SOCCER THE first qualifying round of the 2022 Australia Cup was held last weekend and of the six local clubs in action just two survived this Victorian section of the national competition. The rebranded knockout tournament replaces the FFA Cup and last weekend’s opening involved local State 4 and State 5 clubs Baxter, Chelsea, Somerville Eagles, Rosebud, Aspendale Stingrays and Mount Martha. Seaford United was involved in the Cup draw but forfeited its away clash with Westside Strikers Caroline Springs FC. Peninsula Strikers, Skye United and Frankston Pines participate in the Cup next weekend but the draw had not been…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER LANGWARRIN has sealed the signing of attacking midfielder Keiran Dover from NPL heavyweight Bentleigh Greens. It’s a massive coup for the local club but its off-season splurge may not end there as another NPL star is considering joining Scott Miller’s men. The curtain falls on the NPL transfer window at 5pm on Thursday but already what surely is the strongest squad ever assembled at Lawton Park is preparing an assault on the NPL2 title and a historic place in Victoria’s elite club competition. Dover, 25, has reached the highest levels in Australian club soccer making his debut for Melbourne…
SOCCER THE Fijian tsunami surging through Frankston Pines continued unabated last week when the State 3 title contender announced the signing of 19-year-old Thomas Dunn from Navua FC. Pines currently have goalkeeper Aeseli Batikasa, defender Penni Tuigulagula, midfielder Savenaca Baledrokadroka and striker Tito Vodowaqa on their books while midfielder Jordan “Caka” Avraham has previously been selected in the Fijian under-23 national squad. While Baledrokadroka still is trialling at NPL3 outfit Doveton the local club expected Tuigulagula and Vodowaqa to train this week despite both players trialling with Springvale White Eagles recently. And the influx of Fijian stars doesn’t end there…
SOCCER THE 10th staging of the annual Steve Wallace Cup was put on hold last weekend after clubs were hit with player unavailability due to the current pandemic. Instead host club and event organiser Langwarrin changed Saturday’s usual format from group and finals stages to a number of one-off 90-minute games. “The day still went well and was well attended,” Langwarrin president Tanya Wallace said. She plays a pivotal role in organising the charity event named in her father’s honour and this year over $2000 was raised and will be donated to Frankston Hospital’s Emergency Department. The revamped tournament was…
SOCCER THE panic attacks are less frequent now but anxiety is a regular companion. Such is the lot of Tanya Wallace, 32, Langwarrin soccer club president and registered nurse who works in emergency at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Fear and uncertainty are ever present on the pandemic frontline and part of her everyday life. “The second lockdown in 2020 was the hardest one,” she said. “I couldn’t see my mum or my brother for three or four months and we had an outbreak in my hospital and mum (also a nurse) had an outbreak in hers. “Being forced into not being…