Elizabeth Downs aiming for three straight Sunday top-flight amateur soccer titles as challengers mount their charge

Elizabeth Downs will be looking to become the first club in 21 years to win three championships in succession when the Sunday top-flight amateur soccer competition kicks off this weekend. Here is a club-by-club preview of season 2019.

Elizabeth Downs’ Matt Watson, pictured last year with Liam Wooding and the FFA Cup SA, will be hoping to help his side win another Sunday Premier Division amateur title this year. Picture: AAP/Matt Loxton

Elizabeth Downs will be looking to become the first club since Elizabeth Vale from 1996-98 to win three championships in succession when the Sunday top-flight amateur soccer competition kicks off this weekend.

The Maroons clinched the 2018 title on the last day and should enter the new campaign as favourites.

Last year’s runner-up and 2016 champion Brahma Lodge loom as the main challenger, while Elizabeth Vale will likely be tough to beat under new coach Steve Cook and Parafield Gardens and Para Hills West will be expecting further improvements.

Newly-promoted Ghan Kilburn City and Pontian Eagles both look capable of mixing it at this level.

Tea Tree Gully will be hoping to get away from the relegation dogfight, while 11-time league winners Salisbury Inter appears to have the challenge of survival very much on hand.

Here is a preview of each of the northern clubs:

BRAHMA LODGE

Coach: Freddy Agius

Last season: Runner-up

Ins: Anthony Hartnell (Campbelltown), Steve Pepper (Croydon), Pedro Sourjani, Mohammad

Nazari (Salisbury United), Eleyas Hamsory

Outs: Jordan Pudler, Dylan Centrone (Salisbury Unitd), Aleks Simic (Vipers), Shaun Ward (Modbury), Jairus Wyten (Salisbury United)

Key players: Michael Mullen, Anthony Hartnell

Agius: “We are looking to go one better from last season. We want to compete in all competitions.”

Ex-Adelaide United player Freddy Agius, pictured in 2004, is coaching Brahma Lodge.

ELIZABETH DOWNS

Coach: Steve Hughes

Last season: Champions

Ins: Darcy Clarke (Modbury), James Odenwalder, Liam Edwards, Dylan Costanzo, Joel Milhench, Joel Milovac (Raiders), Jacob Leahey (Playford) Craig McDermott (Salis Utd)

Outs: Mark Kelly (retired), Matt Wise (year off)

Key player: Cody Morrison

Hughes: “We accept that we are the hunted and that every team will be looking to beat the Downs. Last season was a successful one but we are really keen to improve on that this season.”

ELIZABETH VALE

Coach: Steve Cook

Last season: Seventh

Ins: Josh Foreshaw, Ryan Kaftan, Nathan Pettit, Riley Lewko, Rio Leatomu, Jimmy Greaves (Salisbury Inter) Aaron Westervelt (Parafield Gardens), Bishal Magar (Port Pirates)

Outs: Nil

Key players: Jimmy Greaves, Mark Burbridge

Cook: “I’m excited for the season ahead. The Vale are a big club with a big tradition in the

Sunday Premier Division. We are targeting a top-four finish and a good cup run.”

GHAN KILBURN CITY

Coach: Rahim Shah Zaidi

Last season: Second division champions

Key player: Jamil Danesh

Shah Zaidi: “We will try our best in a very difficult division. We have a good young squad who play good football and our pre-season results have been good, so the boys are looking forward to the season.”

Hussain Askari and Mamadi Kamara during Ghan Kilburn City’s FFA Cup clash with SA soccer powerhouse Adelaide City last year. Picture: AAP/Morgan Sette

INGLE FARM

Coach: Dean Lawrence

Last season: Third

Ins: Danny Aarouste (Fulham), Dan Luciano (Salisbury Inter), Tamba Musa (Blue Eagles), Dieter Pettge (Pumas)

Outs: Jarrod Noel (Para Hills West), Stefan Barletta, Kaelen Tyson (not playing), Musti Ipekdal (Noarlunga), Alah Mobedi (Adelaide University), Callum McKay (Salisbury United)

Key players: James Parker, Liam Mulvaney

Lawrence: “It will be a real challenge with so many players having left the club but I’m

encouraged by what I’ve seen in the pre-season. I’m looking for us to play with consistency and our goal will be to perform well week in week out.”

PARAFIELD GARDENS

Coach: John McCormack

Last season: Fourth

Ins: Connor O’Donnell (Playford), Nathan Blackmore (Para Hills East), Tom Stoneham, Kale Wicker (Salisbury Florina), Aaron Taye (Cobras)

Outs: Alban Martini (Noarlunga), Callum Ebert, Brodie O’Neil, Scott Weidenbach (Salisbury United), Aaron Westervelt (Elizabeth Vale)

Key players: Aaron Taye, Connor O’Donnell

McCormack: “We are looking to become more consistent and will be looking to narrow the gap on the top three. We have a decent squad and have added some strength to our defence with Tom Stoneham coming on board.”

Journeyman Aaron Westervelt, playing for Noarlunga United last season, has switched from Parafield Gardens to Elizabeth Vale. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

PARA HILLS WEST

Coach: Michael Iacovino

Last season: Fifth

Ins: Jarred Noel (Ingle Farm), Matthew Wallace

Outs: Brodie Bampton (work)

Key players: Tom Foglia, Luke Air, Jarred Ebert

Iacovino: “After a really good first season back in the top flight, we are looking to push closer to a top-three finish. We have kept our squad together and have made a couple of quality additions so we are really looking forward to the season ahead.”

PONTIAN EAGLES

Coach: Jack Mantzarapis

Last season: Division two runner-up

Ins: Alex Cosmidis (Raiders), Richard Sakiri (Macedonia United)

Outs: Nil

Key players: Isikia Savua, Alex Cosmidis

Mantzarapis: “It’s a big challenge and it will be really important that we find our feet quickly. The boys are looking forward to the season.”

SALISBURY INTER

Coach: Steve Melling

Last season: Sixth

Ins: Nil

Outs: Josh Foreshaw, Ryan Kaftan, Nathan Pettit, Riley Lewko, Rio Leatomu, Jimmy Greaves (Elizabeth Vale), Dan Luciano (Ingle Farm), Matt Centrone, Matthew Marchiorio, Marcus Marchiorio (Salisbury United)

Club comment: “We are looking to be competitive and to show pride in the shirt.”

Matt Centrone (right) has switched from Salisbury Inter to Salisbury United.

TEA TREE GULLY

Coach: Barry Crook

Last season: Eighth

Ins: Jarryd McGloughlin (Para Hills East), Jai Pullinen, Tom Flounders (returned), Matt Evans

(Modbury)

Outs: Josh Coyne (Noarlunga United)

Crook: “We are targeting consolidation in the league and pushing into the top half of the

table. We want to get away from the survival mentality and look to take ourselves to another level.”

Key players: Liam Crook, Ben Burleigh

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