Robinson 80’ sailing into the top corner of the goal to give lace went down after clashing head, but the latter stages saw Richmond close down the home side an early lead. both were able to recover and see out the the game and take the ball into the corners Red Cards: None From a free-kick in the twenty-fourth remainder of the game. to try and secure all three points. This they minute Thomas Johnstone was able to head After a handball against McCluskey, Nick managed to do, keeping their 100% winning Sunshine Georgies: A.Pecura, J.Clancy on goal, Peter Zois making a comfortable Schwal fi red in a free-kick at Zois from record at home intact. For Sunshine it was (N.Schwal 68’), W.Wallace, C.Konstas, save. A minute later there was a fright for twenty-four yards. The seventy-fi fth minute a second narrow defeat in the space of fi ve T.Johnstone, M.Cini, G.Papadopoulos, the Georgies at the other end, Antoni Pecura saw the Eagles go close again, strong pres- days. Though they can take heart from some B.Cogger (P.Koutsoupias 60’), N.Hooks, caught coming outside his box and having sure from Robinson and Kalambokis forc- decent performances, they realise that gain- C.Banks (J.Barros 73’), J.Sapazovski. to head the ball over the advancing Cardo- ing Pecura into poor kick which was picked ing points will soon become vital. zo. His effort did not get very far and Car- up by Cardozo who chipped just wide from Richmond move on to another home Yellow Cards: G.Papadopoulos 40’ dozo hooked the ball back over his shoulder third-fi ve yards, the ball drifting away from game, with Preston Lions coming to Bar- towards the vacant net but was just wide of goal at the last moment. tlett Reserve this Friday. Sunshine will be in Red Cards: None the mark. Karahan had to get in ahead of Koutsou- action on the same night, visiting Jack Ed- A fl ick from Campbell Banks in the twen- pias to cut off a far post cross, with Sapas- wards Reserve for a meeting with the Oak- Man of the Match: Stuart McCluskey ty-eighth minute released Johnny Sapazovs- ovski shooting over the bar in the aftermath. leigh Cannons. (Richmond) ki on the right inside the penalty area, but his Schwal felled Tsiaras with a tackle from shot fl ashed across the face of goal. Cata- behind with eight minutes remaining. With Richmond: P.Zois, D.Black, E.Karahan, Venue: Kevin Bartett Reserve lano shot wide from distance just before the players gathered at the back of the penalty T.Antoniadis, S.McCluskey, D.Tsiaras, Crowd: 650 half hour mark. A great movement between area, Cardozo shot towards the near post R.Cardozo, M.Catalano (N.Kalambokis Cardozo and Catalano saw the latter square with Pecura outside his six yard box. The 73’), L.Kindtner (J.Heineke 73’), the ball to an unmarked Robinson who shot ball fl oated towards the top corner but the N.Robinson, A.Viola. over the target from fourteen yards as half- Sunshine keeper managed to get back and By Mark Boric time approached. George Papadopoulous get a hand to turn it over the crossbar. Goal: Tsiaras 18’ Photos by Daniel Flis

Monday 23rd March 2009 p5 ISSUE #5 The Premiership VPL Round 4 RIGHT ON, VETON! Korcari Leads Thunder’s Onward March

DANDENONG ALTONA THUNDER 1 - 0 MAGIC Dandenong Thunder celebrated enjoy the better chances in the second the return of Premier League foot- half with Hingert and Armenian putting ball to George Andrews reserve the Magic defence under a lot of pres- with a 1-0 victory over reigning sure with their pace and direct running. Premier League Champion Altona The Thunder midfi eld took control of Magic, on a warm Saturday night. the game, as Recchia faded. Pece Sives- Thunder skipper Veton Korcari’s 37th ki tried hard for the visitors and substi- minute winner continues the dream start tute Adam Fadjlevic injected some spark of Stuart Munro’s team which is yet to when he came on. The Magic enjoyed a concede a goal in it’s fi rst four games brief fi ve minute spell around the 75th of Premier League football and sits on minute when they fi red a number of equal points with undefeated League long range shots at the Thunder goal. leader Richmond Eagles. But the night belonged to Thunder and Thunder again opted to start the match their fans as they closed out the match with a lone striker and fi ve in the middle without adding to the score. against the Magic’s more conventional Delighted Thunder coach, Munro said twin striker formation. afterwards, “ It’s so vital that this club Magic skipper Carl Recchia was and this team do well at home, because prominent early on, but it was Thunder of the support that we have. It’s prob- midfi elder Colin Quirk who could have ably more important that we got a result opened the scoring were it not for a at home with the fi rst game. I thought good save by Magic keeper Nicola Ro- we were worth the victory. There wasn’t ganovic. a lot in it. Altona’s a quality team… The A Hamlet Armenian near-post header effort the players are putting in at the from a Marcus Stergiopoulos corner, moment is just fantastic. It just proves fl ashed just wide of the post. Minutes they want to be in the Premier league later, down the other end, a Michael Cur- and they want to prove that they can be cija header from a Recchia cross fl ew a Premier League team.. I was delighted straight into the arms of Stuart Webster. Veton got the goal because he’s up there The next clear chance, shortly after, on his own, a thankless task week in, proved to be the game’s decisive mo- week out. But he’s probably one of the ment. When right back Jack Hingert’s best in the league at being a lone striker. through ball, found Korcari in the cor- He’s got his just reward tonight.” ridor, the striker had time to turn and aim A disappointed Altona Magic coach his shot low into the net to fi re Thunder Vlado Tortevski, commented after the Thunder captain Veton Korcari leads by example and bobs up with into the lead. Dandenong continued to game, “ They ( Thunder) showed more the winner against the reigning champs, Altona Magic.

heart. They wanted it more. Lineups: We played a really bad fi rst 45 minutes. But as soon as we Dandenong Thunder: woke up and started playing Webster, Stuart., Hingert, J., Wilford, A., the game, you saw what hap- Osman, L. Ibraimi, F. ( Thomas, J. 80’), pened in the last 15 minutes. I Armenian, H., Bailey, S., Stergiopoulos, M. Davidson, R., Korcari, V ( DiIorio, J. have never seen these things in 90’), Quirk, C.( Rexhepi 88’) my life. They was holding the ball out of the ground, simu- Scorer: Korcari, 37’ lating some fouls. This is not soccer. I’m not happy. We lost Altona Magic: 1-0 fair enough, but what hap- Roganovic, N., Laurie, S., Maldenovic, D.( pened in the last 15 minutes is Saric, T. 63’), Anthopoulos, C., Recchia, out of any kind of soccer play. C., Curcija, M., Siveski, P. Cervoski., P., We were looking for the ball Riccobene, P., Bozinovski, S. ( Fadljevic, A to play soccer, and they were 45’), Kalmar, N. kind of holding the ball, and kicking the ball out and wait- Man of the Match: Hingert J. ing for supporters to give it Venue: George Andrews reserve back…That’s something we Crowd: 1500 should prevent. This is the Pre- mier League, not a provisional By George Stoggiannou Thunder’s twelth man joins in on the celebrations as the new League.” George Andrews Reserve grandstand is christened in a baptism of fi re. Photos by George Stoggiannou p6 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 VPL Round 4 The Premiership DRAMA DRAW AT THE VALLEY Hume and Heidelberg Share The Spoils HUME HEIDELBERG CITY 1 - 1 UNITED A healthy crowd has seen Hume City & home to hand Hume a 1-0 lead. partly cleared, the ball fell obligingly to Petta, who to be an exciting clash, whereas Heidelberg United Heidelberg United play out an entertaining The home team’s joy was very short-lived, as had the goal at his mercy. His side-footed shot just host last season’s premiers Altona Magic on Monday 1-1 draw at Broameadows Valley Park this Heidelberg United struck back instantly. A strong & went wide, and the seasoned veteran midfi elder could night at the Olympic Village. afternoon. surging run by Bobby Petta on Heidelberg’s inside scarcely believe that he had missed a golden op- Both goals came within the fi rst quarter of an left saw the midfi elder’s well-timed ball fi nd striker portunity to score his fi rst goal for his new club, and Final Score at Broadmeadows Valley Park: Hume hour’s play, but despite open & attack-minded Alilovic, who slotted home past Acevski to restore perhaps give his team all 3 points on the afternoon. City 1 drew with Heidelberg United 1 (HT 1-1). football on the part of both sides, there was no further parity to the score. The remainder of the game continued on in much addition to the score, which left both sets of fans With the scores locked at 1-1 after just 12 minutes, the same vein, with both sides seeking a winning Goals: Hume City: Opazo 11’ feeling their teams may have snatched all three points it became a case of fi rst one team & then the other goal, but failing to create any further clear-cut Heidelberg United: Alilovic 12’ save from some poor fi nishing. creating chances to take the lead. From dead-ball chances, despite many promising moments of pos- Hume City went into today’s game fi elding an situations fi rst Alilovic for Heidelberg, then Sterjo- session. One worry for Hume was the loss of its Player of the Match: Anthony Ouliaris (Heidelberg unchanged starting eleven from that which accounted vski for Hume both shot just over the crossbar. As infl uential forward Vlahos, who appeared to come off United) for Whittlesea 3-0 last Sunday. Heidelberg United the fi rst half wore on, Gasparis for Heidelberg twice with a hamstring injury midway through the second Crowd: approx. 1200 made one enforced change from its starting line-up, squandered great opportunities to give his side the half. For Hume City, the best player of the game Team Line-Ups: Hume City: replacing the inured James Stefanou with Emir Ameti lead & then a stinging Petta free kick just failed to hit was Brendan Beni, who got through a tremendous Acevski – Pir, Davidson, Baser, Erdogan (Gurpinar in its back four. its mark. In the fi nal minutes of an absorbing half, it workload on the day. For the visiting Heidelberg, its 17’) – Opazo, Beni, Savran (Ucarli 83’), Vlahos The swirling south-easterly wind & hard surface was Hume that might have grabbed the lead through skipper Tony Ouliaris was the stand-out player of the (Munoz 66’) – Sterjovski, Petrevski made ball control relatively diffi cult early on, as both Petrevski, who twice came close to scoring, fi rstly match, equally for his work-rate as for his control of sides adapted a cautious approach initially. The courtesy of a header that bounced off the upright & the midfi eld position. Yellow cards: Baser, Pir, Ucarli home side’s Zoran Petrevski fi red the fi rst shot at goal then seconds later as his rasping volley went wide Both team coaches were subdued after the game, Red cards: Nil after 5 minutes’ play, but it was a weak shot easily of its mark. So, despite the numerous chances either no doubt relieved with a point, but pondring what collected by Gavalas. At the other end, an uncertain way, the teams went into the main break locked at might have been. Hume’s Goran Lozanovski was Heidelberg United: clearance by Hume’s keeper Acevski after 10 minutes 1-1. pleased that his side has been unbeaten in the last two Gavalas – Ameti, Roberts, Jones, Vassiliadis – saw Heidelberg’s Gasparis shoot well wide of the The second period saw more chances created but not matches & is looking for that continued consistency Ouliaris, Ederaro, Petta (Magnacca 63’) Hockless, - goal in the visitors’ fi rst moment of promise. taken. On 48 minutes, Petrevski shot wide, having from his charges. Heidelberg’s George Katsakis, Gasparis (Tsiorlas46’), Aliliovic (Drossos 82’) Hume City took the lead in the 11th minute cour- got in behind the Heidelberg defence. However, it whilst pleased with his team’s efforts, particularly in Subs not used: Mattei (GK) tesy of Opazo, after Savran’s beautifully weighted was Bobby Petta who missed perhaps the best chance the second half, was frustrated at the missed chances through pass to Vlahos. In turn, Vlahos was able to of the match in the 52nd minute. From a promis- to grab all three points. By John Fotinos wriggle past the advancing Gavalas & play a deft ing Heidelberg counter-attack, Alilovic found his Next week fi nds Hume City taking the trip to Dan- square pass to Opazo, who gleefully tapped the ball way free on the left, and after his low cross was only denong Thunder on Saturday night in what promises Photos by John Punshon

Doing it with one leg in the air ... Heidelberg keeper, Peter Gavalas keeps hold of the ball after going over the top of Zoran Petrevski. Daniel Jones checks out proceedings Hume’s newly selected Young Socceroo Jason Davidson gets airborne with Osagie Ederaro of Heidelberg. BAYSWATER INDOOR SOCCER CENTRE AUSTRALIA’S 5-A-SIDE SATURDAY MORNING COURTS AVAILABLE No 1 INDOOR SOCCER SOCCER CLINICS SCHOOL : YOUTH : CENTRE JUNIORS, MIXED & MEN’S SKILLZ (6-12) CORPORATE GROUPS TINY TOTS (3-5) IDEAL FOR END OF 13 BURTON COURT, BAYSWATER PHONE 9729 1999 Email: [email protected] SEASON BREAK-UPS

ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p7 The Premiership VPL Round 4 SOUTH STUMP KNIGHTS Blues Hold On For First Home Win SOUTH MELBOURNE MELBOURNE 2 - 1 KNIGHTS South Melbourne FC has earned its home goal for 2009 and more importantly near post to halve the lead. South Melbourne 2-1 Melbourne Knights fi rst win at home for season 2009, the lead. Suddenly South began to panic unnec- (Goal Scorers: SMFC – De Moraes 50’, with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over All of a sudden the home side was in essarily, which allowed the Knights back Coveny 65’. Knights – Dugandzic 70’) old rivals Melbourne Knights at Bob control, and chances were coming thick into the contest. The home supporters were Jane Stadium on Sunday evening. and fast, with the best being a Shane Nunes beginning to panic, feeling that there would SMFC Line-up: Tommi Tomich, Shane The result meant that South has now left foot rocket that smashed into the cross- be a case of déjà vu as the corresponding Nunes, Rhodri Payne, Steve O’Dor, scored 9 goals in its last two out- bar. Despite the chances, the Knights held fi xture last season saw the Knights fi ght Vaughan Coveny, Joseph Youssef, Rama ings, after scoring 7 at Preston the fi rm, largely thanks to Craig Elvin who had back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw. Tavsancioglu, Stiven Mrkela, Goran week before. an extremely solid match. However even However despite some scary moments, Zoric, Fernando De Moraes, Sebastian The fi rst half was a timid affair, with Elvin could not stop South from doubling the defence held fi rm. In fact South should Petrovic very few chances created. The closest its lead in the 65th minute. Ozdemir’s poor have wrapped the match up but for poor either side got to opening the scoring was a goal kick was headed back into the South decision-making up forward and Elvin’s Melbourne Knights Line-up: Savas Oz- low shot by Mate Dugandzic that was com- attack by left-back Rhodri Payne. Coveny class in defence for the Knights. Goran demir, Jamie Cumming, John Fitzgerald, fortably handled by South keeper Tommi had stayed onside and as a result Payne’s Zoric was the most unlucky, with his shot James Sherman, Matthew Grbesa, Mate Tomich, returning to the starting line-up header put him through one-on-one with being cleared off the line by Elvin. After Dugandzcic, Joshua Groenewald, Greg after being omitted for the Preston game. Ozdemir. Coveny calmly put the ball be- over 5 minutes of injury time, referee Draper, Dimitri Hatzimouratis, Craig The second half started brightly for tween Ozdemir’s legs and into the back of Damir Basic’s fulltime whistle signalled a Elvin, Alex Kiratzoglou. South, as Fernando de Moraes pressed the net for a 2-0 lead and at the same time very hard-fought but well-earnt 2-1 victory forward to partner Vaughan Coveny in notch his 98th career goal for South. for the home team. Man of the Match: Joseph Youssef (South attack. The impact was immediate, as a By this stage the home side was in com- South Melbourne’s next match is away Melbourne) ball played from the right into the area was plete control, and should have had a third to the Whittlesea Zebras on Monday March fl icked into Fernando’s path via Coveny’s but for poor fi nishing. The Knights had 30th, with the venue still to be confi rmed. head. The Futsalroo was through one-on- barely been a threat, but out of nowhere Kick-off is scheduled for 8:30pm. The one with Knights keeper Savas Ozdemir they pulled a goal back in the 70th minute. Melbourne Knights’ next match is away By John Kyrou and he made no mistake in comfortably A poor mix-up in the South defence saw to Green Gully, on Saturday March 28th. slotting the ball to Ozdemir’s left and into the ball spill to Dugandzic, whose fi nish Kick-off is at 5pm. Photos by Steve Starek the corner of the net, giving South its fi rst was full of class as he beat Tomich at his

Opa! Opa! Fernando De Moraes opens the scoring

Mate Dugandzic pulls one back for the Knights Stacks on for South as they enjoy putting one over they old foes p8 Monday 23rd March ISSUE #5 VPL Round 4 The Premiership LIONS PRIDE RESTORED Preston rebound to collect their fi rst point for the season

