SA Premier League soccer season kicks off tonight
THE state’s top soccer talent begin their quest for glory when the SA Premier League season kicks off this weekend. Read on for our complete guide.
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PASSION for the game and a fierce will to win is driving Campbelltown City veteran Iain Fyfe on for another season.
The centre back won soccer’s A-League with Sydney FC in 2006 and enjoyed two stints in the national competition with Adelaide United.
But he says skippering the Red Devils to the SA Premier League championship will mean just as much.
“I just love playing football and I love to be involved in the game,” Fyfe, 33, says.
“Winning is winning whether it’s an A-League grand final or it’s against Croydon or Adelaide City on a Saturday.
“It still gives me that same feeling.”
Campbelltown finished sixth last season, but bowed out of the finals at the first hurdle on penalties to Adelaide City.
Coach Joe Mullen has brought back young defender Jake Halliday after a season at Victorian club Pascoe Vale.
Former Aston Villa youth striker Thomas Strain has joined from Modbury, while James Wilson has signed from White City.
The Red Devils will be without last year’s league leading goal scorer Michael Matricciani, who has retired, and experienced goalkeeper Ben Moore, who has joined Adelaide City.
“We had aspirations of winning trophies last year but we fell at the final hurdle and lost some games that we should have won,” says Fyfe, who has played professionally in Scotland, South Korea and Iran.
“That’s the difference between winning the league and coming mid-table like we did.
“We’ve got a young squad and it’s a great bunch of guys.
“I keep telling them, ‘play well and anything can happen’.”
Adelaide Blue Eagles suffered double heartbreak in 2015.
The Marden club was pipped for the minor premiership on the last day of the regular season by West Adelaide, before losing the grand final 4-2 to the same opposition.
SA-born midfielder Evan Kounavelis has come in from Victoria’s Hume City while last year’s 19-goal striker Kym Harris has moved in the opposite direction.
Coach Gianluca Lagati will look to new playmaker Sami Tesfagabr (Adelaide Comets) to add creativity in the final third.
But the 10-time top-flight champion has lost captain Chris Annicchiarico for the season after the centre back tore his ACL.
Campbelltown opens its campaign away to West Torrens Birkalla at Jack Smith Park this Saturday (2pm kick-off).
Blues Eagles starts against newly-promoted Adelaide United youth at the Parks Football Centre on Sunday (5pm kick-off).
ADELAIDE BLUE EAGLES
Coach: Gianluca Lagati
Last season: 2nd
In: Evan Kounavelis (Hume City, Victoria), Samuel Tesfagabr (Adelaide Comets)
Out: Kym Harris (Hume City, Victoria), Stephen Annicchiarico, Pietro Piantedosi (Raiders)
Prediction: 3rd
CAMPBELLTOWN CITY
Coach: Joe Mullen
Last season: 6th
In: Jake Halliday (Pascoe Vale, Victoria), Thomas Strain (Modbury), Jacob Williams (Para Hills), James Wilson (White City)
Out: Ben Moore (Adelaide City), Rhys Townsend (overseas) Todd McSorley, Mark Graham (released)
Prediction: 7th
City desperate for progress
A TOP-five finish and a cup-final appearance would represent a solid season for most Premier League soccer clubs.
But Adelaide City’s Anthony Costa says 2015 fell short of the Oakden side’s lofty expectations.
“It wasn’t the season that we would have liked,” ex-Adelaide United striker Costa says.
“We see ourselves as a big club, we have a good history and we’re always striving for success.
“We’re going to try to rectify that this season and win some silverware because that’s what we’re all about.”
Black and Whites coach Damian Mori has had a busy off-season.
Highly-rated playmaker Nikola Mileusnic has joined from White City, veteran goalkeeper Ben Moore has returned to the club from Campbelltown City and attacker Mamadi Kamara has signed from Raiders.
The 17-time SA champion will have an early shot at redemption for last season’s cup-final loss to Croydon.
It meets the Kings in round one at Adelaide City Park this Saturday (2pm kick-off).
“The mood (at the club) is fantastic,” Costa, 21, says.
