SOCCER
IT’S the largest senior squad makeover on the peninsula and the Donn Delaney revolution at Frankston Pines continues apace.
The former Peninsula Strikers head man has confronted a huge player exodus at Monterey Reserve and has responded with a recruitment drive the size of which is rarely seen in local ranks.
So far 19 players from other clubs have been brought into the senior squad and there will be more.
“The squad is by no means finalised,” Delaney said.
“But I’ve been really impressed so far and the club has been very welcoming and inclusive of everyone who has come here.
“Lee (Davies, club president) is very keen to start something sustainable and community focused and it’s a joy to be a part of it.
“I’m feeling the pressure to do this club proud.”
One of Delaney’s biggest signings so far is 23-year-old striker Ardi Ahmeti who has an impressive NPL background at both junior and senior levels.
His CV outlines his four seasons as a junior with South Melbourne.
Of Kosovan background Ahmeti has trained with the Kosovan under-16s and in his late teens went to Portugal where he signed a contract with AD Oliveirense.
A loan spell with FC Boca Gibraltar followed until COVID hit prompting his return to Australia.
He signed a one-year deal with Eastern Lions before stints with Dandenong City and North Sunshine Eagles.
Ahmeti took time off from the sport to go on holiday last year until close friend Deniz Karabadzak convinced him to give Pines a try.
“I was sceptical at first because I didn’t think Pines was in a good position as a club but I trust Deniz and he explained that there was a good environment there and there were good people at the club which is the most important thing.
“I went down there and from the first session I liked it.”
So much so that Ahmeti convinced goalkeeper Kadir Puric, defender Alan Fogel and midfielder Mehdi Hussaini to join him at Monterey Reserve.
Hussaini, 27, was with Rowville Eagles last season having previously played with Brandon Park and Hume United.
And for Pines fans wondering how the club will fare following last season’s relegation to State 3 Ahmeti has very encouraging news.
“I have full belief that this club can get promoted and I have full belief in Donn,” Ahmeti said.
“I think we only need a couple more recruits then what happens this season will be in our own hands but I’m very confident that we can do well.”
Here is the current senior squad (new players have their most recent club in brackets):
GOALKEEPERS: Kadir Puric (Waverley Wanderers), Enzo Spinelli (Mount Eliza). DEFENDERS: Marcelo Burgos (Keysborough), Deniz Karabadjak, Brody Varas, Alexis Andrade (Alianza Petrolera FC, Colombia), Alan Fogel (Port Melbourne Sharks), Bryce Ruthven (Mount Eliza), Tom Kandilas (Kingston City), Gabrielle Duque, Joshua Koncha. MIDFIELDERS: Calvin Delaney (Peninsula Strikers), Samuel Delaney (Peninsula Strikers), Callum Bradbury (Peninsula Strikers), David Popa (Mount Eliza), Yodish Jagatheson (Mount Eliza), Jack Bradbury (Peninsula Strikers), Junior Mpota (Peninsula Strikers), Reshad Nahimzada (Mazenod), Medhi Hussaini (Rowville Eagles). FORWARDS: Cassius Delaney (Peninsula Strikers), Abraham Koul (Peninsula Strikers), Ardi Ahmeti (North Sunshine Eagles).
Pines lost 3-1 to Chelsea at Monterey Reserve last week as the State 4 visitors continued their impressive pre-season form.
Ahmeti and a few of his teammates were recovering from injury and sat this one out as Chelsea’s English striker James Stinson continued to impress with another double.
He’s now scored five goals in three pre-season games.
Jake Ross, another recent recruit, also scored against Pines who replied through Sam Delaney.
Teenage Chelsea winger Kirsten Murray really caught the eye.
A product of the club’s junior program Murray played wide on the right and was effective.
“He’s only 16 and he’s got tremendous pace,” Chelsea head coach Gus Macleod said.
“I’m encouraging him to take people on and he’s definitely one for the future.”