PRESTON GREEN GULLY LIONS 0 - 0 CAVALIERS Preston placed last week’s horror result Salcin. Moments later, the Lions won a free Green Gully continued to compile pressure on will most probably be missing the services of against South Melbourne behind them kick with the resulting set piece taken by Ivan the Preston defence but struggled to fi nd an ave- Steve Tilovski for this week’s big north-western playing out a 0-0 draw against Green Filipovic. His ball found unmarked defender nue to goal, either frustrated with the offside trap, derby against the Melbourne Knights with a groin Gully in front of approximately 1,000 at Michael Miskas at the edge of the six yard box, or Damir Salcin. Matthew Sanders unfortunately injury, whilst Preston will be tested against top of B.T Connor Reserve. only for the resulting header to be tipped over the couldn’t measure his run on goal from balls deliv- the league opposition again, with a Friday night Although the contest will go down in the results bar by Tilovski. ered to him in promising positions and was caught clash versus Richmond at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. vault as a 0-0 draw, the open ended game could In the fi nal stages of the fi rst half, Salcin was offside on several occasions. When Gully found have easily fi nished as a 4-4 score line, had it not tested another three times and performed on each a legal avenue through, on two occasions shots by Preston Lions: D Salcin, M. Miskas, B. Geor- been for the goalkeeping performances of Damir occasion. His fi rst save avoided Preston’s blushes either talented youngster Aziz Behich and the vet- gioski, Z. Popovic (M. Ladnjak 65’), C. Toleski, Salcin and Steven Tilovski respectively, who were of conceding an own goal, when Michael Miskas eran Pablo Cardozo were denied by Salcin. The I. Filipovic, R. Dolevski (I. Kolevski 90’), B. both outstanding from start to fi nish. intercepted a cross which was heading for the Cavalier’s best chance to break the deadlock came Micovski, I. Arsovski (R. Nadjovski 80’), M. Although only round four of the season, the back of his own net, only for Salcin to save it late in the second half when Behich’s cross was Bosevski, S. Oksuz game was a must win for both clubs. On one before Pablo Cardozo could swoop on the line. blocked, but not held by Salcin. The ball spilt to hand, a win for Green Gully would keep the Minutes later, Pablo Cardozo fi red in a hotly stuck Kristijan Ivesic who shot past Salcin, but the ball Scorers: Nil Cavaliers in early touch with league leaders Rich- ball from 20 yards out which Salcin tipped over frantically cleared off the goal line by Miskas Yellow cards: Igor Arsovski (70’) mond and Dandenong, whilst Preston were under the bar. One of the fi nal pieces of play for the Finishing in a highly entertaining, yet score- Red cards: Nil severe pressure to perform, not only to rebound half saw Salcin keep out a Kole Delev free header less draw, the reaction from both managers Green Gully: S. Tilovski, K. Ivesic (D. White from last week’s thrashing, but to collect their which he caught sight of at the fi nal moment after was contrasting. Lions Coach Zoran Trajceski 80’), S. Burton, D. Fak, K. Delev, J. Fleming, fi rst points for the season. fending off a crowded penalty area. refl ected on his team’s ability to rebound quickly, A. Behich, J. Adam, P. Cardozo, M. Sanders, M. As mentioned, both teams had the opportu- The goalkeeping display continued in the sec- commenting that “we were rubbish last week Medjedovic nity to notch at least three goals on the board ond half, in particular Steve Tilovski who played and I was proud of my young squad to perform by half time, but were denied by brilliant pieces the bulk of the second half injured. In the open- and match the standards of what I consider to Scorers: Nil of goalkeeping. Tilovski was called into action ing minutes of the second half, Michael Bosevski be the hardest and most experienced team in the Yellow Cards: Nil in the seventh minute when he saved a Serkan connected to a rocket of a set piece from twenty competition”. Green Gully coach Dave Winton Red Cards: Nil Okzuz shot on goal at full stretch from twelve yards, which was good enough to beat the ball, was frustrated with his team’s performance, yards. With the ball still alive after the fi ne save, but not Tilovski at the fi nal moment. Tilovski particularly with its fi nishing. “I was disappointed Man of the Match: Damir Salcin (Preston Lions) Green Gully captain Dean Fak charged down Bale was at the rescue again when Serkan Oksuz shot and angry. We tore them open so many times, Crowd: 1000 Micovski’s shot from only a few yards out. on goal from a narrow angle on the left hand side, but our fi nal ball was the only quality that we did Preston were lucky not to concede in the 15th but was denied again. Tilovski injured himself not have in our game. Despite that, the positive By Simon McCuskey minute when Matthew Sanders strolled into the in the process making the save and subsequently was we kept another clean sheet and played some box but had his low shot on goal blocked by struggled to hold onto some balls he controlled beautiful football.” Photos by Nome Risteski with ease throughout the game. On a sour note for the Cavaliers, Green Gully

Preston’s Micovski holds off a challenge from a Gully player Surkan Oksuz tries to out sprint Gully’s Koce Delev

ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p9 The Premiership Round 4 - Monday Night Football CANNONS SHOOT FOR ZEBRAS Tonight At Epping Stadium KO 8.15pm

WHITTLESEA OAKLEIGH ZEBRAS V CANNONS The Oakleigh Cannons travel to circulation of the ball, start playing a Epping tonight to take on the bit. “ Whittlesea Zebras in the fi nal Recent form aside, the visitors have VPL fi xture of Round 4. their share of injury woes. Anastasiadis The Cannons are hurting after los- confi rmed that Alex Rojas has emerged ing two consecutive home games and from last week’s match with a fractured will be looking to put the sword to a foot and looks set for a 12 week spell Whittlesea outfi t that is currently sitting on the sidelines. last on the table. Star striker Diaco missed the last At home against Melbourne Knights match through injury while fellow in Round 3, the Cannons went down signing Jerry Karpeh is also in doubt 1-0 after the visiting side had been and may miss the match against his for- reduced to ten men for an hour of the mer side after limping off just before match. half-time in last weeks match. Despite creating several chances in However Anastasiadis is hopeful that that match, particularly in the fi rst half, Diaco will be fi t for tonight’s clash; “I Oakleigh were largely outplayed for think Jerry’s pretty iffy for this week much of the second period in a perfor- but Ricky may be OK.” mance that disappointed coach John The Cannons trained on Saturday and Anastasiadis. assessing his strikers’ fi tness would “It was one of the worst losses I’ve have been high on Anastasiadis’s to-do had as a coach,” said the former PAOK list. and South Melbourne star after the Despite their hosts’ winless start to match. the season, Anastasiadis is not taking Oakleigh were widely tipped to be Whittlesea lightly. amongst the challengers for the title “They’ll be up and ready for it, this season after adding ex-Melbourne going for a result. This league is so Victory striker Ricky Diaco and strap- unpredictable that you can have a team ping Liberian forward Jerry Karpeh to that is not performing well and all of a a squad that fi nished just outside the sudden they’re playing like superstars.” playoffs in 2008. The home side are without a win this This week Anastasiadis has been season and desperately need something focusing on ironing out some minor from the match to ensure that their creases that have appeared in a side 2009 campaign isn’t purely a battle for that started the season in fi ne form with top-fl ight survival. Oakleigh striker Jerry Karpeh trudges off the fi eld with physio Josh a 4-1 win away at Heidelberg. Following a promising showing in Taylor after last week’s 0-1 loss to the Knights. Can Jerry make a “We’ve tried to keep spirits up, keep Round 2 when they went down fi ghting winning return to Epping Stadium tonight against his old club? the confi dence up, because you don’t one nil to Green Gully at home, the Ze- go from being a great team to a bad bras were humbled 3-0 away at Hume regarding facilities and stadium issues. required to perform at the standard team in a matter of a week. We’ve just City last weekend. However, Whittlesea coach Ivan expected at VPL level, tried to rectify a couple of little things A win or even a spirited draw would Jolic’s mind is fi rmly focused on the “We’re hopeful we’ll see an im- that we’ve been getting punished for. do wonders for the confi dence of the work that needs to be done on the pitch proved performance against Oakleigh.” “We want to get our passing right. group, yet to score a goal in the fi rst as he tries to lift his side out of the We’ve been avoiding our midfi eld, go- three rounds of the season amidst a relegation zone. By Chris Aloi ing over the top. We want to have more backdrop of uncertainty at club level “Irrespective of off-fi eld issues, as coaching staff and as a team we are Photo by Peter Kakalias

p10 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 Ferenc Puskas BLAST FROM THE PAST THE MIGHTIEST MAGYAR When Football Royalty Graced Australia Ferenc Puskas, star of the great Hun- Hellas came second at the end of the garian national team of the 1950s and home and away games and beat Adelaide later with Real Madrid, spent four City by four goals to two in the qualify- years in Australia from 1988 to 1992. ing fi nal. But Croatia beat it by one-nil For most of that time he was coach at in the major semi-fi nal, so it was off to South Melbourne Hellas but he actually the Hindmarsh for the preliminary fi nal came to this country to meet friends and where Hellas got up by the only goal. In play in a few old boys matches. the fi nal at Olympic Park, Croatia overran He should have been here in 1956 for Hellas for most of the game after Andrew the Melbourne Olympic Games but the Marth scored in 25 minutes. But with time national team was withdrawn from the running out, Paul Trimboli released Joe competition earlier that year. The Hungar- Palatsides and the big man thumped home ian authorities had planned to go with a the equaliser in 88 minutes. Extra time younger team but then decided not to send produced no more goals and the penalties it. At the time Puskas was playing with eventually went 5–4 in favour of South Honved in the European Cup and Honved Melbourne. Just a fl icker of pleasure at the left Hungary on 29 October before the corners of his mouth was all that Puskas tanks rolled in to put down the Hungar- allowed himself as the team picked up the ian uprising against the Soviet Union. So supreme prize in Australian football. Puskas and company had to play Bilbao His coaching style was unique. He be- not knowing how their families were lieved that you must have talented individ- faring. They lost 3–2 in Bilbao on 22 uals who can dictate the shape of a match, November. The team was recalled by the rather than a rigid format to which players Hungarian soccer authorities but under the are expected to conform. You can see how infl uence of the older players, including his own career shaped his perceptions. He Puskas whose wife and daughter were by refused to lay down a slew of tactical di- this time safe in Austria, Honved stayed rections, though he quickly jumped on any on, playing friendly matches against below par performances. ‘If you cannot European sides including Real Madrid. perform, you go out,’ he said. Even at 64 The second leg against Bilbao was fi nally he could still astound his players by going played at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels out in his everyday shoes, fl icking the ball in December and though Honved drew the up and planting it in the postage stamp game 3–3 it went out on aggregate by six corner with the regularity of a metronome. goals to fi ve. He thought at the time that it was very dif- After his stellar time at Real Madrid fi cult to develop young players in Austra- and playing for Spain in the World Cup lia because there were not enough talented in Chile in 1962, Puskas ‘retired’ but coaches to help them from an early age. continued playing in invitation matches He talked about working with ten-year- and after selling his famous restaurant olds to develop their skills. in Madrid he coached in Canada in the After the collapse of the Soviet system, North American Soccer League. From Puskas returned to Hungary to a hero’s there he went to Panathanaikos where he Billy Murray and the legendary Ferenc Puskas with the 1989 Dockerty Cup which welcome and against his expressed wishes took the team to the European Cup fi nal South Melbourne went on to defeat Altona Gate 1-0 in the fi nal at Olympic Park. even coached the national team briefl y. in 1971, only going down two-nil to the Photo: Les Shorrock Collection, Deakin University Library He died on 17 November 2006 at the age fabulous Ajax team of Johann Cruyff, of 79. Johan Neeskens, Gerrie Muhren and Dick to Colo Colo in Chile, then back to Greece a holiday and to meet Hungarian friends. van Dyk. He also won three league titles to AEK Athens. The next stop was Egypt But he was persuaded to take on the though one was chalked off because of a with the El Masry club for fi ve years and coaching role at Hellas, where he helped Words by Roy Hay pitch invasion in the fi nal match against then a couple of stints in Paraguay. the team win the most extraordinary grand Photos: Les Shorrock collection, Olympiakos. Next the travelling man went So when he came to Australia it was for fi nal against Melbourne Croatia in 1991. Deakin University Library

FOR THE RECORD...App (Goals) 1943-1949 Kispest AC 177 (187) 1949 Honved 164 (165) 1957 Espanyol (guest) 1958-1966 Real Madrid 182 (157) Total 523 (509)

1945-56 Hungary 85 (84) 1961-62 Spain 4 (0)

The Coaching Record 1967 Hercules FC 1967 San Francisco Golden Gate Gales 1968 Vancouver Royals 1968-69 Deportivo Alaves 1970-74 Panathiniakos 1975 Real Murcia 1975-76 Colo Colo 1976-77 Saudi Arabia 1978-79 AEK Athens 1979-82 Al-Masry 1985-86 Club Sol de America 1986-89 Cerro Porteno 1989-92 South Melbourne Hellas Joe Palatsides 1993 Hungary Puskas in a veterans’ game Photo: John Punshon Paul Trimboli ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p11 SOCCER SIDESHOW Little Bit of This That And The Other Dept. WIN A PLACE AT THE COUCH AS ROMA ACADEMY WEEK POTATO Thanks to our friends at the professional level This week’s football Genova International School of - To create a bridge for Australian television & radio listings. Soccer (GISS) here’s your chance soccer players to access European to score a free pass to the AS teams Roma Academy Week. - To place players in professional or Valued at $450 one lucky Goal! semi-professional teams throughout READER Weekly reader can win a place at Europe the upcoming 4 day clinic as well as COMPETITION a AS Roma playing kit. So, what are you waiting for? The Genova International School of Soccer provides opportunities for To register your interest and be in outstanding young soccer players in the running to win this top prize, VPL Europe, North and South America, simply answer the following ques- The Victorian Football Show Which Serie A team does super- Every Wednesday C31 8pm and Australia to develop a soccer tion: star Francesco Totti pay for? career to international standard. The Green Gully Football Show The aims of GISS include: Email your answer to: Every Saturday C31 10.30am - To provide a professional approach [email protected] to training - To provide a professional standard of technical knowledge - To raise the standards of players World Cup Qualifi ers who strive to compete at an elite or Asian Group A & B

Saturday 28 March Fox Sports 1 FOOTBALL 10.55 pm Uzbekistan v Qatar LIVE WAG OF THE WEEK 12.50 am Japan v Bahrain DELAY QUOTES 2.25 am DPR Korea v Korea DELAY 4.00 am Iran v Saudi Arabia DELAY ‘What I don’t understand is how a Frenchman can be playing for Man- EPL / CCC resumes on April 4th. chester United. He’s not even from England.’ - LORD DENNING QC (on the Cantona affair)

‘Spurs will play either Eintracht or Frankfurt.’ - ALISTAIR BURNETT

‘The rest of the team are very large... they dwarf above you.’ - FRED DINENAGE Monday 23rd March 3:30pm Eredivisie AZ vs Feyenoord ‘London clubs are doing brilliantly at Tuesday 24th March the moment - Arsenal are top of the 1:30am MUTV: EPL Fulham vs Man Utd Premiership, QPR are near the top of 5:00am Ligue 1 Marseille vs Nantes the fi rst division, Watford top of the 2nd, 6:45am Ligue 1 Toulouse vs PSG Peterborough top of the third...’ 11:00am Bundesliga Bayern Munich vs Karlsruher 12:45pm Russian PL Dinamo Moscow vs FK - Caller to Radio 5 Live Khimiki Caller to Radio 5 phone-in: There are Wednesday 25th March too many foreign players in the league. 12:00am Chelsea TV: EPL Tottenham vs Chelsea Mark Lawrenson: Why do you think that 6:30am Blue Square Histon vs Stevenage LIVE 4:15pm Guinness P’ship London Irish vs is? North’ton Caller: Because there are a lot of them. 11:30pm Barca TV: La Liga Barcelona vs Malaga ‘There’s no score, for those of you inter- Thursday 26th March 3:30am Celtic TV: SPL Reserves Rangers vs Celtic ested in football and can’t get to a radio.’ 11:45am Copa Libertadores Aurora vs Gremio - JO WHILEY (live on Radio One) LIVE ‘Dennis Wise is brilliant for Chelsea, Sunday 28th March even if he doesn’t play’ - DANIEL 5:00am World Cup Qualifi er Israel vs Greece LIVE 7:00am World Cup Qualifi er Uruguay vs Paraguay HICKEY (News Of The World letter) LIVE 9:00am World Cup Qual Argentina vs Venezuala Candy McCulloch Age: 21 ‘I like watching matches, but I’m not LIVE certain about the scoring system.’ 11:15am World Cup Qualifi er Colombia vs Bolivia Insignificant other: Liverpool Winger, Jermaine Pennant LIVE - JUNE SARPONG 1:30pm International Football England vs Slovakia 3:15pm World Cup Qualifi er Israel vs Greece 6:45pm World Cup Qualifi er Portugal vs Venezuala