“We’ve brought in some good signings and kept a lot of the players from last year.
“We’ve got to build on what we did last season and hopefully the new players can adapt to our game style.
“There’s so many good squads out there that we’ve got to take each side as a strong competitor.”
MetroStars missed the top-flight finals for the first time since 2000 after finishing a disappointing seventh last season.
Coach Michael Pirone has lost experienced trio Daniel Godley, David Menechella and Matthew Deegan to retirement, as well as flying winger Perry Mitris to West Adelaide.
Former Adelaide United captain Travis Dodd has signed after three years out of the game.
Goalkeeper Issac Carmody (Pirates), attacking midfielder Bailey Truscott (Para Hills), defender Tim Henderson (Modbury) and last year’s State League top goal scorer Doni Pollock (Adelaide United youth) are the Klemzig club’s other key recruits.
Raiders narrowly avoided the relegation playoff by goal difference in 2015.
The Gepps Cross-based club might be in for another tough campaign after last season’s 15-goal striker Elvis Kamsoba departed for Croydon and the experienced Nathan Fleetwood retired.
Recruits include veteran Justin Bralic, who returns to the Croatian Sports Centre from South Adelaide, and ex-Adelaide Olympic captain Michael Paleka.
Joel Porter’s side opens its campaign away to South Adelaide at O’Sullivan Beach Sports Complex this Saturday.
MetroStars host Adelaide Comets at TK Shutter Reserve.
ADELAIDE CITY
Coach: Damian Mori
Last season: 5th
In: Paul Blefari (returning), Nikola Mileusnic (White City), Andrew Orphanou (MetroStars), Mamadi Kamara (Raiders), Ben Moore (Campbelltown City)
Out: Fumiya Suzuki (Birkalla), Jackson O’Donnell (Adelaide Olympic), El Qioin El Wali (released), Bradley Corbo, Nathan Mauriello (retired)
Prediction: 4th
METROSTARS
Coach: Michael Pirone
Last season: 7th
In: Travis Dodd (unattached), Issac Carmody (Pirates), Justin Davis (Cumberland United), Tim Hederson (Modbury,) Bailey Truscott (Para Hills), Doni Pollock (Adelaide United)
Out: Perry Mitris (West Adelaide), Andrew Orphanou (Adelaide City), Steven Grelli (Adelaide Comets), Alex Cosmidis (Raiders), David Menechella, Daniel Godley, Matthew Deegan (retired), Anthony Solagna (work)
Prediction: 2nd
RAIDERS
Coach: Joel Porter
Last season: 10th
In: Stephen Annicchiarico, Pietro Piantedosi (Adelaide Blue Eagles), Justin Bralic (South Adelaide), Michael Paleka (Adelaide Olympic), Alex Cosmidis (MetroStars), Mario Barisic (Adelaide Cobras),
Out: Jordan O’Doherty (Adelaide United), Elvis Kamsoba (Croydon), Christos Pounendis (Adelaide Olympic), Jackson Stephens (Cumberland United), Nathan Fleetwood (retired), Dylan Pikert (army)
Prediction: 12th
Eagles hope to fly high again
WEST Torrens Birkalla will be the hunted not the hunter when it attempts to top last season’s Premier League soccer heroics.
That is the view of Eagles centre-back Tom Dittmar, who played a major role in steering the Novar Gardens club from relegation candidate to title contender in the space of 12 months.
Birkalla escaped the drop on the final day of the 2014 campaign.
But it shocked most observers by finishing third last season, before bowing out in the preliminary final to eventual champion West Adelaide.
“Everyone was really relaxed going into every game (last year) because no one really rated us a chance to win,” Dittmar, 25, says.
“We took confidence from each game and kept building on it, but we’re ready for this season and we know what we’re capable of.
“We just want to stick to what worked last year and hopefully it pays off again.”
Attacking midfielder Ian Kamau and defender Adam Le Cornu have returned to SA to join Birkalla after impressing with Victorian Premier League club Oakleigh Cannons.
