Para Hills’ Paddocks home set for multi-million dollar upgrade, Marco Kurz’s spirit lives on, Djite in China, grand finals under scrutiny
A northern suburbs soccer club’s home ground is set to benefit from a multi-million redevelopment, while Adelaide United looks to China and ex-Reds coach Marco Kurz makes a mysterious return, all in our 90 Minutes column.
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Para Hills is edging closer to finalising its part in a multi-million dollar upgrade of its Paddocks home, as the NPL SA club ushers in a bold new era.
The Knights expected to view draft plans for the proposed redevelopment of its ground in the coming weeks, having appointed Theo Tsionis as its new coach earlier this month.
They were set to benefit from Salisbury Council’s Paddocks masterplan, an overhaul of the 92ha reserve its headquarters of 43 years were located within.
Under the blueprint, Para Hills would receive a new clubroom, function centre and changeroom facility with undercover spectator seating on the western side of its pitch.
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Three synthetic fields for training and junior matches would also be built on unused land behind the southern goals.
The main pitch would remain natural turf.
Chairman Dale Ramsey said the project would allow the club’s participation numbers to grow and ensure financial sustainability.
“We’re in hibernation until January now, after juniors finish this weekend,” Ramsey said.
“But with three new plastic pitches, we can run competitions all-year round and keep the doors open.
“It’s about keeping revenue coming though the club with the canteen and the bar, and having footsteps through the door.
“All of that stuff goes into help keeping the club ticking.”
Meanwhile, the Knights were on the verge of unveiling their first off-season recruits, including a potential overseas import.
The club, under departed coach Barney Smith, finished ninth in the top flight this year, six points adrift of a finals berth but 12 points clear of relegation.
AT least two people 90 Minutes know of were spooked by the voice of Marco Kurz.
The German claimed to still be in charge of Adelaide United when he was on the other end of a cold call.
The former United boss was calling Reds season ticket holders in a bid to get them to renew — via a recorded message last week.
The Reds boss that almost coached Adelaide to a grand final on a modest budget last season — he was just a penalty kick away from ousting premier Perth Glory out of championship reckoning — is now coach of Melbourne Victory.
Kurz was also at the helm during Adelaide’s 2018 FFA Cup win.
Adelaide is currently ranked eighth in new season ticket sales with 4245 signed up.
ANOTHER ghostly happening occurred at the Reds this time in Ballarat in a 0-0 draw with Western United.
New Curacao signing Michael Maria was there in shirt but not in spirit by the looks of it.
Although Maria’s No. 5 shirt was proudly on display as the picture displays the Curaçaon wasn’t in there.
It was clearly Adelaide United’s NPL regular Noah Smith.
Blackfriars Priory School student Jai King-Byrne also featured in the clash after returning from a trophy-winning stint at the ASEAN Football Federation under-18 championship in Vietnam.
Former Adelaide United NPL player Gideon Arok was on trial with Western and has impressed coach Mark Rudan.
Arok has been asked to stay on another week.
BRUCE Djite Adelaide United’s football director is expecting to return from China armed with Reds coach Gertjan Verbeek’s fifth visa signing which would fill its imports quota for now.
He left on the weekend.
This comes on the back of chairman Piet van der Pol this year saying Chinese players would be a regular feature for the Reds.
Van der Pol is also the president of Chinese third tier club Qingdao Red Lions which survived relegation this season.
Their biggest recorded home crowd until June — according to transfermarkt.com — was 662 in the derby against Qingdao Jonoon in Shandong province which houses close to 99. 5 million.
“Absolutely (future players coming to Adelaide from China will be of A-League standard),’’ he told The Advertiser this year.
“Imagine if Adelaide United has a Chinese player here and 30 million people watching the game compared to several ten of thousands on Fox (Sports) here.
“Why did Melbourne Victory sign (Japanese star Keisuke) Honda? The commercial opportunities, besides that he’s a great player.”
A TRIO of SA talents have been named in the Young Matildas squad as preparations ramp up for next month’s Asian under-19 championships in Thailand.
Charlotte Grant, Emily Hodgson and Evelyn Goldsmith were called up in a 24-player group, which will assemble in Sydney next week for a four-day training camp.
Wingback Grant had spent the winter as a scholarship holder in the NSW-based Future Matildas program, after captaining Australia at the Asian qualifying tournament in May.
Defender Hodgson shone for WNPL SA runner-up West Adelaide, while goalkeeper Goldsmith excelled with Adelaide University.
All three were also part of Adelaide United’s W-League squad last summer.
The Young Matildas kick off their group campaign against North Korea in Chonburi on October 27, before facing the host nation three days later and Vietnam on November 2.
The top three nations at the tournament qualify for next year’s under-20 World Cup in Nigeria.
FOOTBALL Federation SA is according to sources considering a number of options for next year’s grand finals after a little more than 4000 fans turned out for four matches at Hindmarsh Stadium more than a week ago.
According to NPL club officials talk is that the NPL and WNPL grand final could be played on a Friday night at Hindmarsh and State League 1 and 2 deciders the following day.
Other options discussed the prospect of all grand final clubs hosting the finale at their home grounds in a bid to keep the local community involved and of potential revenue at clubs.
And having most of Hindmarsh Stadium shutdown last weekend is also a poor look for players that may never get to play on that iconic pitch again in their lives not to mention fans that don’t normally venture to the venue too.
SA PLAYERS ABROAD
Brandon Borrello — Freiburg (Bundesliga): Not in the squad for the 1-1 draw with Augsburg.
Alex Chidiac — Atletico Madrid (women’s Spanish Primera Division): Not in the squad for the 6-1 loss to Barcelona.
Ben Garuccio — Hearts (Scottish Premier League): Recovering from an ACL injury.
Meni Haralampopoulos — Acharnaikos (Greek Gamma Ethniki): Recovering from injury.
Awer Mabil — Midtylland (Danish Super League): Sent off for a second yellow card in the 90th minute of the 0-0 draw with Copenhagen.
Craig Goodwin — Al-Wehda (Saudi Arabia Pro League): Scored the 78th minute winner in the 1-0 win over Al Feiha.
Andrew Marveggio — Mavca Sabac (Serbian Super League): Played 75 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Radnik Surdulica.