Monday 29th March 8:00am World Cup Qualifi er Ecuador vs Brazil LIVE 10:15am World Cup Qualifi er Peru vs Chile LIVE PEDRO’S PIT 3:30pm World Cup Qualifi er Germany vs Authentic Italian Pizza Liechtenstein 5:15pm World Cup Qualifi er Lithuania vs France 327 Bay Street, Port Melbourne Tel: 9646 4110 2 LARGE TRADITIONAL SUPER TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS PIZZAS DELIVERED $24 LARGE TRADITIONAL PICK UP $10 p12 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 ISSUE #5 STATE LEAGUE NW3 - SEASON 2009 Round 1 Round 9 Round 16 Sat 28 Mar 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Melb Uni Rangers Larissa Res Sat 30 May 3:00PM Cairnlea v Lalor Cairnlea Park Sat 25 Jul 3:00PM Banyule City v La Trobe Uni Yallambie Park Res Sat 28 Mar 3:00PM Banyule City v Moreland City Yallambie Park Res Sat 30 May 3:00PM Geelong v La Trobe Uni Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 25 Jul 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Lalor Larissa Res Sat 28 Mar 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Maribyrnong Greens Latrobe Uni Lower Play- Sat 30 May 3:00PM Hume Utd v Banyule City Laura Douglas Res Sat 25 Jul 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Cairnlea Princes Park (Parkville) ing Fld Sat 30 May 3:00PM Westvale v North Sunshine Eagles McKechnie Res Sat 25 Jul 3:00PM Moreland City v Geelong Campbell Res Sat 28 Mar 3:00PM Geelong v Yarraville Glory Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 30 May 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Melb Uni Rangers Skinner Res Sat 25 Jul 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Hume Utd Skinner Res Sat 28 Mar 7:00PM Lalor v Westvale DISC - Pitch 1 Sat 30 May 3:00PM Moreland City v Yarraville Glory Campbell Res Sat 25 Jul 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Westvale McIvor Res Mon 13 Apr 3:00PM Hume Utd v Cairnlea Laura Douglas Res Round 10 Round 17 Round 2 Sat 13 Jun 3:00PM Cairnlea v Yarraville Glory Cairnlea Park Sat 1 Aug 3:00PM Westvale v Maribyrnong Greens McKechnie Res Sat 4 Apr 3:00PM Hume Utd v Geelong Laura Douglas Res Sat 13 Jun 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Moreland City Princes Park (Parkville) Sat 1 Aug 3:00PM Hume Utd v Moreland City Laura Douglas Res Sat 4 Apr 3:00PM Moreland City v La Trobe Uni Campbell Res Sat 13 Jun 3:00PM Banyule City v Westvale Yallambie Park Res Sat 1 Aug 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Yarraville Glory Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld Sat 4 Apr 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v North Sunshine Eagles McIvor Res Sat 13 Jun 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Hume Utd Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld Sat 1 Aug 3:00PM Geelong v Melb Uni Rangers Stead Park Res, Corio Mon 6 Jun 3:00PM Westvale v Cairnlea McKechnie Res Sat 13 Jun 3:00PM Lalor v Geelong RGC Cook Res Sat 1 Aug 3:00PM Cairnlea v North Sunshine Eagles Cairnlea Park Mon 6 Jun 3:00PM Lalor v Maribyrnong Greens RGC Cook Res Sat 13 Jun 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Maribyrnong Greens Larissa Res Sat 1 Aug 3:00PM Lalor v Banyule City RGC Cook Res Mon 6 Jun 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Banyule City Princes Park (Parkville) Round 11 Round 18 Round 3 Sat 20 Jun 3:00PM Geelong v Cairnlea Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 8 Aug 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Lalor Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld Sat 18 Apr 3:00PM Banyule City v North Sunshine Eagles Yallambie Park Res Sat 20 Jun 3:00PM Hume Utd v Lalor Laura Douglas Res Sat 8 Aug 3:00PM Banyule City v Cairnlea Yallambie Park Res Sat 18 Apr 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Melb Uni Rangers Latrobe Uni Lower Fld Sat 20 Jun 3:00PM Westvale v La Trobe Uni McKechnie Res Sat 8 Aug 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Geelong Larissa Res Sat 18 Apr 3:00PM Moreland City v Lalor Campbell Res Sat 20 Jun 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Banyule City Skinner Res Sat 8 Aug 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Hume Utd Princes Park (Parkville) Sat 18 Apr 3:00PM Cairnlea v Maribyrnong Greens Cairnlea Park Sat 20 Jun 3:00PM Moreland City v North Sunshine Eagles Campbell Res Sat 8 Aug 3:00PM Moreland City v Westvale Campbell Res Sat 18 Apr 3:00PM Geelong v Westvale Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 20 Jun 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Melb Uni Rangers McIvor Res Sat 8 Aug 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Maribyrnong Greens McIvor Res Sat 18 Apr 3:00PM Hume Utd v Yarraville Glory Laura Douglas Res Round 12 Round 19 Round 4 Sat 27 Jun 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v North Sunshine Eagles Princes Park Sat 15 Aug 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Moreland City Skinner Res Sat 25 Apr 3:00PM Westvale v Hume Utd McKechnie Res (Parkville) Sat 15 Aug 3:00PM Lalor v Yarraville Glory RGC Cook Res Sat 25 Apr 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Geelong Skinner Res Sat 27 Jun 3:00PM Moreland City v Banyule City Campbell Res Sat 15 Aug 3:00PM Westvale v Melb Uni Rangers McKechnie Res Sat 25 Apr 3:00PM Moreland City v Cairnlea Campbell Res Sat 27 Jun 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v La Trobe Uni Skinner Res Sat 15 Aug 3:00PM Hume Utd v North Sunshine Eagles Laura Douglas Res Sat 25 Apr 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Banyule City McIvor Res Sat 27 Jun 3:00PM Westvale v Lalor McKechnie Res Sat 15 Aug 3:00PM Geelong v Banyule City Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 25 Apr 3:00PM Lalor v Melb Uni Rangers RGC Cook Res Sat 27 Jun 3:00PM Cairnlea v Hume Utd Cairnlea Park Sat 15 Aug 3:00PM Cairnlea v La Trobe Uni Cairnlea Park Sat 25 Apr 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v La Trobe Uni Larissa Res Sat 27 Jun 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Geelong McIvor Res Round 20 Round 5 Round 13 Sat 22 Aug 3:00PM Lalor v Cairnlea RGC Cook Res Sat 2 May 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Banyule City Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld Sat 4 Jul 3:00PM Geelong v Hume Utd Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 22 Aug 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Geelong Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld Sat 2 May 3:00PM Lalor v North Sunshine Eagles RGC Cook Res Sat 4 Jul 3:00PM Cairnlea v Westvale Cairnlea Park Sat 22 Aug 3:00PM Banyule City v Hume Utd Yallambie Park Res Sat 2 May 3:00PM Cairnlea v Melb Uni Rangers Cairnlea Park Sat 4 Jul 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Lalor Skinner Res Sat 22 Aug 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Westvale Larissa Res Sat 2 May 3:00PM Geelong v Moreland City Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 4 Jul 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Moreland City Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld Sat 22 Aug 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Maribyrnong Greens Princes Park Sat 2 May 3:00PM Hume Utd v Maribyrnong Greens Laura Douglas Res Sat 4 Jul 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Yarraville Glory Larissa Res (Parkville) Sat 2 May 3:00PM Westvale v Yarraville Glory McKechnie Res Sat 4 Jul 3:00PM Banyule City v Melb Uni Rangers Yallambie Park Res Sat 22 Aug 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Moreland City McIvor Res

Round 6 Round 14 Round 21 Sat 9 May 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Westvale Skinner Res Sat 11 Jul 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Banyule City Larissa Res Sat 29 Aug 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Cairnlea McIvor Res Sat 9 May 3:00PM Moreland City v Hume Utd Campbell Res Sat 11 Jul 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v La Trobe Uni Princes Park (Parkville) Sat 29 Aug 3:00PM Moreland City v Melb Uni Rangers Campbell Res Sat 9 May 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v La Trobe Uni McIvor Res Sat 11 Jul 3:00PM Lalor v Moreland City RGC Cook Res Sat 29 Aug 3:00PM Westvale v Banyule City McKechnie Res Sat 9 May 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Geelong Princes Park (Parkville) Sat 11 Jul 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Cairnlea Skinner Res Sat 29 Aug 3:00PM Hume Utd v La Trobe Uni Laura Douglas Res Sat 9 May 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Cairnlea Larissa Res Sat 11 Jul 3:00PM Westvale v Geelong McKechnie Res Sat 29 Aug 3:00PM Geelong v Lalor Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 9 May 3:00PM Banyule City v Lalor Yallambie Park Res Sat 11 Jul 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Hume Utd McIvor Res Sat 29 Aug 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v North Sunshine Eagles Skinner Res