The Eagles will be without last season’s top-flight player of the year Ryan Kitto, who has joined A-League club Newcastle Jets.
Dittmar says second-year coach Steve De Giovanniello is key to the club’s title ambitions.
“He really believed in us last season and that gave you belief in yourself,” says Dittmar, who is entering his ninth year at Birkalla.
“It worked well last year so there’s no need to change too much.
“I’ve had a few years here where we struggled a bit so it was good last year to be up in the finals.
“You hear all the big clubs always getting spoken of as title contenders so for us to win it would be fantastic.”
Birkalla opens its season at home to Campbelltown City at Jack Smith Park this Saturday (2pm kick-off).
WEST TORRENS BIRKALLA
Coach: Steve De Giovanniello
Last season: 3rd
In: Ian Kamau (overseas), Adam Le Cornu (Oakleigh Cannons, Victoria), Fumiya Suzuki (Adelaide City)
Out: Ryan Kitto (Newcastle Jets, A-League), Akira Miyayama (overseas)
Prediction: 6th
Panthers pride spurs Moore on
NOT even a fractured skull and a titanium plate in his head will keep Johnny Moore away from South Adelaide’s bid to upset the odds again.
The midfielder suffered the horror injury during the Panthers’ pre-season friendly away to Playford City on January 16.
Moore was rushed to hospital after accidentally clashing with an opponent in an aerial duel.
He underwent surgery to insert a plate in his forehead and “hundreds of stitches” across the top of his scalp.
“I thought I was about to score my second goal of the game right in front of the goal, but next minute I was on the floor with blood pouring out of my head,” Moore, 32, says.
“On the CAT scan my forehead was like a cracked egg shell and it was all shattered inside there.
“The stitches across the top of my skull will dissolve but the titanium plate will stay in there permanently.
“All the boys at the club are joking calling me Ironman and saying I’ll be able to head the ball to the halfway line.
“A bit of banter makes it a bit easier, but it’s just frustrating for me because I’m a fit guy and I like to keep myself active.”
Moore is targeting a return to action in about six weeks.
The Englishman will miss South’s season-opening Premier League clash at home to Raiders this Saturday (2pm kick-off), but remains confident he has an important role to play this campaign.
“It’s disappointing to miss the first few rounds after doing all of the pre-season,” the former Cumberland United and the Cove player says.
“But the crunch for us will probably be the latter part of the season, so hopefully I’ll be available for that.
“Every day I get back on the pitch is a blessing, so I just want to go out there and enjoy it.”
The Panthers defied most predictions to finish ninth in their second Premier League season last year.
Coach Danny Graystone has added midfielder Guy Miller from Adelaide United youth, while Sam Carmichael joins from Scottish fifth-tier side Spartans FC.
The experienced Justin Bralic has left for Raiders.
“I think we’re in a stronger position as a club as opposed to last season,” Moore says.
“First and foremost we want to stay up again and then build from there.
“We’ll go out and try to prove everyone wrong again but we believe we’re good enough to take on anyone on our day.”
SOUTH ADELAIDE
Coach: Danny Graystone
Last season: 9th
In: Guy Miller (Adelaide United), Sam Carmichael (Spartans FC, Scotland), Jamie Recchia (Adelaide Victory)
Out: Justin Bralic (Raiders), Michael Goode, Keegan Osborne (Noarlunga United), Josip Grgic (retired)
Prediction: 10th
Tough test for new boys
AS FAR as reintroductions to top-flight soccer go, it does not get much tougher.
Newly-promoted Adelaide Olympic faces reigning champion West Adelaide at Adelaide Shores tonight (7pm kick-off) in the opening match of the Premier League season.
The clash of traditionally Greek-backed clubs will be Olympic’s first match in the elite division since it was relegated in 2006.
Last season’s 33-goal striker Fausto Erba says it is an opportunity for his side to prove it belongs.
“It’s a really special game for the club,” Erba, 30, says.
“It’s a great derby and we want to be ready to meet the champion. We can’t wait to play this game.”
Olympic earned promotion after downing Pirates 5-1 on aggregate in last season’s promotion/relegation playoff.
