SOCCER
LANGWARRIN gets its 2025 VPL1 season underway in Saturday’s Lawton Park clash with Caroline Springs George Cross at 7pm. Last season Langwarrin finished ninth and a season review identified concerns that head coach Jamie Skelly believes have been addressed. “We started well last season but once winter came and we lost a few players through injury or players moving on the depth of the squad was tested,” he said. “We felt for us to improve we had to bring in different types of players and improve right across the squad and we feel that we’ve done that. “We’ve improved at the back by bringing in Andrew Mullett, in the midfield with Muhamed (Huseinovski), Tosan (Popo) and Kosta (Apostolopoulos) and then in our forward line with Cooper (Legrand).”
Last season Langy had two number one keepers which maintained a highly competitive edge to that pivotal position but one of them, Griffin Bambach, has since left. The two keepers in the current senior squad are James Burgess and Branten Kindler. “Ideally we’d love to have two really strong VPL1 keepers but we’re comfortable having Branten there to support and challenge James,” Skelly said.
“Branten is 20 and he’s going to be a really good goalkeeper. “I think he’ll play at this level for a long time but he’s still developing and we’re really confident that he’ll get there.”
Skelly and his staff felt a need to tweak the team’s playing style during the off-season as they believed it was too open at times allowing opponents to trouble Langy on the break. “We were very attack-minded and while that worked well early on as the season progressed we started conceding more goals. “We’ve worked on recovery positions and understanding areas on the pitch where we want to commit men forward but also areas where we want support behind the ball so we don’t get broken down as easily as we did. “We still want to play an attacking style and we want to be aggressive and have ball control but without over possessing just for possession’s sake. “The players we’ve brought in really complement that style – they’re quick, dynamic and technically very strong and we’ve brought in players in the attacking half who can score goals as well.”
This year the target for progressive clubs in VPL1 is larger than usual given that two promotion spots and four play-offs spots are up for grabs in what promises to be a hyper-competitive season.
There’s no doubt that Langy wants a piece of that action but if it succeeds it will be in a measured manner. “The club is in a position where we want to progress but we won’t overextend ourselves to do that – we’ll do it in our own way without jeopardising the club to do it. “Our aim is to progress as a group and progress as a club and if that means we are pushing for promotion with four games to go we’d be really happy with that.”
Here is Langwarrin’s senior squad with previous club of newcomers in brackets:
GOALKEEPERS: James Burgess, Branten Kindler. DEFENDERS: Ryo Takahashi, Luke Goulding, Kameel Khan, Charlie Fry, Lucas Portelli, Jeremy Min Fa, Luke Adams, Andrew Mullett (Nunawading City).
MIDFIELDERS: Mark Deacon (from U23s), Dante Avian, Kosta Apostolopoulos (Kingston City), Muhamed Huseinovski (Bentleigh Greens), Tosan Popo (Nunawading City), Rogan McGeorge, Cal Goulding, Barath Suresh, Arjuna Surya-Peddell (from U23s). FORWARDS: Brad Blumenthal, Archie Macphee, Tom Youngs, Cooper Legrand (Kingston City).
In State 2 news Skye United has signed forwards Shameit Sharma and Tapiwa Kufakurowa. Sharma was signed from Frankston Pines and is a former Peninsula Strikers player while Kufakurowa joined from Hampton East Brighton where he made nine appearances last season. “They both like to attack the full-backs – an area in which we’ve struggled in the past – so I’m delighted they’re on board and really looking forward to what they can do this year,” Skye head coach Phil McGuinness said.
In State 4 news Jack Elliott’s football career is at the crossroads and the in-demand striker may stop playing to concentrate on his new fitness passion – interval running and half-marathons. Elliott is part of the Miles4Smiles charity group that promotes mental wellbeing by cultivating a community that embraces physical activity to nurture mental wellness. Although he’s recently spoken of the likelihood of leaving Baxter and joining State 4 rival Rosebud both clubs may be disappointed should he decide to quit football after competing in an interval running competition in March.