Round 7 Round 15 Round 22 Sat 16 May 3:00PM Lalor v La Trobe Uni RGC Cook Res Sat 18 Jul 3:00PM Hume Utd v Westvale Laura Douglas Res Sat 5 Sep 3:00PM Cairnlea v Geelong Cairnlea Park Sat 16 May 3:00PM Cairnlea v Banyule City Cairnlea Park Sat 18 Jul 3:00PM Geelong v Maribyrnong Greens Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 5 Sep 3:00PM Lalor v Hume Utd RGC Cook Res ody2r ac 09 p13 Monday 23rd March 2009 Sat 16 May 3:00PM Geelong v North Sunshine Eagles Stead Park Res, Corio Sat 18 Jul 3:00PM Cairnlea v Moreland City Cairnlea Park Sat 5 Sep 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Westvale Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld Sat 16 May 3:00PM Hume Utd v Melb Uni Rangers Laura Douglas Res Sat 18 Jul 3:00PM Banyule City v Yarraville Glory Yallambie Park Res Sat 5 Sep 3:00PM Banyule City v Maribyrnong Greens Yallambie Park Res Sat 16 May 3:00PM Westvale v Moreland City McKechnie Res Sat 18 Jul 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Lalor Princes Park (Parkville) Sat 5 Sep 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Moreland City Larissa Res Sat 16 May 3:00PM Maribyrnong Greens v Yarraville Glory Skinner Res Sat 18 Jul 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v North Sunshine Eagles Latrobe Uni Lower Sat 5 Sep 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Yarraville Glory Princes Park (Parkville) Playing Fld Round 8 Draw Notes: Sat 23 May 3:00PM Moreland City v Maribyrnong Greens Campbell Res CATCH-UP ROUNDS - 6th June 20 & 12 September 20 - Clubs will be notifi ed by Sat 23 May 3:00PM Yarraville Glory v Lalor McIvor Res FFV of matches to be played on this weekend during the course of the season. Sat 23 May 3:00PM Melb Uni Rangers v Westvale Princes Park (Parkville) Sat 23 May 3:00PM North Sunshine Eagles v Hume Utd Larissa Res CLUBS ARE ADVISED TO VERIFY THEIR FIXTURES REGULARLY VIA RESULTS Sat 23 May 3:00PM Banyule City v Geelong Yallambie Park Res VAULT AND THE FFV WEBSITE FOR ANY CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE Sat 23 May 3:00PM La Trobe Uni v Cairnlea Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld Photo: Joseph Sirucka COURSE OF THE SEASON. Big Tone’s Top 50 Aussie Footballers 50 he Herald-Sun’s Mike Sheahan released his annual AFL Top Action’ Top 10, which deals with the 36 Adriano Pellegrino (age 24) Midfi elder 50 last week, amidst much fanfare and excitement. Thus, the players who have struggled to take the Perth Glory - Australia (A-League) question was posed, by me of course, “Why not set about the park due to long-term injuries or have Trent McClenahan (age 24) Defender A candidate for one of the most improved footballers in the A-League, Pellegrino had a brief stint challenge of naming the 50 best Australian footballers?” With simply been frozen out of gaining a sig- Hamilton Academical - Scotland (Premier League) in Greece before returning to play state league football in South Australia. He was offered an A product of the West Ham Youth Academy, Trent McClenahan spent several seasons learning his some 140 Aussies based overseas and a similar number competing nifi cant slice of fi rst-team football. Again, A-League lifeline by Perth Glory at the start of the season, and played a large part in the revival of T trade in the English third and fourth tier leagues, before making the move to the unfashionable their campaign after it appeared doomed for disaster. The only squad member to have played every in the A-League, the task at fi rst seems somewhat simple. However, given the focus on current performanc- Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premier League. An impressive Olympic campaign coupled league match, he has a tireless work ethic accompanied with a desire to take on the opposition, when attempting to fi nd that right balance between domestic players es and not potential, there will also be a with some strong performances against the Glasgow giants, McClenahan has improved signifi cant- illustrated stylishly with his goal against Melbourne Victory in December. At 24, and with a club and Aussies abroad, the challenge is understandably diffi cult. ‘Babes in Waiting’ Top 10. This will cater ly and has made the right back position his own. Given his current form and a long-term injury to best-and-fairest under his belt, expect further improvement from this spirited midfi elder. For those that know me, I am prone to watch every televised football for the promising youngsters who may Brett Emerton, Verbeek may fi nd that the time is right to bring McClenahan into the national squad. match I can get my hands on, but when it comes to world football, I will do make an appearance in the future, but 49 my utmost to catch an Aussie in action. Who else would set ‘Record’ on are a little too green to be considered By Tony Persoglia 35 Josip Skoko (age 33) Midfi elder their Foxtel IQ to catch the opening round of the Russian Premier League just now. Which is not to say there Archie Thompson (age 30) Striker HNK Hajduk Split - just to see Luke Wilkshire take the pitch! Despite the presence of TWG, won’t be some youngsters in amongst Melbourne Victory - Croatia (Prva HNL) FoxSports, ESPN and Setanta Sports, there is some reliance on statistics, the Top 50? The rule is - if you’re good enough, you’re old enough! Australia (A-League) Josip Skoko is still crafting a European football career website match reports and YouTube to get your daily world fi x, particularly I’m also taking international performances into account too, which will On his day, Archie Thompson is still unquestionably after fi fteen years abroad, cementing his reputation for obscure leagues where television coverage is impossible to fi nd. throw a spanner in the works, particularly with some players who have the best striker in the A-League. His ability to con- as one of Australia’s true professionals. After retir- So this week, I embark upon my quest to identify my Top 50 Australian struggled with game time at their clubs, but excelled when pulling on the found defenders with his turn of pace and precocious ing from international football against Argentina in footballers (Pim Verbeek take note, particularly when allocating shirt num- green-and-gold. No doubt, it will make for interesting debate to see where skill is only matched by an ability to fi nd the back of Melbourne, Skoko continued to provide solid service the net. Thompson may not have been at his electrify- bers for the Asian Cup Qualifying campaign). they eventually end up. to Wigan Athletic in the EPL, before returning to the ing best this season, but he still found the net on nine Croatian top fl ight at the beginning of this season. He Some points to note. Firstly, I shall place a heavy reliance on the past Without giving too much away, there are fourteen current A-League play- occasions, and his last gasp goal against Wellington has been an ever present in a Hajduk outfi t that cur- twelve months when assessing the merits of each individual. For instance, ers in the mix, and eleven of them appear in this week’s segment, which Phoenix in the fi nal round was as important as any he rently sits equal top on the championship table. With a many will bemoan the fact that Mark Viduka does not make it into my features players rated between 31 and 50. This says a lot for the number has scored in his career. Still one of the few players further year to run on his contract, it is likely that the inaugural list. Believe me, I am as disappointed as anyone, but it is hard to of youngsters and lower tier level players that are plying their trade over- who can command a spot in a full-strength Socceroos former VPL Gold Medal winner will end his playing build a case for someone who has made one starting appearance for his seas. It also gives an indication of just how far the A-League has come in squad, Archie will be hopeful that another successful career with another chance at playing in the European A-League campaign can help book his ticket to South club this season. gaining a foothold in the collective football conscience. Champions League. Africa. To compensate, along with the Top 50, there will also be a ‘Missing in So, let the countdown begin! 34 48 Michael Zullo (age 20) Midfi elder Michael Baird (age 25) Striker 44 40 Queensland Roar - FC Universitatea Craiova - Romania (Liga I) Josh Mitchell (age 24) Defender Eugene Galekovic (age 27) Australia (A-League) It is hard to believe that Michael Baird is still only 25, and now in his fourth season in the Roma- FC Universitatea Craiova - Romania (Liga I) Goalkeeper Michael Zullo burst onto the scene in season three of the A-League with a sense of energy and nian top fl ight, his best years are clearly ahead of him. A regular member of the Craiova squad Josh ‘Who’ you might ask? A promising defender in the fi nal season of the NSL, Mitchell Adelaide United - excitement that made him an instant crowd favourite. Many pundits predicted he would be found throughout that time, this season has been his best, and he currently sits in outright second as one of cemented a spot in the heart of the Newcastle United defence as a strapping 19-year-old, before out this season, but the youngster has cemented his spot in the Roar attack, and has added a level of the club’s leading scorers. Although small in stature, Baird possesses the ability to hold the ball and he became the fi rst of a wave of Australians to move to Romania in 2005. He quickly established Australia (A-League) consistency to his skilful ability to take on defenders. One of Australia’s brightest young prospects, Eugene Galekovic will look at his move to Adelaide can run at defenders with pace. Consistency was his greatest concern as a youngster, but the rigours himself as a key defender in his debut season abroad, helping Craiova achieve promotion in his Frank Farina has given him ample opportunity to impress, and he has shown similar glimpses in his United as the turning point in a career stalled by lack of European football have settled this once precocious talent. A move to a bigger club or league is fi rst season, and has made over 100 appearances in less than four seasons at the club. At 24, one Socceroos performances to date. A defi nite star of the future. paramount to ensure that Baird continues his steady development. would think it is only a matter of time before bigger clubs come knocking, not to mention the of opportunity. His new lease of life resulted in stellar national team, where depth in the defensive ranks has become a key concern. performances at domestic and intercontinental level, where he was instrumental in securing the Reds’ berth in 33 47 the Asian Champions League fi nal. With some outstand- Eddy Bosnar (age 28) Defender Paul Reid (age 29) Midfi elder 43 ing displays under his belt, it came as no surprise that he was named the A-League Goalkeeper of the Year. He JEF United - Japan (J-League) Adelaide United - Australia (A-League) Matt McKay (age 26) Midfi elder After seven years on the European continent, Eddy Bosnar also took out the Club Champion Award with his club, Returned to the A-League in order to reignite a career stalled by injury at his former League One Queensland Roar - Australia (A-League) made a move to the J-League with little fuss or fanfare. In and secured the number one jersey in the Socceroos’ club Brighton, Paul Reid established himself as one of the cornerstones of Adelaide United’s run A permanent fi xture in the Queensland Roar midfi eld, Matt McKay has developed into one of the his fi rst season with JEF United, he secured a defensive role Asian Cup qualifying squad. to the Asian Champions League fi nal. Although not as quick as the talented playmaker that graced A-League’s premier players via an unparalleled work ethic. His tireless and industrious work-rate which helped the club stave of relegation. The only Austra- the Wollongong Wolves championship teams at the turn of the century, he is a classy midfi elder, is often complimented by a dangerous left foot, which yielded fi ve goals this season. Reintegrated lian currently plying his trade in Japan, Bosnar has all the possessing an uncanny vision and range of passing not often seen in the domestic league. Rewarded into the Socceroos once again during the Asian Cup qualifying campaign, McKay has moved Don’t miss next week’s attributes of a quality defender, but has yet to taste national with a Socceroos debut at 29, Reid will be a key player in a rebuilding season for the Reds. on-loan to Changchun Yatai in the Chinese Super League, no doubt in a bid to keep fi t during the Goal! Weekly for Big Tone’s honours. If his strong performances continue, there is every A-League off-season and further strengthen his chances for a berth in the upcoming June World reason to believe that Bosnar may fi nd himself knocking on 46 Cup qualifi ers. next instalment of the the door of selection. 39 Neil Kilkenny (age 23) Leeds United Top 50 Countdown 42 Joel Porter (age 30) Striker 32 Leeds United - England (League One) Beginning as an apprentice at Arsenal and then developing a reputation as a talented winger at Rodrigo Vargas (age 30) Defender Hartlepool United - England (League One) Brad Jones (age 27) Goalkeeper Birmingham City, Neil Kilkenny has ultimately settled at Leeds United after an impressive loan Melbourne Victory - Many Melbourne Knights’ fans will fondly remember the Adelaide-born Joel Porter from his days in the NSL, where he was a prolifi c scorer in his two seasons at the club. His move to Hartlepool Middlesbrough - spell in 2007/08, where his performances helped him to secure an Olympic Games berth. Signed to Australia (A-League) a full contract, he had become a mainstay in the United midfi eld, although a change in management United has had mixed success, with a long-term knee injury threatening to end his career. Ironi- England (Premier League) In three seasons with the Melbourne Victory, Rodrigo Vargas With the departure of long serving countryman Mark Schwarzer to Fulham, Brad Jones was all set threatened to freeze him out of the fi rst team after Christmas. Has fought back to win his place, and cally, he is probably enjoying his most consistent and best season with the club, scoring 18 goals in has established himself as the key defender in two champion- to secure a starting spot at Middlesbrough for this season, but injury dealt him a cruel blow in the the club is unbeaten in six matches since his return. With a potential return to the Championship 39 starts across all competitions. His profi ciency in front of goal has impressed Miron Bleiberg, and ship winning teams, shared the spoils in a Victory Medal, fi rst round against Tottenham, and his fi rst team spot disappeared before he could even lay claim looming, Kilkenny will be pushing for further national honours in the lead-in to the World Cup. Porter’s return to the A-League with Gold Coast United is eagerly anticipated by all who remember and fi nally won a national cap at the ripe old age of 30. his undoubted talent in front of goal. to it. It is a credit to Jones’ character that after waiting in the wings for so long, he has fought back Resilient, relentless and a great leader, Vargas has become a to reclaim his position, largely through a string of good performances in the FA Cup. Jones is still 45 fans’ favourite, and is enjoying the best form in a wonderful considered somewhat young in goalkeeping circles, and while he is still playing in the Premier 38 Billy Celeski (age 23) Midfi elder domestic career. He also possesses the ability to score from a League, his rate of improvement will continue. set piece, making him as dangerous a defender as any in the Tarek Elrich (age 22) Utility Melbourne Victory - A-League. One of the more durable players around, Vargas Newcastle Jets - Australia (A-League) 31 Australia (A-League) may still have some of his best years ahead of him. Tarek Elrich has developed into a valuable commodity for the Newcastle Jets, starting every game Billy Celeski left for the Olympics in 2008 as a fringe this season in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the defending champions. Elrich’s versatil- Travis Dodd (age 29) Midfi elder player with a point to prove. He returned with high ity is his key strength, confi dent in a wide midfi eld role and just as comfortable in a defensive posi- Adelaide United - Australia (A-League) praise and a great deal of confi dence. After steady tion or as a wing-back. Elrich shone for the Jets with a number of breathtaking performances from How Pim Verbeek continues to ignore Travis Dodd in his early progress with Melbourne Victory, he displayed the back that illustrated his undoubted pace and ability to get forward during the counter attack. His selection for the domestic Socceroos is beyond many a stunning post New Year form to play an integral 41 impressive form has been rewarded with a call-up to the Socceroos Asian Cup qualifying squad. pundit’s comprehension. Considered one of the best attack- role in a championship winning team. As a holding Matt Simon (age 23) Striker ing players in the A-League, Dodd is blessed with relent- midfi elder, Celeski not only took on the responsibility less pace, and he has terrorised many an A-League defence of shutting down the opposition’s key playmakers, but Central Coast Mariners - Australia (A-League) 37 throughout the competition’s history. One of the few indig- Matt Simon’s fi rst season in the A-League was characterised by a tremendous work-rate for no illustrated the skill and technique which made him one Shane Stefanutto (age 29) Defender enous Australians to establish a successful football career, reward. He scored in the Mariners opening match of this campaign, and by seasons end, had eleven of the country’s most promising talents. With further Dodd has grown into his leadership role at Adelaide United, goals to his name in eighteen starts, almost snaring the A-League Golden Boot in the process. In a FC Lyn - Norway (Tippeligaen) improvements in his fi nishing and set pieces, Celeski and the grace and poise in with which he handled the club’s sense, Simon is a blast from Australia’s past - big, strong and unafraid to throw his weight around The former Brisbane Striker has spent six years in the Norwegian top fl ight, fi rstly with SK Lill- has the determination to build on his debut national fi nals demise is a testimony to the character of the man. in an aerial contest. A typical goal poacher, his meteoric rise has culminated in national honours. estrøm before moving to FC Lyn, where his role as a key infl uence to a more youthful squad has cap, with an overseas move likely to help unlock his witnessed further improvement in the left back’s game. Of late, he has been a regular selection in true potential. Add further experience in the Asian Champions League, Simon will be a marked man, but one to watch for that very reason. Pim Verbeek’s national squad, but has yet to seize on the opportunity with meaningful game time. A good start to the current Norwegian campaign and that may all change come the World Cup Issue #5 qualifi ers in June. Monday 23 Mar 2009 p15 THE BIG MAC THE REGULARS MacKenzie At Large An Occasional Offering from Craig MacKenzie The Sandringham conundrum McNaughton-run committee. two-year scholarship with English outfi t Pres- TREVOR Thomas resigned last week as Maybe it’s time to let the juniors run the whole ton North End but during the same month the president of State Three South-East outfi t shebang or sell the senior club to the highest club welcomes back Chris Quinn, who will Sandringham City and was replaced by for- bidder. And from what I’m told there may be have spent a year in Ireland. mer president Doug McNaughton. some vultures circling. It’s ironic that the club should be thrown into Green machine unstoppable turmoil just before the kick-off to the 2009 Tomic, Gordon at Langwarrin BENTLEIGH Greens should win promo- season as it also is planning a gala 60th an- WINGBACK Rados Tomic and striker tion from State One this season and don’t niversary function for later in the year. Wayne Gordon are among seven new sign- be surprised to see their home ground cho- But the off-fi eld instability is a far cry from ings for Division One outfi t Langwarrin. sen as one of 10 regional centres of excel- the outlook on the fi eld as new senior coach They join defender Reha Ulusoy (ex-Endea- lence under FFV’s Strategic Plan. James Baskerville and assistant Tommy Car- vour Hills, Dingley City and Doveton), who There’s been tentative discussions between the michael have gathered together a young squad captained Kingston City in the back half of Greens and FFV about the prospect of laying with quite a few players being produced by the last season; defender/midfi elder Bailey Wright an artifi cial pitch at Kingston Heath Soccer junior club. (ex-Dandenong Thunder and Victorian In- Complex and I understand that FFV would se- But what seems at fi rst glance as a healthy sys- stitute of Sport); midfi elder Mladen Kustura riously consider contributing to the project. tem whereby juniors rise through the ranks to (ex-Casey Comets, Bentleigh Greens, South Those pitches don’t come cheaply. We’re eventually play senior football masks a chasm Springvale and Doncaster Rovers); sweeper looking at little change out of $100,000 but that has long existed at Sandringham where Lewis Potter, who played non-league football with the State Government pushing the idea the senior and junior clubs are separate incor- in England; and goalkeeper Mark Blanco from of artifi cial pitches for a variety of sports it’s porated bodies. Berwick City. Blanco had been impressive in likely that Sport and Recreation and Kingston For many years now these separate entities goal for Southern in the Under–18 Summer Council also would come to the party. have eyed each other suspiciously, the seniors League. Oh, before I forget, the Greens signed another suspecting a “junior takeover” and the juniors Utility player Ben Caffrey is on holiday over- four players last week, surprise, surprise. zealously guarding their club coffers from seas, midfi elder Adam Poole is battling osteitis Last week’s intake involved Ibraim Ibraimi supposedly prying senior eyes. pubis and requires surgery, while star defender and Mentor Memeti from Dandenong Thun- Aki Ionnas of Oakleigh Cannons It may come as a shock to many when I say Ben Cullen is recovering slowly from glandu- der and George Cross duo Phil Cutler and Jake will have to put his hand deep in that Sandringham City could and should be a lar fever. Quickenden. his pocket after the outburst on powerhouse in Victorian football rather than Tomic returns to Langwarrin from Bentleigh Cutler is a defender who played with English Friday night. being weighed down by the administrative Greens and is a former Springvale White Ea- club North Ferriby while Quickenden played basket case that is the current senior club. gles and Noble Park United player. a handful of games with the Cross early last While Thomas has health issues that played a Gordon played professionally with Scottish season before a family illness forced a hurried was so incensed that I left the match and drove major part in his decision so did the fact that clubs Gretna and Albion Rovers as both a return to England. He’s a striker who played home, missing Joey Di Iorio’s late winner. he found himself steering a ghost ship into the striker and midfi elder. The 24-year-old also with App-Frod in the Central Midlands Su- The referee and assistant referee at that end of mist searching for the remains of the crew that played with Workington Reds and Newcastle preme League. the ground were to the best of my knowledge was on board when the vessel fi rst set sail at Blue Star in England’s Unibond League and There seems to be confusion at Kingston Heath aware of what had taken place which raises the the last AGM. was brought out here last season by Chelsea over how many new players have been signed question as to what action was taken by FFV’s In 2007 the senior club had 88 members. That coach Toby Paterson. by coach Dean Hennessy. One club fi gure said disciplinary wing to address the issue. same year the junior club had 852 members, Both Ulusoy and Kustura were injured during 12, another said 13 and I became so confused Just think of the economic benefi t to the feder- placing it in the top 10 clubs by membership in pre-season and are slowly working their way myself that I got out my calculator and arrived ation of pursuing this matter. It could so easily Victoria. Incidentally number one on that list back to peak fi tness while ace striker Caleb at a fi gure of 15. have raised much more than a meagre $3000 was neighbouring Brighton. Nicholes has been troubled with osteitis pubis In the end it was all so simple really. I just up- from the occasion. Football Federation Victoria’s fi gures show and only started training a fortnight ago. dated my old list of newcomers – Acs, Roza, Thunder reacted quickly to the fi ne. On the that in 2007 there were 3327 registered play- Teenager Wright leaves in June to take up a Gardiner, Savic, Smart, Ross, Natsoulias, Met- notice board in its social rooms is a letter by ers in the Bayside Council region consisting calfe, Latinopoulos, Husanovic and Ruzki – to president Driton Maliku noting the fi ne and of eight clubs: Bayside Argonauts, Beaumaris, include last week’s quartet. the club having to bear the cost of repairing Brighton, Brighton Old Boys, Hampton Ju- I watched the Greens beat Dandenong Thun- damage to advertising signs and sections of niors, Old Brighton Grammarians, Sandring- der 2–1 last Tuesday night in a friendly at the Cannon’s grandstand. ham Juniors and Sandringham City. Thunder’s ground and although the home team The letter clearly outlines the club’s policy Now, of that group the club that carries the put out a depleted side the pace, interpassing in such matters and states that any similar of- highest league status as a senior entity is San- and ability of the Greens to keep the ball were fence at home games will result in expulsion dringham City, indeed this has been the case quite impressive. from George Andrews Reserve and a season- for many a long year yet nothing of a lasting Hennessy may only need to sign another three long attendance ban. nature has been done to successfully tap in to or four top-fl ight players to be competitive in this oasis of talent within easy reach. the 2010 Premier League. The gloves are back on There have been times when bridges have At least I won’t have to get out my calculator ELEVEN of the 12 Premier League clubs been built between Sandringham’s senior and next time round. met last week and voted unanimously junior clubs but such links have always lapsed against being involved in FFV’s planned into disrepair due to non-use. Thunder, big Aki fi ned Summer League competition. It beggars belief that this situation be allowed DANDENONG Thunder was fi ned $1000 The only absentee was Green Gully and it to continue and what makes this even more by FFV for lighting a fl are at its 1–0 away didn’t take long for the meeting to revisit the farcical is the promise inherent in the Regional win against Oakleigh Cannons while Oak- summer competition issue which caused a ma- Soccer Strategy released last October, a docu- leigh general manager, big Aki Ionnas, was jor rift between the clubs and the federation ment jointly prepared by Bayside Council, fi ned $2000 for misconduct towards match last season. Kingston Council, FFV and Sport and Recre- offi cials at the same game. One of the problems facing FFV is the nega- ation. Ionnas faced two charges brought by FFV but tive feedback received by many clubs about It makes for interesting reading and if anyone the fi rst charge was thrown out as it wrongly the inaugural Summer League youth season on the current Sandringham City senior com- referred to alleged misconduct “during match which ended on the weekend and could be mittee should read this document they will time”. The exchange between Ionnas and the considered as a litmus test for a senior men’s fi nd sections that could be used as a template match offi cials actually took place after the fi - competition. for the club’s future. nal whistle had been blown. I admire FFV for trying to pump up the sum- Speaking of which, Thomas had held talks mer competition, after all that’s its job, but New Langwarrin signing Wayne I’d love to get my hands on the referee’s report with Sandringham Bowling Club about the to see if it mentioned anything about the fi re even if it were to use the word “massive” a few Gordon played professionally in possibility of developing its venue as a sports crackers that were thrown at Thunder goal- hundred times more on its website it would not social club to be utilised by members of both Scotland with Gretna and Albion keeper Stuart Webster through the netting at be able to cover up what the few punters in organisations. Rovers. Photo: SUE MACKIE. the back of his goals in the second half. attendance often saw – poor standards of play My guess is that such talks will no longer be I was standing no more than fi ve metres from and virtually zero atmosphere at matches. ongoing but that’s all in the hands of the new the morons that threw the fi re crackers and p16 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 Gas Bagging Dept. THE REGULARS

