Australia’s Favourite Football Fanzine And Even Bigger In Warrnambool! www.goalweekly.com $4 VICTORY V VPL ALL-STARS ? BUSHFIRE RELIEF MATCH Season 5: Issue 12 Monday 18th May 2009 ? Photo: Nome Risteski ? CLOUD OF SILVER LINING? ZEBRAS NOTCH FIRST WIN AND TAKE OUT NORTHERN COMMUNITY CUP BEAUTY AND THE BEAST CLUB SPOTLIGHT ON TEVEZ AND RONALDO FAWKNER BLUES JUNIOR RESULTS / JIMMY JOHNSTONE / VPL RD 11 FOOTBALL FAMILY FC Bush Fire Appeal Match ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE Melbourne Victory has kicked off its involved in such a concept and praised Foot- pre-season campaign in impressive ball Federation Victoria for their initiative in style, with a hard-fought 2-0 victory organising the event. over a combined Victorian Premier He also said the night gave him a great op- League team in a Football Federa- portunity to have a look at some emerging tion Victoria Bushfi re Appeal Match talent that is currently running around in the at Olympic Park Stadium last Tuesday Victorian Premier League. night. “The guys were more than happy to be in- After a scoreless fi rst half, Ney Fabiano volved in this, it’s for a great cause,” Merrick opened the scoring in the 56th minute with an said before kick-off of the main game. excellent header, before Nathan Elasi sealed “It also gives me an opportunity to take a the win for Victory with a goal in the 68th look at some of the guys coming out of the minute. VPL.” It took a while for Victory to settle into Melbourne Knights youngster Mate Dug- the game, with Mate Dugandzic and Hamlet andzic impressed with some eye-catching Armenian impressive for the VPL side in an runs. opening half that lacked chances. The night started with a Celebrity match in- The VPL side showed it had a talented arse- volving an FFV All Stars team made up of nal at its disposal, but couldn’t create enough politicians, and a Victory combination made chances to score. up of Melbourne celebrities. But Victory started to take control of the AFL Brownlow Medalist and former Haw- match after the break as Fabiano leapt high thorn captain, Shane Crawford, said he im- to head home the opener, before the Brazil- mediately agreed to be part of the night once ian set-up Elasi for the second goal some 12 made aware of the cause. minutes later. “I defi nitely needed the run,” he joked af- Fabiano was ultra impressive for Victory ter helping his side to victory over the politi- all night, while youngster Mathew Theodore cians. was another player who showed glimpses of “Obviously if there is anyway to help those his best form. who have been affected by the bushfi res then All proceeds raised from the Bushfi re Charity you jump at the chance, so I’m pleased to be Appeal match go towards the Bushfi re Ap- a part of this.” peal Fund, with a healthy crowd turning out Football Federation Victoria president, Tony for the contest. Dunkerley, said the evening was an enjoyable It was the fi rst run for many Victory stars experience for many. including Archie Thompson and Roddy Var- “It’s great to see people get out and support gas, with inspirational skipper Kevin Muscat it,” Dunkerley said. watching from the sidelines. “Everyone seemed to be having a good time Coach Ernie Merrick, who handed the and the money raised will certainly help those reigns to assistant Aaron Healey for the eve- who need it.” ning, said his players were delighted to be Ney Fabiano and Tom Pondeljack celebrate the fi rst goal in the 2-0 win. Photo: Peter Kakalias MUSCAT GETS CALL FROM MALTA THE fl edgling football career of tunity to play international football for the with the Phoenix and this is a little bit un- Wellington Phoenix defender Man- home country of his mother and father. real. It’s all quite new but I’ll just do what ny Muscat continues to go from Muscat will join the Malta squad in Val- I always do and play to the very best of my strength to strength, with confi rma- letta for a training camp later this month ability.” tion of his selection to represent in preparation for an international friendly Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata said Malta in a World Cup qualifi er and an against hosts the Czech Republic on June 6 everyone involved at the club was thrilled international friendly. and a World Cup qualifi er against Sweden for Muscat. Brought into the Phoenix from Victo- in Gothenburg on June 11. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for Manny to rian Premier League side Green Gully “It (selection) came completely out of be able to play international football at that as a short-term injury replacement for the blue and was a real surprise,” Muscat level against some of the best players in the the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season, said. “It’s just amazing to get the call-up to world.” Muscat quickly seized his chance to prove represent Malta. The Phoenix gave me the Muscat’s rapid elevation to international his worth at right back in the Phoenix’s opportunity to play top-level football and level was a credit to the player’s commit- defensive line. I’m incredibly grateful. I’ve worked hard to ment to the Phoenix, Pignata said. Such were the quality of the 25-year-old’s grab that opportunity with both hands.” “We plucked him out of the VPL with performances during the Phoenix’s suc- Muscat will be released by the Phoenix Green Gully and gave him the opportunity. cessful campaign that he was rewarded on May 28 and will travel to Malta to join He did very well and has got a fulltime with a fulltime professional contract for the his new teammates. His aim is to make the contract this season. He’s worked hard and 2009/10 season. fi nal playing squad for the matches against he deserves it – he’s the type of guy who Now, after catching the attention of the the Czech Republic and Sweden. is level-headed and has demonstrated his “Last year was an amazing year for me desire to excel.” From humble beginnings in the VPL Malta selectors, he is relishing the oppor- Manny Muscat gets a taste of World Cup fever. p2 Monday 18th May 2009 Issue 12 ERREA SCOREBOARD VPL Round 11 Richmond 2 P W D L F A PT (L Kindtner A Viola) Dandenong Thunder 11 9 2 0 20 6 29 Green Gully 3 South Melbourne 11 6 3 2 22 9 21 (K Ivesic MJ Sanders A Heidelberg Utd 11 6 2 3 19 10 20 Vargas) Altona Magic 11 6 2 3 13 11 20 Oakleigh Cannons 0 Green Gully Cavaliers 11 5 3 3 14 11 18 Hume City 11 5 1 5 18 10 16 Hume City 2 (T Baser Z Petrevski) Richmond 11 4 3 4 16 13 15 Sunshine Georgies 11 4 3 4 8 10 15 Dandenong Thunder 3 (V Korcarevski J Di Iorio Oakleigh Cannons 11 4 2 5 11 9 14 H Armenian) Melbourne Knights 11 3 2 6 11 14 11 Heidelberg Utd 0 Whittlesea Zebras 11 1 2 8 5 17 5 Preston Lions 11 0 1 9 4 41 1 Altona Magic 2 (D Mladenovic T Saric) Melbourne Knights 1 Dandenong Thunder v Altona Magic v Sunshine Georgies v (FM Lagana) South Melbourne Hume City Green Gully Cavaliers George Andrews Res Paisley Park Chaplin Reserve Sat 23 May KO 7:00PM Sat 23 May KO 7:30PM Sun 24 May KO 3:00PM Sunshine Georgies 1 George Andrews Reserve will again host Altona returned back onto the winners list, Whittlesea fi nally managed to notch up (J Sapazovski) a match of the round blockbuster, with the and will be looking to cement their spot in their fi rst win of the season, albeit against best in form teams clashing in a Saturday the fi nals when they take on Hume City. Preston. They now welcome the Richmond night thriller. A large crowd is once again Player- Coach Andy Vlahos has re-ener- Eagles to Epping stadium, who played them South Melbourne 1 expected to be in full voice as the Thunder gised his side which has seen Hume take off the park early this season. Richmond has (G De Nittis) look to consolidate their position at the helm maximum points in there past two games. been struggling to fi nd their form, and will of the ladder. The boys from the Lakeside Hume has never taken a point of Altona, see this game as an opportunity to re-gain still have the Round 1 defeat leaving a bad however this could be there best opportu- some ground. AWAY WIN taste in their mouth, and will be gunning for nity yet. DRAW revenge. DRAW Last 5 Meetings: Rich 3-0 Whitt (2009), Whittlesea Zebras 2 Last 5 Meetings: Hume 0-1 Altona (2009), Rich 1-0 Whitt (2008), Whitt 2-1 Rich Last 5 Meetings: South 0-1 Dand (2009), Altona 4-1 Hume (08), Hume 1-2 Altona (2008), Whitt 2-0 Rich (2007), Rich 3-1 No other meetings. (08), No other meetings. Whitt (2007). Preston Lions 1 Melbourne Knights v Whittlesea Zebras v Heidelberg Utd v Preston Lions Richmond Eagles Oakleigh Cannons Mansion Stadium Epping Stadium Olympic Village Sun 24 May KO 3:00PM Sun 24 May KO 3:00PM Sun 24 May KO4:00PM TOP The Knights continue to waste their chances to Surprisingly it’s Sunshine who goes into this Heidelberg and Oakleigh will be looking to SHOTS! secure maximum points, giving up a 2-0 lead last derby match against the Cavaliers in better put a disappointing round behind them after both Thanks to our friends at Erreà the Top Scorer week was backed up by a penalty miss and demor- form, remaining undefeated in their previous sides tasted defeat.