Coach Maurice Natale has had a busy off-season signing 10 new players.
Midfielders David Makridis (Adelaide Comets) and Jairus Wyten (Para Hills), and young goalkeeper Jackson O’Donnell (Adelaide City) are among the arrivals.
Experienced shotstopper Matthew Pelizzari (retirement) and former captain Michael Paleka (Raiders) have departed.
“This year will be hard because it is another level,” says Italian-born Erba, who joined Olympic last season.
“But we have a good group of players so we can play with all the teams to try to win.”
West Adelaide won its first top-flight title in 24 years when it beat Adelaide Blue Eagles 4-2 in last season’s grand final.
Championship-winning coach Paul Pezos has bolstered an already powerful unit with the additions of winger Perry Mitris from MetroStars and midfielder Johnny Mavromatis from Pirates.
Young Comets mentor Theo Tsiounis has led an impressive recruitment drive after taking over from Jim Karatzas mid-season.
Croydon trio Andreas Weins, Chris Pepe and Allan Welsh have signed, along with midfielders Joe Costa (Adelaide City) and Steven Grelli (MetroStars).
The Kings meanwhile have brought in Raiders excitement machine Elvis Kamsoba and Pirates attacker James Skeffington as it looks to improve on last year’s fourth-placed finish.
Adelaide United’s youth side will make its top-flight debut under new coach Mark Jones after winning the State League last season.
ADELAIDE COMETS
Coach: Theo Tsiounis
Last season: 8th
In: Chris Pepe, Andreas Weins, Allan Welsh (Croydon), Luke Colalancia (Adelaide Victory), Joseph Costa (Adelaide City), Steven Grelli (MetroStars), Alexander Woodlands (Adelaide United)
Out: Samuel Tesfagabr (Adelaide Blue Eagles), David Makridis, George Aslandis (Adelaide Olympic), Elias Demoourtzidis, Patrick Derevo, Dominic Signoriello, (retired), Mitchell Daly, Jared Daly, Yuki Nakaki, Mehari Tesema (released)
Prediction: 8th
ADELAIDE OLYMPIC
Coach: Maurice Natale
Last season: State League playoff winner
In: David Makridis, George Aslandis (Adelaide Comets), Jackson O’Donnell (Adelaide City), Christos Pounendis (Raiders), Michael Papachourloubos, Manny Katipodis (Adelaide Cobras), Jairus Wyten (Para Hills), Louis Vallelonga (West Adelaide), Joseph Punturieri (Croydon), Thomas Brown (Adelaide United)
Out: Matthew Pelizzari, Damien Dimella (retired), Michael Paleka (Raiders), Jai Pullinen, Steven Kidd (released)
Prediction: 11th
ADELAIDE UNITED YOUTH
Coach: Mark Jones
Last season: State League champion
In: Johnny Koutroutmbis (West Adelaide), Jordan O’Doherty (Raiders), Paul Wilson (White City)
Out: Guy Miller (South Adelaide), Alexander Woodlands (Adelaide Comets), Doni Pollock (MetroStars), Thomas Brown (Adelaide Olympic) Samed Altundag, Niko Apostolopoulos, Nathan Konstandopoulos, Thomas Love, Yiannis Nestoras, Adam Piscioneri, Oliver Zafiridis, Antoni Trimboli (released)
Prediction: 9th
CROYDON
Coach: Mark Brazzale
Last season: 4th
In: James Skeffington (Pirates), Elvis Kamsoba (Raiders)
Out: Allan Welsh, Chris Pepe, Andreas Wiens (Adelaide Comets), Joseph Punturieri (Adelaide Olympic), Frank Violi (overseas), Lewis May (released)
Prediction: 5th
WEST ADELAIDE
Coach: Paul Pezos
Last season: Champion
In: Perry Mitris (MetroStars), Johnny Mavromatis (Pirates)
Out: Milos Tosic (Victoria), Louis Vallelonga (Adelaide Olympic), Johnny Koutroutmbis (Adelaide United)
Prediction: 1st
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