FFV FIXTURES - ROUND ONE All games Kick-Off 3pm on Saturday 28th March unless otherwise stated. With Mark Boric SL Division One Bentleigh Greens v Frankston Pines Kingston Heath Soccer Complex Fri 27 Mar 8PM Fawkner Blues v Northcote City CB Smith Reserve Langwarrin v Bulleen Royals Lawton Park Reserve Southern Stars v St Albans Saints Ross Reserve It goes without saying the the moment ers scene is that Bulleen will be ditching again the ball is Liverpool’s court for a Clifton Hill v Pascoe Vale Kevin Bartlett Reserve Springvale White Eagles v Western Suburbs I submitted last week’s column which the Royals moniker (RIP Essendon) and choke. White Eagles Stadium Sat 28 Mar 09 6:30PM bemoaned the lack of goals in the Vic- reverting back to being the Lions. Speaking of chokes, Oakleigh Cannons SL NW 2 torian Premier League this season South Sasho Petrovski scored twice in New- were on the cover of my local newspaper Thomastown Devils v Westgate Epping Soccer Sta- Melbourne would start putting them away castle’s 2-0 win over Ulsan Hyandai in last week. They are in dispute with Dan- dium Fri 27 Mar 09 8:30PM Altona City v Geelong Rangers HC Kim Reserve against Preston Lions at will. I think I the Asian Champions League during the denong Thunder over the extent of some Brunswick City v Keilor Park Dunstan Reserve asked something stupid like would the week. Is he just too fat for Asian defenders damage caused at Jack Edwards Reserve Altona East Phoenix v Ballarat Red Devils Paisley Park Soccer Complex VPL Top Goalscorer this year even get to contain? You have to wonder how long in the game between the two a few weeks Werribee City v North Geelong Warriors Galvin Park to double fi gures and then Goran Zoric he will stay at Newcastle though, having back. Cannon’s number one ticket holder Reserve almost got halfway there in just the one played for the full set of NSW clubs in and local MP Ann Barker said the crowd Williamstown v Sydenham Park JT Gray Reserve game. the A-League maybe he will be looking to behaviour had been “unbelievable”. I SL SE 2 Doncaster Rovers v Knox City Anderson Park Fri 27 Knights Stadium has been renamed move on and conquer Queensland. doubt it would have been as unbelievable Mar 8:30PM Mansion Stadium after a sponsorship deal Newcastle is like Darwin at the moment, as the bottles fl ying over my head and Dandenong City v Malvern City Frank Holohan Soccer Reserve with the internet gambling company. The the Aussue gateway to Asia. Former VPL 20 police vehicles parked on the junior Eastern Lions v Diamond Valley Utd Gardiners Creek internet gaming boom has done a bit for defender Antun Kovacic has just joined pitches I saw at games not involving Dan- Reserve the local game, giving us websites like fu- Ulsan from Newcastle, but was cup tied denong a few years ago at the same venue. Casey Comets v Heatherton Utd Comets Stadium Morwell Pegasus v Kingston City Ronald Reserve tbol24.com where you can get live scores for this clash. Playing the blame game is for losers, and Port Melbourne v South Springvale SS Anderson for not just VPL games, but ther Under Manchester United fell apart against dragging the game back into the mud over Reserve Sat 28 Mar 7PM 21’s as well. Fulham, Paul Scholes sent-off for imper- very minor incidents is pretty petty. SL NW 3 The bulk of Whittlesea’s home games sonating Edwin Van der Sar and Wayne Good luck to all the clubs kicking off North Sunshine Eagles v Melb Uni Rangers Larissa Reserve are still listed as To Be Confi rmed on the Rooney being dismissed after going wild. their seasons next weekend. Finally the Banyule City v Moreland City Yallambie Park Reserve fi xture list. This is not a sponsored stadium Offi cials would have been close to using pre-season and meaningless friendlies are La Trobe University v Maribyrnong Greens Latrobe Uni Lower Playing Fld name, it means where the games will be a tranquiliser gun on him to stop his rage. over and the real stuff begins. Hopefully Geelong v Yarraville Glory Stead Park Reserve, Corio played is still not known yet. Latest devel- Chelsea also lost, to the mighty Spurs, there will be enough referees for everyone Lalor v Westvale DISC - Pitch 1 Sat 28 Mar 09 7:00PM Hume Utd v Cairnlea Laura Douglas Reserve Mon 13 opment on the Melbourne Italian merg- opening up the title race somewhat. Once to abuse. Apr 09 3:00PM

SL SE 3 Croydon City Arrows v Springvale City Dorset Recre- ational Reserve Peninsula Strikers v Nunawading City Centenary Park Noble Park Utd v Boroondara Eagles Parkfi eld Reserve Sandringham City v Waverley Wanderers RJ Sillitoe Reserve With George Katsamboukas Brandon Park v Berwick City Freeway Reserve Southern Suburbs v North Caulfi eld Keeley Park Mon 29 Mar 3PM

Provi NW 1 Laverton Park v Western Eagles MacPhersons Park Fri 27 Mar 9PM Punters are as happy as Katsa being the kaching sound they will hear on pay of Australia’s all time classic games as it Elwood City v Corio Elwood Park Whittlesea Utd v Melbourne City Thomas Street given a key to J Walkers Warehouse as… days will be a touch lighter than what it had everything, and was decided after extra Recreation Res. In less than 6 sleeps Season 2009 will was in previous seasons. time and a very long penalty shoot out. Lalor Utd v Sunbury Utd HR Uren Reserve Essendon Utd v Northern Falcons DISC - Pitch 3 commence for the State and Provisional Will we see fi nals games of this quality FC Strathmore v South Yarra DISC - Pitch 1 Leagues. Over to the Foxtel Cup we go where…. again? Provi SE 1 Boring weekends will be a thing of the At the time of writing another edition of Mooroolbark v Ashburton Esther Park Reserve past, as a quick glimpse of the fi xtures Katsa’s Korner, Richmond, Green Gully I would like to say, yes we will, but will Monbulk v Fitzroy City Monbulk Recreation Reserve shows that punters can watch as many as 5 and Dandenong Thunder have yet to lose, we? Monash University v Old Camberwell Grammar Mo- nash Uni Sports Ground games per week! or to concede a goal. Old Melburnians v Old Scotch Robert Menzies State League Division 1 Club Power- Dandy Thunder has been the surprise The House of Darebin has gone awfully Reserve Mornington v Endeavour Utd Dallas Brooks Park brokers certainly put in the hard yards package of the 2009 Foxtel Cup, as many quiet regarding the Summer League for Warragul Utd v Doveton Baxter Park (Warragul) this week, fi nalising last minute signings, punters thought that they would struggle Seniors? Provi NW 2 before the transfer and registration Roller this year, having just won promotion from Is it still on the table, or perhaps the Watsonia Heights v Moreland Utd Gabonia Reserve Door closed. State 1. experience of the Junior Summer League Hoppers Crossing v Darebin Utd Grange Reserve Bell Park v Avondale Heights Bell Park Sports Club And they will be praying that their Not so, they could not have wished for has made them think twice. Collingwood City v Plenty Valley Lions DISC Coaches have gotten it right in terms a better start, and the Commodore made Not to mention the less than favourable North City Lions v Epping City Wallace Reserve of their playing rosters, because if they Melbourne Tornado v West Preston DISC - Pitch 2 28 the trek to their ground during the week to reaction that they will receive from existing Mar 09 7:00PM haven’t, they cannot sign any new players watch them play a friendly against Bentle- Foxtel Cup Teams, should they decide to till mid May. igh Greens. press on with a Summer League. Provi SE 2 Berwick Kings v White Star Dandenong Betula Park Then again, if the Coach’s have not got New Floodlights, new Stadium and the Old Brighton Grammarians v Dandenong Sparrows it right, they will be unemployed when the place is really buzzing! Dendy Park Rowville Eagles v Old Carey Park Ridge Reserve transfer window opens, some of whom Till next week….. Carrum Utd v Beaumaris Italo-Australian Club will add another Club Managers Jacket to Down to the Westgate Zone of the Foxtel Lyndale Utd v Riversdale Lyndale Secondary College their many that they already have in their Cup Ladder we go, where… This is Katsa – Just as you’ve known him. Whitehorse Utd v Caulfi eld Cobras Terrara Park wardrobes. Whittlesea. Preston and Sunshine Geor- Provi NW 3 This week will also be a busy week for Ascot Vale v Melton Fairbairn Park gies starts have been far from impressive. Brimbank v Brimbank City Italo-Australian Social Club Club Powerbrokers in the state and provy Will they turn it around? Brunswick Zebras v Keon Park Sumner Park leagues, as their seasons commence next Well if they don’t the Scorer will be Bundoora Utd v Upfi eld Hills Recreation Reserve Mill Park v Youth Utd Findon Reserve week. called into action. Surf Coast v Keilor Wolves Quay Reserve And to make matters even more interest- Coach Toll Provi SE 3 ing for them, they will be presented with a Down Memory Lane we go, and the South Endeavour Hills v Uni. of Melbourne Power Reserve number of players who have been scored a Melbourne Vs Melbourne Knights game Bayside Argonauts v Seaford Utd Shipston Reserve Last Year This Year Glen Waverley v Brighton Larpent Reserve sad end very late in the piece from State 1 scheduled for yesterday bought back Eltham North v Meadow Park Eagles Eltham North Clubs. memories of the 1991 NSL Grand Final Reserve These pop stars may have to reduce their between these powerhouse Clubs. 0 - 4 0 - 4 Old Trinity Grammarians v East Bentleigh Trinity Sports Ground pay demands though, and swap their G-Star Outs Weeks Outs Weeks Keysborough v Noble Park Coomoora Reserve Raw’s for Westco Jeans in season 2009, as This match would have to go down as one ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p17 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 #5 INTERSTATE South Australia ADELAIDE WINS TUSSLE OF TWO CITYS Budin’s Brilliant Brace! Rocky Aloisi’s Campbelltown City Red Devils Joel Allwright. Later in the fi rst half, Muscroft suffered their second loss for the season as 2008 again found himself in amongst the action, his League Champions Adelaide City stole the shot up front intended for his forwards only to points with a 2-1 win at the Newton Sports Vil- be intercepted and booted away quickly by Jets lage Complex. In a game where the Red Devils keeper Paul Riley. Within minutes of the second looked the more dangerous of the two sides, it half commencing, the Knights had a chance was the mastery of Player Coach Damian Mori to pull away, when Pat Barbaro found himself that was the turning point of the game. Aloisi in front of an open goal in the 52nd minute, made a change to his strikeforce, going with the instead spraying the shot wide of the cross bar. pocket size dynamo Ali Toure (Raiders) to part- Ten minutes later a great solo run by Marrone ner veteran Jason Trimboli but it was midfi elder got the crowd excited, the Jets defence putting Nathan Fleetwood who had the fi rst opportunity in a desperate tackle to stop him from scor- to score within minutes of the game starting, the ing. Shortly after, the Knights got their second, chance going unrewarded. The home side pushed defender Michael Cartwright getting his name of the reigning champions, midfi elders Fleetwood the scoresheet after slotting away a ricocheting and captain Simon Catanzaro supplying strikers ball past unsighted Riley. Modbury did start to Toure and Trimboli to create numerous scoring challenge Para Hills but let themselves down up opportunities only to be denied by experienced front, ineffective use of the ball and wayward City keeper Ben Moore. With scores locked passing the order of the day. With 10 minutes away at 0:0 at the half time break, the Red to go, Modbury had the perfect chance to peg Devils came our fi ring, their fi rst goal coming a goal back but squandered the opportunity. in the 51st minute from a brilliant piece of play Two minutes later they were punished through instigated by Fleetwood through midfi eld, great Allwright who had been on fi re all night, when one touch football eventually fi nding Trimboli he scored a cracker about 30 metres out to out wide to blast a ball past Moore. As the Red comprehensively beat Riley for the Knights 3rd. Devils maintained the pressure on Adelaide City Eventually, the Jets were able to score through through solid performances from their backmen Mark Clayton who managed to break through Michael D’Aloisio and Michael Menechella, the Knights defence, the consolation goal com- Mori saw the need to make a change, substitut- ing 5 minutes from time. Knights coach Robbie ing Ricardo Da Silva to bring himself on, a Ditroia was happy with the way his side played. move that changed the state of the game. Within “I thought we started well and kept the momen- 5 minutes City were able to equalize through tum going throughout the game. Missed opportu- the great work of trio Chad Bugeja (White City nities allowed Modbury into the game but we Woodville), Mori himself with a great cut back maintained possession and tried to create a lot of into the box and fi nally Budin putting it away chances. We can only get better every match as past Devil’s keeper Pogliacomi. The Devils the Adelaide Youth players who have come back continued to attack but were now slightly less from NYL play continually with each other.” effective when fi nishing, a half chance coming in the 60th minute by Parhas, his header easily After their debut win last week, Charlie Villani’s gathered by Moore. City broke the deadlock in Western Strikers travelled to the Croatian Sports Nick Budin on his way to heading a double the 65th minute after a throw out by Pogliacomi Complex only to have their bubble burst by John was won by ex-Red Devil Peter Eleftherakis, Duthie’s Raiders in a solid 2-1 win. In what holders. The fi rst half of the match provided same result this time and they were not here to weaving his way through the centre of the park was a very physically challenging match, the spectators with a fairly even game, where both make up the numbers. Cach Steve Maxwell’s passing to Mori out wide who yet again cut Strikers were too easily over run by the home sides had opportunities to score and not much lads sowed what they had with strength coming back for Budin to follow through for his second. side, Raiders fi tness and physicality being too between the sides. MetroStars look to take con- again from their midfi eld and their defence that Catanzaro had a chance to equalize in the 70th hard to beat for the Super League newcomers. trol, as their moves forward began to open up the held strong. Super League debut goals came minute from a pass off by Toure, his shot going Raiders took control of the match from the start, game but their fi nishing off let them down, with in the second half for the Hawks from Nathan wide of Moore’s goal. With Michael Paleka and Duthie’s men ensuring the level of intensity was neither side being able to break the deadlock as Elliott a prolifi c goal scorer for the club and A Christopher D’Alfonso on for Stanko Zilic and high to get a win from their fi rst home game of they went in for the half time break. Blue Eagles Noble. The best for Adel Hills named on the day Stephen Piotto, Aloisi was hoping to inject more the season. The Strikers were not the same team having recruited 4-5 new signings to strengthen were newcomer Damien Puyenbroek (Pirates) attack with the fresh legs on the park, but Moore from last week, looking much fl atter, giving the the side and under the coaching prowess of the Jake Markham and S Neary while for Galaxy taking charge of his goal denying any chances ball away too many times and making unforced mastermind behind the club’s glory days of the were Claus Christophersen, David Skull and for the Devils to score. With 10 minutes to go, errors. Garcia, their new signing generating lots 90’s and early 2000’s Zoran Karadzic, returned seasoned player Steven Giovannello. Aloisi took Vas Parhas off for Peter Sapa, trying of conversation around Adelaide, was unable to for the second half looking to turn the game everything he could to get his fi rst win but Ad- give the same performance, down on the scintil- around. The Stars again had scoring opportuni- elaide City were absorbing any pressure put on lating form that he produced the week before. ties through Scott Tunbridge, captain Ivan Karlo- By Nat Adamopoulos them. Mori made his fi nal 2 changes, bringing After the break the Raiders continued on with vic, and new signing Francesco Monterosso Photos by George Manos George Tsonis and Johnathon Negus on to hold maintaining the pressure on the Strikers, starting (FFA National Youth League Top Goal Scorer), off the endless vigour that the Red Devils were from the back with another solid performance by unfortunately none of which found the back of giving them. In the dying stages of the match a Todd McSorley and their captain Richie Alagich the net. In the 78th minute Karadzic’s men had FFSA RESULTS perfect chance for the Devils to draw the game leading by example, again the vital link in their the breakthrough, with some great work from popped up when Fleetwood lay off a ball for victory. The home side scored two quick goals their midfi eld fl oating a ball in to the box draw- G W D L F A GD P Trimboli on the edge of the box who pumped the through Mimi Saric early in the second half ing Stars keeper Daniel Godley off his line, the Adelaide Olympic 2 1 1 0 8 3 5 4 ball through, his shot curling with the wind but and the second coming from substitute Rhys ball fi nding Eagle Steven Kidd lurking near the Cumberland 2 1 1 0 5 2 3 4 going over the cross bar. As referee Dave Alber- Townsend. The game was marred by multiple far post who made no mistake in drilling the ball Adelaide Comets 2 1 1 0 3 1 2 4 ton blew the fi nal whistle it was Mori’s boys that yellow cards, the Raiders eventually succumbing past Godley for what was to be the match win- Pirates 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3 White City 2 0 2 0 4 4 0 2 took the points and Aloisi left rueing about what to the wrath of referee Smith with new singing ner. “It was a disappointing result,” said Barnett, SASI 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 else he can do. “Its disappointing to handle a Paul Mackie being sent off for his second yellow “as we controlled most of the game but didn’t Adelaide Cobras 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 loss but when you lose and your side has played due to a ‘high’ tackle only ten minutes into the take our chances”. Croydon 2 0 1 1 2 5 -3 1 well, its even harder to take” second stanza. Villani’s boys took the opportu- Salisbury Utd 1 0 0 1 0 5 -5 0 nity to score through McNeil but were unable After last weeks Round 1 baptism of fi re being Panthers 2 0 0 2 0 5 -5 0 Perfect balmy conditions for the start of Round to go on with it or break down the fi tness of the a last minute 2:0 loss against Adelaide City, the 2 of the local men’s soccer super league saw Raiders players for the remainder of the game. Adelaide Hills Hawks bounced back with a good Adelaide Olympic 3 (N.Andijanto, A.Orlando, football fans fl ock to Jet Park for the return to After the match Duthie commented, ”It was 2-0 win against struggling Adelaide Galaxy at J.Kamara) White City 3 (S.Jovanovic 3) Friday night football with Para Hills Knights great to get a fi rst up win at home. We had the home in Woodside. In a must win game for Gal- Modbury 1 (M.Clayton) Para Hills 3 (J.Allwright, M.Muscroft, M.Cartwright) (HT 0-1) turning it on with a strong 3-1 win over the Jets. majority of the game and put pressure on them axy Coach Carl Maynard, the Hawks took it up Adelaide Hills 2 (N.Elliott, A.Noble) The game started as a fairly even affair until the all over the park and were unlucky to go down to to Galaxy who were already disadvantaged be- Adelaide Galaxy 0 (HT 0-0) Camp- Knights bodacious Matthew Muscroft scored on 10 men so early in the second half. The players fore a ball was kicked due to key players out like belltown City 1 (J.Trimboli) Adelaide City 2 the half hour as he did the previous week, from a put in 100% effort for a full 90 minutes which is Osama Malik (Adelaide United YL) unavailable (N.Budin 2) (HT 0-0) Raiders 2 (M.Saric, R.Townsend) scramble in front of goal. With seasoned striker very pleasing”. due to National Camp callup and injuries to Zaki Western Strikers 1 (S.McNeil) (HT 0-0) Nathan Day facing up to his Jet’s ex-team mates Malik (Raiders), Michael DeBono (AdelUtd MetroStars 0 Adelaide Blue and causing havoc, the Knights pressured the Mike Barnett’s MetroStars had a tough lesson in YL/Raiders) and Evan Metanomski. The Hills Eagles 1 (S.Kidd) (HT 0-0) young Jets side, thanks to the dynamic mid- football dealt to them at their home ground on unlucky to notch up a loss against their great de- fi eld talents of Adelaide United Youth League Saturday night as visitors Adelaide Blue Eagles but match in the Super League at Adelaide City players Michael Marrone, Alex Sunasky and snatched a 1:0 win from the 2008 FFSA Cup Park, were out to ensure there was not to be the

ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p19 It is a requirement of the FFV that all balls and apparel used in FFV matches at any level are officially licensed FFV merchandise.

ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p19 INTERSTATE New South Wales UNITED STILL TOP DESPITE SHARK ATTACK Blacktown Demons Finally Get A Taste Of Heaven Sydney United remain on top of depleted but pugnacious Bankstown City. with 15 minutes remaining from another the NSW Premier League after four The Italian-backed club went ahead in the corner, Bonnyrigg keeper Ali Akbal just FNSW RD 3 RESULTS rounds, despite dropping their fi rst 12th minute when a desperate clearance failing to clear Mitchell Long’s goal- G W D L F A GD P points of the campaign at Seymour from Bankstown’s Richard Luksic ended bound effort off the line. Bonnyrigg will 1 Sydney United 4 3 1 0 7 2 5 10 Shaw against Sutherland. up in his own net, and the score was soon play their postponed game against Sydney 2 Marconi Stallions 4 2 2 0 8 3 5 8 2-0, former Sydney United and Sydney Olympic on Wednesday evening. 3 Bankstown City 4 2 1 1 7 5 2 7 The Sharks, despite missing last 4 Sydney Olympic 3 2 0 1 8 6 2 6 season’s top scorer Brad Boardman, went FC striker Ben Vidaic slotting home Mar- 5 Manly United FC 3 1 2 0 2 1 1 5 two goals ahead against the competition coni’s second. Another team without a win after three 6 Penrith Nepean U 4 1 2 1 4 5 -1 5 7 West Syd Berries 3 1 1 1 6 5 1 4 leaders in the opening minutes; Jim Bakis For the second week running, rounds, 2007 champions Blacktown City, 8 Blacktown City 4 1 1 2 2 7 -5 4 scored with a harmless-looking free kick it was a free kick from Suad Ameti that brought their forlorn run to an end with 9 Sydney Tigers 4 1 0 3 6 5 1 3 in the eighth minute, and shortly after- sparked Bankstown’s revival, when his victory over the West Sydney Berries at 10 Sutherland Sharks4 0 3 1 4 6 -2 3 11 Wollongong FC 4 1 0 3 5 9 -4 3 wards Nathan Ralph’s fi ne run and cross fl oater from the left was headed in by Lidcombe Oval. Blacktown went in front was buried by Matthew Hall, who has Bankstown player-coach Peter Tsekenis. early on, when Chris Bedzo’s hopeful stepped into Boardman’s shoes impres- Another set-piece that allowed Bank- punt into the area was exploited by an sively. stown to equalize just after the hour, onrushing Ben Ellis. Slack defending The visitors came back into it when Alex Canak handled in the Marconi from the home side allowed NSWPL TELECHOICE PREMIER LEAGUE: with a penalty in the 13th minute, tucked area following a corner; Bankstowns’ veteran Ante Deur to double Blacktown’s ROUND 4: FIRST GRADE: Sydney away by Luka Glavas. United contin- Lebanese international scored his second advantage on 65 minutes, and a spectacu- Tigers 0 Manly United FC 1 (Bradley ued to rally in the second half, and their penalty in as many games. After Bank- lar volley from Aheleas Kotsopoulos – his Groves 76m), Sydney Olympic 5 (Tol- gay Ozbey 24/36m Matthew Mayora player-coach, former Socceroo Ante stown were reduced to ten men late in second goal-of-the-season contender, 58/65m Adam Biddle 82m) Wollongong Milicic, showed all his old composure the game, Tim McGowan almost scored following his fi rst-round strike against FC 2 (Ilija Prenzoski 1m James Law- and opportunism in scoring United’s a third for the hosts when the impressive Olympic – made no difference to the rence 19m). GRADE 20: Sydney Tigers equaliser, a precise strike from the edge Ali Abbas played him through on goal, outcome. 1 Manly United FC 0, Sydney Olympic 0 of the Sutherland area. Sutherland missed only for Bankstown keeper Andrew Bazi In Sunday’s games, competi- Wollongong FC 1. a golden opportunity to steal the three to smother the attempt. tion favourites Sydney Olympic stormed points in the fi nal minute, when Neil Bonnyrigg White Eagles are still to a 5-2 win over defending champions Jablonski was impeded in the box and without a win in their fi rst season in the Wollongong FC, while Manly United con- won his side a penalty; the Scotsman took NSWPL, after they were held 1-1 by Pen- tinued their impressive start to the season responsibility for the kick himself, but rith-Nepean on Saturday evening. Almir with a 1-0 win at Lambert Park over the United keeper Vedran Janjetovic pulled Dizdaric put the Serbian-backed side Sydney Tigers, who suffered their third off a brilliant diving save to his right. ahead in front of their home fans on 48 successive loss. By Mike Salter United’s closest challengers minutes, heading home Nathan Rivera’s Marconi were also held to a draw by a right-wing corner, but Penrith equalized In Sydney

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p20 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 Queensland INTERSTATE LOGAN MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT The third round of the Hyundai QSL Todd Gava, a man expected to help keep Lo- FNQ Bulls 3 (Steven Cater 7’, 67’, Josiah kicked off with Brisbane Strikers, Bundaberg Spirit 0 - Redlands City Dev- gan star Reggie Davani off the scoresheet. Rusch 38’) - Sunshine Coast FC 2 (Shaun Olympic FC and Sunshine Coast all ils 4 (Russell Woodruffe 3’, 80’, Cameron In contrast Logan welcomed former QLD Blackman 10’, Daniel Kirkup 90+5’) aiming to go top of the table, whilst Hunt 8’, Daniel Byrne 37’) Roar defender Remo Buess to the team after The Far North Queensland Bulls pulled of Logan United FC made two big mid- Struggling Bundaberg Spirit hosted Red- a helping hand from new major sponsor BDS. the shock result of the round, downing Pre- week announcements. lands City Devils as they looked to gain their In the match itself the visitors took cues from miers Sunshine Coast FC at home. Despite In the major news of the week Logan Unit- fi rst point of the season and also score their Capricorn last week and refused to give Bris- having lost their fi rst two matches the Bulls ed FC announced a massive boost to their fi rst goal of the season in what has been a bane much time on the ball, muscling up in had looked a lively outfi t during their fi rst season with Crestmead based BDS signing disappointing attack. Things weren’t looking their own half. Their determined defensive outings in the Hyundai QSL and it appeared on as the major sponsor for the 2009 sea- good for the home side before kick off how- effort didn’t prove to be enough though as as though the visitors took them lightly as son, with negotiations ongoing about a fur- ever with inspirational captain Brett Kitch- Brisbane’s extra class told in the end as they Steven Carter put the home side into the ther three-year deal. The good news didn’t ing and rugged defender Andy Wood both ran out comprehensive 3-0 victors. lead in only the 7th minute. The Premiers stop there for the Brisbane side with BDS out for the match. showed their class however with QSL Golden owner David Kemp also taking out personal Redlands showed little sympathy for Capricorn Cougars 0 - Queensland Acad- Boot, Shaun Blackman equalising only three sponsorship to secure the signing of former Bundaberg’s struggles going 2-0 up in only emy of Sport 3 (Jordan Farina 2’, Koh Sat- minutes later. The match then developed into Queensland Roar and Swiss Youth-Interna- eight minutes thanks to goals from Russell ake 52’, 64’) end-to-end stuff with Josiah Rusch retaking tional defender Remo Buess. Woodruffe and Cameron Hunt. Bundaberg The Queensland Academy of Sport squad the lead for the Bulls in the 38th minute and looked like making a comeback but were de- travelled to Rockhampton in search of a fi rst Carter striking again in the 67th to secure a Olympic FC 3 (Nzube Okafor 23’, Alex fl ated when Daniel Byrne added a third just win of the season after disappointing perfor- great result. Panic 70’, Cameron Draper 87’) - Whitsun- before half time. mances in the fi rst two rounds. Any result day Miners 1 (Andy Cygan 90’) Bundaberg Coach Lynn Hodgkinson put was going to have to be hard earned as the Olympic FC continued their impressive the result down to a lack of familiarity with Cougars had put competition leaders Bris- QSL STANDINGS early season form downing the Whitsunday the Redlands side, bane Strikers to the test the previous week. Miners 3-1 at home. Olympic took control “We didn’t really know much about Red- The visitors got off to just the start they G W D L F A GD P lands – they may have lost a few players but were after though, with Jordan Farina scor- 1 Olympic FC 3 3 0 0 9 1 8 9 of the match early with the visitor’s defence 2 Brisbane Strikers 3 3 0 0 12 2 10 9 seeming lethargic as Nigerian Nzube Okafor we didn’t know whether their new players ing the opener in only the second minute of 3 Sunshine Coast FC 3 2 0 1 9 4 5 6 opened the scoring with a good effort in the were as good, and for the fi rst round of the the game after some bad defending from the 4 Redlands City Devils3 2 0 1 6 5 1 6 23rd minute. Olympic continued their domi- competition, you are really fl ying blind a Cougars. Capricorn were stung into action, 5 FNQ Bulls 3 1 0 2 4 5 -1 3 6 NQ Razorbacks 2 1 0 1 3 4 -1 3 nance for most of the match scoring again bit,’’ he said. not allowing the QAS much time on the ball, 7 Queensland AIS 3 1 0 2 4 7 -3 3 in the 70th minute through Alex Panic and pressing whilst in defence. Cougar danger 8 Logan United FC 3 1 0 2 2 5 -3 3 Cameron Draper adding a third in the 87th Brisbane Strikers 3 (Warren Moon 23’, man Tristan Fraser could have levelled for 9 Capricorn Cougars 3 1 0 2 3 8 -5 3 10 Whitsunday Miners 2 0 0 2 2 5 -3 0 minute. Luke Morley 26’, Gareth Musson 58’) - Lo- his side before half-time and would have 11 Bundaberg Spirit 2 0 0 2 0 8 -8 0 The win moves Olympic to the top of the gan United 0 rued his missed chance when Koh Satake table and with new signings Hyuk-Su Seo Competition heavyweights Brisbane Strikers scored a quick fi re double after half-time to and Nzube Okafor bedding in well there’s were at home to Logan United in what many put the result beyond doubt. By Jarrod Ellis no reason that 2009 won’t be a season to re- tipped as the match of the round. The Strik- Photo by Brett McDonald member for the east Brisbane club. ers went into the game without key defender

Tasmania INTERSTATE GOAL FEAST IN TASSIE Goalden Boots Galore As Strikers Hit Their Straps The goals have been raining ahead again. down in the Forestry Tasmania In the 71st minute, substitute Tom Premier League. McDonald robbed Ryan Smith of the Twenty-seven goals in the last four ball and netted easily to give the Lions a games have provided fans with plenty share of the points. of entertainment. Against Eagles, Brett Andrews gave It does not say much for the defences, the Lions the lead, while Charles White but the strikers have certainly been tak- made it 2-0 before Cormac Collins ing advantage. pulled a goal back for the visitors before There could have been many more the break. goals, in fact, as there were also some Michael Palmer made it 3-1 for the glaring misses. home side before Greg Freeman came Kingborough Lions United have on as a substitute and netted a hat-trick stood out in these matches, drawing in 16 minutes for the Lions. That took 4-4 away with Tilford Zebras and then his tally to fi ve goals in two games. downing New Town Eagles 6-3 at Eagles, who lost goalkeeper An- home. drew Savage late in the fi rst half with The Kingborough Lions squad for 2009 Against the Zebras, the Lions’ Greg a snapped Achilles tendon, grabbed onds of the restart, but Aaron Brazen- Freeman put his side ahead in the 25th further goals through Alex Gordon and dale and Fabian Lapolla then netted to TAS SOUTHERN LEAGUE minute, but Ben Crosswell, who was a penalty by Alexander Lesczzynski but give Zebras a 4-2 lead. G W D L F A P sent off in the second half, equalised on were unable to close the gap. They held on for the three points South Hobart 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 Tilford Zebras traded goals and blows Glenorchy Knights 1 1 0 0 4 3 3 the half-hour. despite Olympic, which could have had Kingborough Lions 1 0 1 0 4 4 1 Freeman restored the Lions’ lead with Hobart Olympic before running out two players sent off before the end, pull- Tilford Zebras 1 0 1 0 4 4 1 in the 36th minute before strikes by 4-3 winners at KGV Park on Saturday Clarence United 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 ing another goal back through substitute Hobart Olympic 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Dwayne Walsh and Henry Fagg gave night. Dipendra Kunwar. New Town Eagles 1 0 0 1 3 4 0 Zebras a 3-2 lead at the interval. Kostas Kanakaris put Olympic ahead, Clarence United beat University 2-1 University 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 Marcello Marchioli’s stunning shot but two goals by Dwayne Walsh in stop- away at Olinda Grove, Nigel Blundell made it 3-3 just short of the hour, but page time at the end of the fi rst half sent netting for University and Ben Hamlett By Walter Pless Fagg grabbed his second goal of the Zebras in at the break leading 2-1. and Ben Parker replying for Clarence. match two minutes later to put Zebras Michael Bulis equalised within sec- Photos by Walter Pless

ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p21 INTERSTATE West Australia KAY SERA AS PERTH DOMINATE NIGHTS A goal from Perth SC defender Trent With both sides searching for goals the Kay on 33 minutes was enough for keepers were earning their money. First Sal- Graham Normanton’s side to regain daris had to be alert to save from Mikulic’s the McInerney Ford Night series crown, header on 53 minutes, and Madaschi produced with a 1-0 victory against Floreat Ath- a good save to deny Arnold’s header after a ena at a packed Dorrien Gardens on pinpoint cross by Howarth four minutes later. Saturday evening. It should have been 2-0 to Perth on 65 min- In excess of 2000 people were on hand to utes, Arnold battled back to win possession on see Kay fi re home a Matthew Danskin corner the half way line and then ran at the Floreat to give Perth their fourth consecutive night se- defence before sending Onoforo clear. The ries trophy. WA state striker rounded Madaschi but took Perth Coach Graham Normanton, who had the ball too wide and could only fi re high and to watch the game from the stand due to sus- wide from a tight angle. pension, was happy with the victory. “It was a It was a case of déjà vu minutes later with tight game, as all fi nals are. My boys battled Arnold again the provider, but Onoforo wasted well and we’re happy to win the game,” Nor- another golden opportunity fi ring wide from manton said. 12-yards. “Our back three were solid tonight, and I Floreat had ridden their luck, but began to Goalscorer Trent Kay was wrapped to have 13 Marco Pelosi thought young Jason in goal did well. We had get on top and on 73 minutes thought they had scored the winner. “It was a hard fought game Subs not used: RGK Luke Martino, 16 Rob- a contingency plan if they threw three forward, levelled. Midfi elder Paul Vatistas found Scott tonight, but I’m happy to get the win and the ert Giorgi, 18 Genavo Human, 23 Million which they did late and that worked well, so in the penalty area and his snap shot from winning goal of course,” Kay said. Butshire overall I’m delighted with the victory,” he eight-yards was superbly saved by Saldaris at “They pushed three upfront near the end and Yellow Cards - Danskin 30’, Simpson 39’, de added. full stretch. we got exposed a bit, but the team fought it out Felice 56’ Both sides made two changes to their start- It was a stunning save that had the 2,000 and it’s a great to start to our 2009 campaign,” ing line up’s with Floreat Athena coach Mi- strong crowd on their feet, but he produced an- he added. Floreat Athena: GK Simon Madaschi, 2 Si- chael Roki bringing in keeper Simon Mad- other top quality save to deny Floreat 10 min- mon Eltonbot, 5 Jarred Smith, 12 Branimir aschi for Alex Dunn and Dean Apelgren for utes later. Neiderberger’s cross shot from the Perth SC 1 (Kay 33’) Mikulic, 13 John Migas, 15 Paul Vatistas, 8 James Isaia, while Perth brought in Danskin left was drifting into the top corner of the net Floreat Athena 0 David Foster (11 C Roberts 69’), 10 J Bar- and Greg Sharland for the suspended Antonio but Saldaris acrobatically tipped the ball on to Dorrien Gardens, Saturday March 21, 2009 rera, 9 D Neiderberger, 18 B Scott, 22 Dean Naglieri and Domenic de Felice, who dropped the bar and to safety. HT: 1-0 Apelgren to the bench. It was all Floreat now and Perth had to de- Referee: Ton Klaver Substitutes not used: RGK Vas Vujacic, 6 Perth were quick out of the blocks and fend in numbers, with Gianfranco Circati out- Assistants: Josh Mihevic & Robert Hall Miki Vujacic, 14 Saul Contera, 17 Ante Ko- showed their intensions early, a quick free standing at the heart of their defence. Second Fourth Offi cial: David Scragg vacevic kick from Todd Howarth sent Marco Pelosi half substitute Callum Roberts was busy and Crowd: Appx 2000 Yellow Cards - Barrera 29’, Mikulic 54’, clear down the left and his shot from the angle he found Migas, whose long-range shot fl ew Apelgren 85’ was just wide. The former Hearts wing back over the bar on 85 minutes. Perth SC - GK Jason Saldaris, 2 Trent Kay, 3 was causing the Floreat defenders all sorts of Against the run of play Perth went close Gianfranco Circati, 4 Craig Simpson, 6 Todd problems and after a surging run on six min- to doubling their lead on 88 minutes. A quick Howarth, 7 Matthew Danskin, (17 Dominic By Ben Fitzpatrick utes, saw his through ball over hit with David counter attack saw Pelosi’s run and shot fl ash de Felice 52’) 8 Phil Arnold, 9 David Ono- Onoforo ready to pounce. just over the bar. foro, 10 Greg Sharland, 11 Michael Black, Photo by Jamie Judges

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ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p23 Top Of The Pops Dept. THE WORLD GAME MANCHESTER MELTDOWN! Fulham Blows EPL Title Race Wide Open ENGLAND EPL STANDINGS Two weeks ago you would have bet your house, car and chil- P GD PTS dren on Manchester United win- 1 Man Utd 29 31 65 ning a third consecutive English Premier- 2 Chelsea 30 32 61 ship. 3 Liverpool 29 28 61 But within the space of a fortnight, United’s 4 Arsenal 30 21 55 title prospects have been thrown into disarray 5 Aston Villa 29 12 52 as they faltered miserably at Fulham on Satur- 6 Everton 30 9 48 day night, prompting bookies to start placing 7 West Ham 30 0 41 their bets elsewhere. 8 Fulham 30 4 40 9 Tottenham 30 2 38 The Red Devils appear to have hit the self-de- 10 Wigan 29 1 38 struct button at the crucial time of the season, 11 Man City 29 8 35 as ex-Liverpool boy Danny Murphy and Zol- 12 Bolton 30 -12 34 tan Gera gave eighth-placed Fulham a shock 13 Hull 29 -16 33 2-0 victory, and infl icted United’s second de- 14 Sunderland 29 -9 32 feat in as many games. 15 Portsmouth 29 -14 32 The afternoon quickly turned sour for Unit- 16 Stoke 30 -18 32 ed when Murphy slotted home a spot-kick 17 Blackburn 30 -16 31 after Paul Scholes deliberately handled in the 18 Newcastle 30 -13 29 box and was given his marching orders on 17 19 Middlesbrough 30 -21 27 minutes. 20 West Brom 30 -29 24 The afternoon went from bad to worse, as Gera doubled the Cottagers’ advantage, and BUNDESLIGA STANDINGS Phil Dowd sent the shot-tempered Wayne Rooney off for, you guessed it - dissent, to re- P GD PTS duce the Red Devils to nine men. 1 Hertha Berlin 24 12 49 Rooney was the third United player to be 2 Bayern Munich 24 21 45 shown a red card in seven days, as he joined 3 Wolfsburg 24 18 45 Nemanja Vidic and Scholes on the suspended 4 Hamburg 24 1 45 list, heading into a pivotal stage in United’s 5 TSG Hoffenheim 24 18 43 6 VfB Stuttgart 24 6 39 season. 7 Bayer Leverkusen 24 13 37 It was only 14 days ago that the red half 8 Schalke 04 24 8 37 of Manchester were on an unbeaten streak Wayne Rooney is sent off as Manchester United’s title hopes take another blow with 9 Borussia Dortmund 24 5 34 of 17 games in all competitions, 16 of which a shock defeat at Fulham. 10 Werder Bremen 24 12 32 they had grabbed maximum points, with the 11 Cologne 24 -8 29 having failed to win a single match since Janu- Roma were missing an entire line-up of only ‘mishap’ a 0-0 stalemate with Inter Mi- 12 Eintracht Frankfurt 24 -9 25 lan in the knockout round of the Champions ary, the Baggies look destined to play Champi- players, with seven injuries and four suspen- 13 VfL Bochum 25 -11 25 League. onship football next season. sions leaving Luciano Spalletti’s side without 14 Hannover 96 24 -17 25 They led the premiership by a seemingly In another battle at the bottom, Stoke City key personnel for the clash, and if the score- 15 Arminia Bielefeld 24 -12 24 unassailable seven points with a game in hand scored a precious 1-0 win against second-last line is any indication, they struggled without 16 Borussia M’gladbach 25 -15 22 over their nearest rivals Liverpool, but Rafa Middlesbrough, who have failed to score in the help of the numerous absentees. 17 Cottbus 24 -21 20 Benitez’ side demolished the reigning champi- seven of their last nine matches in the league. Defending champion Inter had the chance to 18 Karlsruhe 24 -23 17 ons with a scintillating 4-1 win last weekend, Portsmouth piped Everton of three points undo Juve’s hard work by extending the lead to place doubt in the mind of those who be- when they came from behind to win 2-1, and out to seven points, when they clashed with lieved United invincible. Blackburn and West Ham shared the spoils in rock-bottom Reggina on Sunday. SPL STANDINGS With eight matches to go (nine for United), a 1-1 draw. P GD PTS the often-predictable English Premier League SCOTLAND 1 Celtic 28 35 63 title race has been blown wide open, with the SPAIN Rangers threw away a 2-0 lead, 2 Rangers 29 37 61 chasing pair of Chelsea and Liverpool keen to Champions League quarter- and the chance to overtake bit- 3 Hearts 30 1 49 capitalise on Manchester’s meltdown. fi nalist Villarreal boosted their ter rivals Celtic at the top of the 4 Aberdeen 30 4 44 For those who thought that the title race was chances of qualifying for next sea- Scottish Premier League when they drew 5 Dundee Utd 29 2 43 well and truly over for 2009, think again. son’s competition as they opened up a fi ve- 2-2 with Hearts at Ibrox on Saturday. In the wake of their defeat, Ferguson’s side point gap between fourth spot and rivals A win would have seen the Gers leapfrog SERIE A STANDINGS will breath a slight sigh of relief that Chelsea Atletico Madrid and Malaga in the Spanish their Glasgow rivals into fi rst position on failed to capitalise on their disastrous break- Primera Liga, with a 2-0 win over 10-man goal-difference, but a second half revival from P GD PTS down; the Blues slumping to a 1-0 loss in the Athletic Bilbao. Hearts, which saw them net two goals in a 1 Inter Milan 28 30 66 2 Juventus 28 25 59 London derby against the temperamental Tot- Santi Cazorla and Mati Fernandez grabbed period of three minutes, has left Celtic – who 3 AC Milan 28 23 54 tenham. the vital goals for Villarreal, who look com- played Dundee United on Sunday – with the 4 Genoa 28 10 48 Croatian Luka Modric hit the solitary goal, fortable in the fourth qualifying spot for the chance to extend their lead at the top to fi ve 2009-10 Champions League season, at least points. 5 Fiorentina 28 9 46 to dent Chelsea’s hope of closing the gap on 6 Roma 28 6 46 until Aletico and Malaga play on Sunday. United to just one point, and administered 7 Palermo 28 2 42 For Bilbao, the 2-0 defeat compiles misery Guus Hiddink’s fi rst loss in charge of the GERMANY 8 Lazio 28 -1 41 Blues. onto a team that has failed to win in their last Its tight at the top in Germany 9 Atalanta 28 1 39 Liverpool will be licking their lips at the seven outings, and despite sitting 13th, they where defending champions Bay- 10 Cagliari 28 4 39 prospect of closing the gap on United to are not yet safe from relegation. ern Munich closed the gap on league leaders 11 Udinese 28 -1 36 just one point, and edging three points clear With the majority of Primera matches taking Hertha Berlin to a solitary point after they 12 Napoli 28 0 36 of Chelsea, if they secure maximum points place on Sunday, the only other fi xture on Sat- beat Karslruhe 1-0 thanks to a 34th minute 13 Catania 28 -5 34 against Aston Villa on Sunday. urday saw a hat-trick from Mali international strike from Argentinean Jose Sosa. 14 Sampdoria 28 -7 33 Still on the Premiership, and Arsenal con- Frederic Kanoute help third-place Seville to a Munich, who were missing strike partners 15 Siena 28 -8 31 tinued its recent fi ne form to record a 3-1 vic- 4-1 win over ninth-placed Real Valladolid. Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose – both out with 16 Chievo 28 -12 27 tory over Newcastle at St. James Park, as it ankle injuries – welcomed back silky French- 17 Bologna 28 -15 26 leap-frogged Aston Villa into the all-important ITALY man Franck Ribery who split the defence to 18 Torino 28 -17 24 fourth place Champions League qualifi cation Juventus kept alive their hopes set up the vital goal for Sosa. 19 Lecce 28 -22 23 20 Reggina 28 -23 20 spot, and condemned Newcastle to the relega- of catching run-away Serie A Second-placed Munich, and third-placed tion zone. leaders Inter Milan, after they Wolfsburg, who thrashed Arminia Bielefeld Elsewhere, West Brom’s 1-1 draw with mid- thumped AS Roma 4-1 at the Stadio Olym- 3-0, dealt Hertha the maximum punishment By Julius Ross pico, to close the gap at the top to four for losing 2-0 to Stuttgart, by closing the gap table Bolton made little impact on its current Photos by Soccer Way position at the foot of the premiership, and points. between fi rst and third to just one point. ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p23 MOVING THE GOALPOSTS Number Crunching Dept. COUNTING THE COST Why FIFA’s Proposed ‘6+5’ Rule Doesn’t Add Up The governing board of all world current league table shows. At least half of football is looking at the possibility the teams in the league are serious promo- of introducing a ‘6+5’ rule into club tion or playoff contenders. Unfortunately football. though, those going up face a diffi cult Essentially this means that every club next season as the quality of the football team’s starting line-up must include at they play is generally no where near that least six players which are eligible for the of the apparently less competitive Premier club’s national side. Back in May last League. year, 155 members of the FIFA congress So if ‘six plus fi ve’ is diffi cult to outline, (out of a possible 160) voted yes in favour will not provide more competitiveness and of this resolution. Also, earlier this year, will not enhance the quality of our league the lawmakers at the European Parliament then why are FIFA pushing this so hard. ruled that this new resolution would not Well one suggestion is that they are quite break or confl ict European Law. With simply punishing English football. It is every month that passes it looks more and obvious that the English league, which has more likely that this new rule, which began the highest percentage of foreign players, as a seemingly unrealistic proposal, could will be the hardest hit by this new rule. be implemented throughout professional FIFA seem to have found a way to halt the football. However, is this really a good domination of English teams in Europe, idea? Or have FIFA, yet again, got all and to dampen the admiration that the their sums wrong? Premier League has as a product around FIFA suggest that ‘six plus fi ve’ would the world. safeguard the education and training of This may sound a little defensive, and youth players, restore sporting and fi nan- perhaps FIFA are not persecuting the cial balance to club football and would en- English club game. However it would sure the future of all competitive football not be the fi rst case of this happening. In Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, has 1985 thirty nine Juventus fans were killed singled out the English Premier League as in riots which were started by English a league which would greatly benefi t by in- fans. This led to all English club teams troducing the rule which limits the amount being banned from Europe fi ve years. The of foreign players a team can fi eld. Blat- Heysel disaster was terrible incident for ter feels that the Premier League, which both English football and for sport as a is dominated by a few teams whilst the whole, and the punishment was deserved. others play to avoid relegation, is bad for Yet why has not similar punishment been both club football and the English national taken against Italian football. Only this team. By introducing this rule the Premier week an Arsenal fan was stabbed in the leg League would be both increasing the abil- by a Roma supporter, and had it not been ity of the national side as well as enhanc- for the courageous self-preservation of the ing the quality of the league as a whole. other fans in the same coach as the stabbed So it seems Blatter is looking out for all his supporter then there could have been fur- friends in England. Well actually I’m not FIFA’s senior scholar Sepp Blatter puts on his thinking cap in a bid ther incidents. This follows several years too sure he is. to calculate a winning formula for club and country. of rioting by Italian fans both with foreign First of all, let’s just assume that ‘six but chose to play for Italy. Technically he line-up. So that means, even if Blatter got supports in Europe and between supporters plus fi ve’ really works. What happens to could have played for England, so does the his way, United would still have won the of differing Serie A teams. It looks more players like Manchester City’s Richard fact that he used to be eligible for England fi nal. and more like one rule for the English and Dunn? Dunn, a mainstay of the City team mean he counts as part of the six or does And what’s more is that four of those one rule for the rest of Europe. for years now, is Irish and so does not the fact that he has played for another English players fi elded by United were If FIFA want to impose new rules to count as one of the six English players. country mean he must be one of the fi ve. bought at a signifi cantly high price from make things more competitive then why Can anyone see City, with all the millions But I’m getting ahead of myself. This other clubs. And this refl ects what will not introduce a salary cap. In American they seem to want to spend on attacking is all assuming that Blatter’s arguments happen; other clubs may bring through sports such as baseball and basketball caps players, wasting a foreign space in their for the rule make sense, which of course young English players but the cream of the have greatly increased the competitiveness team with Richard Dunn? I think not. So they do not. According to Blatter the crop will be bought by the big money boys of the league due to an amount of parity where are all the young Irish and Welsh English Premierhip is dominated by a few in order to sustain their success. Competi- between the clubs. However it seems that players going to play their football? select teams like Manchester United, as in tiveness will just go out the window. FIFA are unwilling at this point to discuss And that brings me to another point as fact is the Champions League. Which of Although it will not happen, let’s again any other proposals other that the ‘six plus to who exactly will qualify as English. If course is absolutely true. Blatter sug- assume that this rule works and that there fi ve’ rule, which incidentally or not, would a foreign player stays in another country gests that ‘six plus fi ve’ would create more is a little more competition for the bigger certainly hurt the English Premier League for long enough he becomes eligible for competition for the top trophies. But this, teams. Does this really mean that the qual- the most. the national side, so does that mean he of course, is absolutley false. United’s ity of the league or of the football played counts as part of the six or still as part of Champions League fi nal team featured a will be higher? Well the English Cham- By Adam North the fi ve? What about players like Roma’s total of six English players in the starting pionship is extremely competitive as the Simone Perrotta? He was born in England Photo by Gordon Bennett