Hampton Park United Sparrows also made a determined bid to sign Elliott last season. The 26-year-old hails from Derby in England and when his family moved to Melbourne he joined Mornington juniors in 2013. “I played in the juniors then the reserves but it wasn’t until joining Baxter for the 2022 season that I made my senior debut,” Elliott said. “To be honest my first season wasn’t too flash – I was overweight and quite unfit – but I did a lot of fitness work the following pre-season. “I took up boxing and did a lot of strength and conditioning work under Kosta Drak (747 Fitness) and the difference was pretty amazing.” Elliott believes that he’s now the fittest he’s ever been and “a lot mentally stronger too” but we won’t know for some time yet whether this new version of Baxter’s top scorer will be back on the local football scene this year.
Last week Frankston Pines announced that registrations are open for the Pines Cup to be held on 12 and 13 April at Monterey Reserve. The tournament covers the under-7 to under-11 age groups for both boys and girls and teams can register at https://pinescup.cups.nu.
Pines’ senior men’s program which faced a player exodus at the end of last season is being rebuilt under senior coach Alex Halikias. “For me this is about putting Pines in a good light,” he said. “I know that in the past promises were made to players and not always kept but I want to re-assure everyone that that won’t happen on my watch an under our new committee. “This club has a very rich history and it’s important to the sport that this rebuild works. “We have outstanding facilities and I’m offering players the opportunity to play senior football at a very competitive and challenging level.” Halikias can be contacted on 0439 850 840 and training is held at Monterey Reserve on Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm sharp.
Off the pitch Pines confirmed last week that it had cleared its Football Victoria debt which is a remarkable effort and a positive sign of the financial management now in place.
In State 5 news Mount Martha has made three new signings. Charlie Platt’s side has welcomed back Howie Anderson, Heath Salter and Daniel Bennett. Anderson, 23, was one of six senior squad players to leave Mount Martha and join Somerville Eagles last season. Primarily a midfielder he can play in a variety of positions and was a member of Mount Martha’s first senior squad. “Howie brings with him not only quality but now more experience to pass on to our younger players,” head coach Charlie Platt said. Salter, 19, is a wide player and Bennett, 19, is a defensive midfielder. Both are junior foundation members of the club and have played with Mornington reserves and Casey Comets. “Heath and Daniel are very talented and exciting players,” Platt added. “With the opening of our new clubrooms and a very talented squad forming both myself and Des (Derren Elliott) are very excited about the coming season.”
Last week’s local friendlies:
Peninsula Strikers 3 (Matt Harrington, Kyle Eichenberger, Campbell Steedman) Langwarrin U23s 1 (Jaylen Faithfull); Baxter 1 (Brody Taylor) Skye Utd 2 (Sean Murphy, Zameer Noor); Langwarrin 3 (own goal, Archie Macphee, Tom Youngs) North Geelong 3; Langwarrin U23s 1 (Cain Vickery) Casey Comets 2 (Kam Ismail, Theo Fry); Werribee City 2 Mornington 2 (own goal, Halil Reki); Peninsula Strikers 3 (Cooper Andrews, Riley Anderton, Kyle Eichenberger) Williamstown 1; Baxter 0 Greater Dandenong 4; Somerville Eagles 2 (Max Watson, Devlin Lee) Monash Villareal 5; Rosebud 3 (Alfie Harris 2, Ethan Sanderson) Skye Utd 4 (Tapiwa Kufakurowa 2, Sean Murphy 2); Seaford Utd 3 (Keegan Bell, Jonas Harrasser, Zain Ahmad) Boronia 2; Chelsea 5 (James Stinson 3, Daniel Vella 2) Barton Utd 0.
This week’s VPL1 season opener:
Saturday 8 February
Langwarrin v Caroline Springs George Cross, Lawton Park 7pm
(U19s 2.15pm, U23s 4.30pm)
This week’s local friendlies (check social media to confirm kick-off times):
Friday 7 February
Heatherton Utd v Skye Utd, Bosnia and Herzegovina Centre, 6.30pm & 8.30pm
Saturday 8 February
Peninsula Strikers v Old Scotch, Centenary Park, 1pm & 3pm
Chelsea v Monash Villareal, Edithvale Recreation Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Baxter v Craigieburn City, Baxter Park, 12 noon & 2pm
Rosebud v Moonee Ponds Utd, Olympic Park, 4pm & 6pm
Aspendale v East Bentleigh, Monash University playing fields, 3pm
Seaford Utd v Ringwood City, North Seaford Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Mount Martha v Somerville Eagles, Civic Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
