Coronavirus hits SA soccer; Troisi transfer stalled; Ex Adelaide chairman robbed; Modbury Jets & QPR; Chen in an NPL kit
The coronavirus has affected many South Australian soccer clubs, while James Troisi’s injury prevented him from an early exit. All that and more in this week’s 90 Minutes.
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CORONAVIRUS HIT SA SOCCER
The coronavirus has indirectly hugely affected many South Australian soccer clubs.
South Adelaide Panthers has gone public in the wake of the deadly disease, which is also having an effect on 2020 marketing and branding for Football SA’s new sponsors.
Old defunct FSA sponsors have been getting more coverage because of the clubs affected by production delays which means many clubs are parading outdated kits this year.
South Adelaide posted on its Facebook site that its new 2020 kits has been delayed due to the epidemic which reportedly had its first case in China lat last year.
However for clubs that are supplied by Italian kit manufacturer Macron Sportswear, local producer JS Sports and Adelaide City’s new kit supplier Futera it’s almost business as usual.
Futera produces its apparel in Thailand says co-owner and Adelaide City playmaker Adriano Pellegrino.
Joe Siciliano – general manager of Belgravia Sports Apparel which is trading as JS Sports – said his business had been inundated by clubs that have had their kits delayed due to production hold ups in China due to parts of the country being in lockdown.
His company is coping.
Raff Frisina from Macron and also coach of Adelaide Uni said SA clubs that are contracted to the Italian product have not had any kit delays.
The company temporarily suspended its Chinese production factory and shifted production to other sites across the planet.
James Troisi’s injury woes turned out to be a lucky break for Adelaide United.
The Socceroos’ injuries in January ruined Troisi’s chances of signing for one of three clubs – understood to be two from the South Korean K-League and one from Thailand during the A-League’s transfer window.
Troisi last week revealed there had been interest from abroad.
It’s understood the deal needed to be concluded during the A-League’s window according to a contract clause revealed sources.
The 31-year-old is again sure to attract interest from abroad during the mid year transfer window.
CHEN PICTURED IN REDS NPL KIT
Adelaide United’s fifth visa signing Yongbin Chen can’t take a trick at the moment.
90 Minutes has discovered Chen was at an official pre NPL season photo shoot in an Adelaide United NPL kit in front of a Football South Australia logo.
Having been denied a chance to play for the club’s A-League side – he hasn’t reportedly trained with coach Gertjan Verbeek’s outfit – the youngster was then turned away from playing for the club’s NPL side due to a no imports ruling for A-League clubs across the nation ruling.
There was speculation doing the rounds that Chen was about sign for Football SA’s NTC team.
That would have allowed him to play for the Reds NPL teams due a bizarre ruling which only suits the governing body and not member clubs that pay good membership fees each season.
EX ADELAIDE UNITED CHAIRMAN ROBBED
Former Adelaide United chairman Dario Fontanarosa was robbed of years of Reds memories at his Foothills property on Monday.
“Hi family and friends,’’ Fontanarosa posted on Facebook.
“We need your help to share this post around.
“Earlier this morning our family farm was broken into.
“They stole my children’s motorbikes, our trailers and camping equipment, all our farm equipment and also broken into our container that had all our Adelaide United gear from when we first started the club, containing important documents.
“A model of a stadium that we proposed to the government (not sure what they are going to do with that) was also taken.
“Please private message me if anyone has any info or details of who these people are.
“They were very considerate when leaving as they closed the gate behind them.
“So I would really like to meet them and say thank you in person.”
BLUE EAGLES AND ADELAIDE CITY CLASH; THREE REDS AND 12 CAUTIONS; WHY?
Adelaide City and Blue Eagles 1-1 draw at Marden on Monday was far from an ugly battle.
The amounts of cards red and yellow suggested the two teams were out of control.
They weren’t, it was a spirited clash in front of a healthy crowd.
A-League referee Daniel Elder issued cards to Blue Eagles’ coach Vojo Gluscevic, Christopher Annicchiarico twice, Christian D’Angelo, Paul Espina, Dante Isla Cacciavillani, Shekubah Hutton-Addy, Adelaide City’s Bradley Corbo, Marcos Flores, Evan Kostopoulos and Zak Waters twice.
Annicchiarico was expelled so too was Water for double cautions.
Adelaide City’s Aladin Irabona straight red card even had Blue Eagles fans scratching their heads.
Adriano Pellegrino was best on ground but we’ll wait and see whether he gets full votes for the round two match during the Sergio Melta medal count.
Blue Eagles Yohei Matsumoto scored an early goal from the spot, Nicholas Bucco had his saved before Pellegrino equalised in the first half.
MODBURY JETS’ QPR LINK
Queens Park Rangers of England had a massive influence on Modbury Jets’ beginnings in 1965 and the club commemorated that fact during the northern derby against Para Hills last Friday.
The club donned QPR lookalike hooped kits 54 years ago in its first season in division four.
And it was a good omen in a 2-1 win over rival Para Hills on Friday night.
VIDDIE STILL EMPLOYED BY ADELAIDE UNITED?
Aurelio Vidmar is still Adelaide United’s football director according to Football SA’s 2020 year book, but we know he’s not.
FSA has Vidmar still listed as the chief of the Reds football more than a year after he quit the post.
Since then Bruce Djite has became the stand-alone Reds football director after general manager of football Ante Kovacevic was made redundant at the end of last year.
Vidmar is now in charge of Singapore premier league club Lion City Sailors – formerly Home United.
His side is tipped to win the title, playing its opening match of the season against Tanjong Pagar away.
"I disagree with that,’’ Vidmar told The NewPaper.
“Sure, we have strengthened, but that doesn't mean we are automatically going to be a championship-winning side.
"We are a work in progress. We have to remember that we finished sixth last year. Just because we have changed the name, the ownership, it suddenly feels like we are the hunted.”
The club and all league outfits according to the Singapore football federation rules must also start three under 23 players.
SA PLAYERS ABROAD
Brandon Borrello – Freiburg (Bundesliga): Unused substitute in a 1-0 away loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Alex Chidiac – Atletico Madrid (women’s Spanish Primera Division): Not in the match day squad in a 3-0 home win over Real Sociedad.
Ben Garuccio – Hearts (Scottish Premier League): Not in the match day squad in a 1-0 home win over Rangers.
Awer Mabil – Midtjylland (Danish Super League): Scored and was credited with an assist in a 3-0 home win over Sonderjyske.
Craig Goodwin – Al-Wehda (Saudi Arabia Pro League): Played 90 minutes in a 3-2 away loss to Al Fateh.
Andrew Marveggio – FK Bokelj (Montenegrin Second League): Beat Jezero 1-0 at home, no further details.
Tomas Maricic – Lampang (Thailand T-2): No details in a 1-0 loss to Siam Navy .