p24 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 Getting Ink Done Dept. FOOTBALL FASHIONISTAS THE ART OF FOOTBALL Stacks Of Tatts And The Modern Must Have Item ast week, toy company Matell member of a Bolton squad, Ashton chose to unveiled the new tattooed pronounce his love for the club by orient- Barbie, branding their 50-year- ing ink beneath his skin in the shape of the oldL plastic pretty with a tattoo and club’s emblem. Wanderers’ manager at the confi rming the world has gone tattoo time, Sam Allardyce, obliged by Ashton’s crazy. ink dedication to the club, gifted the young The world of football, too, has been Lancashirian goalkeeper a fi ve minute out- swept by the ink endemic. Players are as fi eld sojourn in the FA Cup – a tattoo had tickled pink, blue, black, yellow, and every infl uenced team selection. The power of the other colour about ink stained skin as the tattoo realised. rest of society – if not more so. Big Sam subsequently dismissed any In honour of country, club, family, sentiment, jettisoning Ashton from the religion, pet, music group or simply for club at year’s end, leaving the young the like of a pattern, footballers imbed ink goalkeeper in search of a new employer beneath the skin of their ultra-talented bod- with no qualms about his permanently set ies. Migrating from the domain of bikers, allegiance. Much like applying for a job at sailors and pirates, the tattoo has become Coca Cola with ‘Pepsi’ tattooed across your the ultimate tribute, its mark of respect said forehead, I suppose. to rise from its permanency. Tattoos have Ashton’s parochial ink attachment may become the all encompassing, easy-to-do seem a little daft through the unforgiving outlet for expression. lucidity of hindsight, but no such retrospect Subjectivity holds a strong existence in is needed to deem Wayne Rooney’s tattoo the art of tattooing, just as it does in all art as such. forms; one man’s disfi guration is another’s Any inkling of foresight would tell one art as each has control of their own specifi - that a tattoo in honour of a favoured band cally sized and textured canvas. Art is truly is fraught with risk. Musical popularity is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to fi ckle. Only the best endure. Artists can tattoos and, judging by some of the designs disappear from consciousness overnight. that adorn footballers’ bodies, the beholder Not dissuaded or burdened by forethought, often suffers severely from cataracts. Rooney elevated underwhelming British Crude announcements of allegiance have outfi t The Stereophonics to legend status long attached themselves to the weathered in his own personal Rock and Roll Hall of forearms of burley terrace-dwellers, but Fame with a tattoo of tribute on his right those on modern footballers’ bodies are of forearm. far greater artistic design and detail. And The words ‘Just Enough Education to the blotched markings of one man’s body Perform’ – the title of the band’s 2001 have given greatest rise to the phenomena: album –burst from beneath the skin of David Beckham. Rooney’s freckled canvas, imploring the Style icon. Heart throb. Glamour boy. Ter- Manchester United man’s musical tastes to rible header of the ball. David Beckham never evolve and validating this author’s leads the tattooed footballer movement like decision to scrap plans for a ‘Vanilla Ice 4 Football’s most famous tattoo parlour patron. David Beckham’s ink is there some sort of over-groomed commander- Eva’ ink motif. for all to see - though it would help if he could read. in-chief; his ink discussed and interpreted The contemporary ink explosion is some almost as frequently as that which commits thinking, okay, here’s a gal who’s capable Marriage presents footballers with the distance from the pure skin starred days the U.S. Constitution to parchment. of making a decision she’ll regret in the strongest pretext for skin-text. Barely a of the past. It’s hard to imagine Sir Bobby Davey-boy reserves space on his body future.” footballer seems to get hitched these days Charlton manning the fl anks with wife’s for the names of each member of his im- On-pitch decision-making is a trait without a tattoo artist hovering around name Norma inscribed on his chest and mediate family. Wife Victoria has her name sought in footballers. A skill often thought post-ceremony, awaiting the command to the names of his daughters Suzanne and romantically immortalised as “Vihctoria” to be inbuilt, intrinsic, unteachable. Enter permanently affi x the bride’s name to the Andrea permanently set on each bicep. in Hindi on his left arm (nothing says “I the surrounds of tattoo parlours and such celebrated groom’s body. Quite the risk in With the prevalence of tattoos has come love you” quite like erroneous spelling in a clear, immediately lucid thinking regularly these heady days of divorce, but one that is a shift in attitude toward them. The sign foreign tongue) and he ensures that should desserts footballers, overpowered by an a boom for business for the tattoo artists’ of tattooed skin would have once unques- he ever forget the names of his three boys – impulse to dedicate a patch of skin. arch-nemesis – the laser removalist. tionably prompted a stigma. Bearing the Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz – a simple con- Ginger Villain Steve Sidwell, of the mind marks of a tattoo artist induced almost sultation of his back will jog his memory. that the bride’s name tattoo is by no means refl exive condemnation and prejudice from Countless other tattoos sprawl across respect enough, heads the ‘I really hope this the spotless skinned. But in these times of Becks’ body, framing his family enumera- works out’ category. Steve, you see, has a inky prevalence the stigma has all but been tion and forming a burgeoning collection of perpetual profession of his undying love to overturned: it becomes diffi cult to main- skin art limited only by access to untainted his wife Krystell inscribed on his back in tain such intolerance when the tattooed are skin. the form of their 100-word wedding vows. seemingly edging toward becoming the Beckham’s misspelt homage to his wife In cases like Sidwell’s, legislation to majority. is testament to the peril of tattooing. Spell- combat the scourge of naff tattoos seems a The tattoo has become the en vogue op- ing mistakes, lover’s names and all kinds of good idea. Perhaps a government initiative portunity for tribute, but beyond this, the other miss-selections can, via the elapse of which requires all tattoo artists preface the craze has become the new frontier of mate- time and altering of circumstance, become pressing of needle to skin with “Are you rialism; the tattoo an interminable accesso- an unwanted companion for life. They can sure?”, remarked on a minimum of three ry. Vast wages allow for vast spending, and come to represent a time lost, continuing an occasions with increasing emphasis. Make the tattoo now fi nds itself on footballers’ existence as an anachronistic blight. Time the recipient truly contemplate their soon- shopping lists, alongside the mansions, may have the power to heal, but it too has to-be redecorated body. luxury cars, jewellery and designer clothes. the control to make a mockery of a once If in need of proof of the permanency of It’s no wonder then that Barbie, the queen desired tattoo. a tattoo but the fl eeting nature of life, one of materialism, has joined the tattoo trend. As comedian Richard Jeni once put it: Heavenly Hard Core: A living, need only consult the tale of Former Bolton “I always look for a woman who has a tat- Wanders’ player Sammy Ashton. By Sebastian Kipman too. I see a woman with a tattoo, and I’m breathing, walking mural shows off his latest piece of football art. A Lancashire boy from birth and bit-part Photos by Gordon Bennett

ISSUE #5 Monday 23rd March 2009 p25 LONDON CALLING Blowing Bubbles Dept. CLARET AND BLUE CONTRASTS Changing Fortune For Brave Hammers and Villa Two teams linked by near identical season teams will show them more respect, colours appear to be going in opposite meaning that away from home Villa will face directions as we draw near to the end smaller clubs happy, in the role of underdog, of the season in England. to play defensively and on the counter attack. It may seem absurd at fi rst to compare Of course the season isn’t over and Villa Aston Villa and West Ham United, teams could yet fi nish in the top 4. How? They need that play in claret and blue. Aston Villa are to start scoring goals. Gabriel Agbonlahor has fi ghting for a spot in the Champions League scored 2 goals in his last 16 and there isn’t a and West Ham are 7th, so far adrift of Everton prolifi c goal scorer among the corps of strik- they would need binoculars and night vision ers. John Carew and Emile Heskey are not goggles to spot them. Bear with me. players who score every other game and with Earlier in the week Gianfranco Zola af- Ashley Young playing in wide positions he fi rmed that West Ham was looking toward cannot get into the penalty area to add to his chasing a spot in Europe. He elaborated that tally of 5. the Hammers need 52 points to secure a spot The biggest problem Martin O’Neill’s team via their league position. Next season four has is the way they play. It is centred on play- English teams go into the newly-vamped ing on the counterattack using Agbonlahor’s UEFA Cup – a.k.a. the UEFA Europa League sprinting speed and the ability of a big man - so 7th will be enough for the Hammers to to hold up the ball. Their midfi eld, Young secure their fi rst journey into Europe since excluded, has neither the mobility nor guile to 2006-07. create chances on a regular basis and/or score The 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion goals. and the 1-1 result at Blackburn Rovers aside, This poses the question of how they would the turnaround in West Ham under Zola has get on in the Champions League if they did been remarkable. In September of last year make it. Perhaps that’s another column. Zola took over a West Ham side in 8th place As it is the last teams a struggling Villa and his ties to former club Chelsea meant his wants to face are Liverpool at Anfi eld and appointment was always going to be given a Manchester United at Old Trafford. Look mixed reaction from Hammers fans. When on the bright side though; this could be the they slipped down the table to in December mother of all turnarounds if they manage to things looked ominous for the 12th manager True colours: After a slightly tempestuous start to his English win both games. If they don’t then Arsenal in West Ham’s history. How things change. managerial career Gianfranco Zola has the “Mighty Irons” knocking could be six points clear with 7 games to play. The booing last Monday after a 0-0 draw on the door for a qualifying place in Europe. The UEFA Europa League would beckon for against lowly West Bromwich Albion was O’Neill’s men and the scorn he showed it more the act of fans venting their frustration believe in him, Zola’s man management and more pasta masters at the Boleyn next season. by fi elding a weakened team away to CSKA against turning out to watch such tedium Steve Clarke’s coaching have him and West On the other side of the claret and blue Moscow suggests they want to play in the when they could have been doing more inter- Ham reaping the benefi ts. divide are Aston Villa, Birmingham’s fi nest competition like they want a hole in the head. esting things. The true test in any sport is to maintain for several years now. When rivals include However when all is said and done Aston Yet given the club were 17th on Christmas excellence, improve upon it even. So while Birmingham City, Derby and WBA it’s not Villa have had a good season so far. They lost Eve and some former players were openly getting into Europe next year is desirable for saying too much. Starved of success since defensive rock Olaf Mellberg and weren’t questioning his lack of experience at club Zola and his charges the distraction of Europe the 1996 League Cup they had a chance a expected to challenge for 4th, which was level and, more specifi cally, his ability to lift for a small squad with young players may see few weeks back to put an eight point distance why Gareth Barry wanted to leave. Yes, if West Ham from the relegation zone, sporadic West Ham revert to premier League strugglers between themselves and Arsenal in 5th by they fi nish 5th they may ponder what might booing after a draw is a nice problem to have. once again. Be careful what you wish for. beating Stoke at home. I was one of those ada- have been had they beaten Stoke, but this Why the change of fortunes? Given their £15million payout to Sheffi eld mant that if they beat Stoke, Villa fans could season has been a real plus for Vila and for the All signs point to a team that should be United because of their culpability in the Car- start looking for cheap European fl ights to league, which needed a team to shake-up the struggling. West Ham has a squad that lacks los Tevez affair and the massive debts of the Champions League destinations next season. top four. any big names. Their best striker - Dean Ash- Icelandic owners, I don’t see West Ham being Once the fi nal whistle went on a 2-2 draw If they add a goal scorer to the emerging ton - has been injured for most of the season heavy buyers come the off season. Any foray I was just as adamant they would not qualify. players like Agbonlahor and Young, along and there is very little strength in depth in the into Europe will stretch them to the point of They lacked the killer instinct, the ability to with a midfi eld dribbler that can commit play- forward positions. What little money was in breaking. put teams away. In short they hadn’t learned ers (like Andrei Arshavin or Luka Modrić) the the transfer kitty went on Portuguese winger/ Then again to acquire quality players you how to win when it really mattered. With fans that were booing in recent home games playmaker Savio, who in the tradition of don’t necessarily need to buy them. The subsequent losses to Manchester City and may well be cheering a top four fi nish soon young players moving abroad, has struggled off-season will see a test of Zola’s skills in Tottenham Hotspur they lie in 5th place. and be waving goodbye to the UEFA Europa and needs time to settle. picking up loan players, free transfers and Discontentment amongst the fans against league. In many respects West Ham have been the cheap foreign players, perhaps veterans with the perceived laziness of star player Gabriel On the other hand West Ham would jump at main benefi ciaries of a Premier League that something to prove. The days of buying Tevez Agbonlahor showed when he was ironically the chance of Europe. Funny how teams wear- has seen the top six pull away whilst the rest and Mascherano are over for now. cheered when substituted against Spurs. Add ing similar colours can have such differing have parity in mediocrity. Any decent run of Zola isn’t an idiot. He’ll know that if they to that an Arsenal side playing well in 4th perspectives. results can see a team rise drastically up the get into Europe the heavier workload demands place and about to get some of its best players table; look at Tottenham, who lie 10th, only a heavier squad of experienced players to play fi t and back from injury and the Brummies Sources www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk www. three points adrift of West Ham. alongside talented youth players like Mark have every right to be gloomy. whufc.com The team has pulled together through Noble, James Tomkins, Jordan Spence, Fred- Like Tottenham a few years before them adversity with Carlton Cole, signed from die Sears, Robert Hall and Jack Collison. The (who blew a lead and fi nished 5th to Arsenal) By Leroy Jerome Robinson Chelsea, especially pivotal in their progress. It little Italian has astounded us so far, so don’t Aston Villa may never get a better chance to seems all Carlton needed was for someone to be surprised if his Italian connections mean fi nish 4th. They were off the radar and next Photo by Soccer Way

p26 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5 KEN GERIHRISTODOULOU WHITTLESEA ZEBRAS FC FULL NAME: Kenny Gerohristodoulou BIRTHPLACE: Australia BIRTH DATE: 14/07/86 HEIGHT:180cm WEIGHT: 84kg MARRIED: Not YET CAR: Honda Integra OCCUPATION OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL: Plasterer NICKNAME: Barbie PREVIOUS CLUBS: Western Suburbs, Fawkner Blues REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS: State team CHILDHOOD FOOTBALL HERO: Mark Bosnich FAVOURITE O/S PLAYER: Petr Cech FAVOURITE VPL PLAYER: Mark Vezocchi FAVOURITE FORMER SOCCEROO: Mark Bonich FAVOURITE CURRENT SOCCEROO:Mark Schwarzer MOST MEMORABLE MATCH AS A PLAYER: In China with the State team MOST MEMORABLE MATCH AS A FAN: None MOST MEMORABLE GOAL YOU’VE SCORED: None EARLIEST FOOTBALL MEMORY: Mum running on the fi eld FUNNIEST MOMENT IN FOOTBALL: None BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Photo by John Punshon Losing VPL fi nal WORST INJURY: Shoulder MOST DIFFICULT OPPONENT: Referees FAVOURITE AWAY GROUND: Epping Stadium SUPERSTITIONS: No sex before a game! TYPICAL MATCH DAY MEAL: Sandwiches and fruit WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS: Big hands WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES: Girlfriend FAVOURITE TEAM WHEN GROWING UP: South Melbourne FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTS: Aussie Rules FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTSPERSON: Wayne Carey FAVOURITE FOODS: Mum’s cooking FAVOURITE ACTOR/ACTRESS: Johnny Depp HOBBIES: Fishing FAVOURITE HOLIDAY RESORT: Hayman Island FAVOURITE NIGHTSPOT: My place IDEAL DATE: Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Hawkins all in the same night FAVOURITE TV SHOWS: Two and a Half Men FAVOURITE MUSIC: Not Fussed FAVOURITE FILM: Never Ending Story LAST SOCCER SHIRT YOU BOUGHT: Never bought one FUNNIEST RUMOUR YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT YOURSELF: I’m married BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: Family BIGGEST DRAG IN SOCCER: Glen Clarke’s warm ups, defi nitely FOOTBALL AMBITION: To one day turn pro WHICH PERSON IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO MEET? : FOOTBALL FOCUS Hugh Hefner YOUR TIP FOR THIS YEAR’S VPL: Zebras - you just wait and see!

p27 Monday 23rd March 2009 ISSUE #5