In VPL1 news Langwarrin has released midfielders Jin Jeong and Carlos Abboud while Kameel Khan, Owen Murphy and Allen Dzemidzic have been promoted to the senior squad.
Khan and Murphy were in the under-21s last season.
Dzemidzic left Langy and joined Oakleigh Cannons last season where he took out the league’s Golden Boot honours at Under-21 level.
In State 5 news Rosebud has re-signed star defender Dougie Cunnison.
The former Keilor Park captain and Clifton Hill player is expected to form a central defensive partnership with Billy Painting who was recruited from Skye United.
Last week the draw for round 1 of the 2024 Australian Cup was live streamed on Football Victoria’s Facebook page.
The preliminary rounds of the national competition have been renamed the Dockerty Cup in Victoria and round 1 involved State 3, 4 and 5 teams with ties to be played on the weekend of 10/11 February.
Round 1 games featuring local clubs are:
East Kew v Seaford Utd, Chelsea v Alphington, Mount Eliza v South Yarra, Aspendale v Knox Utd, Rosebud v Greenvale Utd, Westside Strikers Caroline Springs v Mentone, Shepparton South v Baxter, Lyndale Utd v Mount Martha.
As we went to press the confirmed fixtures are:
Saturday 10 February: Chelsea v Alphington, Edithvale Recreation Reserve, 3pm; Lyndale Utd v Mount Martha, Lyndale Secondary College, 1pm; Shepparton South v Baxter, McEwen Reserve, 5.30pm.
Somerville Eagles and Frankston Pines were given first round byes and enter the Cup at the second preliminary round stage.
Somerville will host the winner of Waverley Wanderers v Bunyip District while Pines face a road trip to play the winner of Diamond Valley United v Ringwood City.
Here are the results of some local friendlies:
Mount Martha 8 (Jacob Platt, Nathan Yule, Davey Jones, Zac Faud, Cooper Whitehead, Marcus Poda, Dan Bancroft, Alexander Hall) Old Peninsula 0; Baxter 1 (Aleks Dukic) Peninsula Strikers 5 (Riley Anderton 3, Taylan Geylan 2); Frankston Pines 1 (Sam Delaney) Chelsea 3 (James Stinson 2, Jake Ross); Langwarrin 3 (Tom Youngs, triallist, Brad Blumenthal) Boroondara-Carey Eagles 0; Seaford Utd 7 (Isaac Lifu 2, Sam Luxford 2, Paul Aitchison, Abraham Leuth, Mitch Hawkins) Skye Utd reserves 1 (Joseph Martin); Rosebud 3 (Hamish Bugden, Jakob Markulin, Julien Dos Santos) Docklands Athletic 3; Monash Villareal 7 Skye Utd 1 (Aaron Moules).
Here are some upcoming friendlies:
Tuesday 30 January: Keilor Park v Mornington, Keilor Park Reserve, 7pm; Frankston Pines v Mount Eliza, Monterey Reserve, 6.30pm & 8pm; Baxter v Albert Park, Baxter Park, 6.50pm; Seaford Utd v Peninsula Strikers reserves, North Seaford Reserve, 7.30pm.
Friday 2 February: Rosebud v Monash Villareal, Olympic Park 7pm.
Saturday 3 February: Dandenong Thunder v Langwarrin, George Andrews Reserve, 7pm; Peninsula Strikers v Gippsland Utd, Centenary Park, 1pm & 3pm; Frankston Pines v Brandon Park, Monterey Reserve, 1pm & 3pm; Baxter v Skye Utd, Baxter Park, 1pm & 3pm; Somerville Eagles v Bunyip, Westernport Athletics Track, 1pm & 3pm; Mount Eliza v Chelsea, Emil Masden Reserve, 1pm & 3pm; Lilydale Montrose Utd v Aspendale, Mount Lilydale Sporting Complex, 1pm & 3pm.
Sunday 4 February: Dandenong Thunder U23s v Langwarrin U23s, George Andrews Reserve, 11am.
