Soccer | Daniel Phan

AUSTRALIA is a world away from Liberia, but for Melvin Becket the innocent memories of his life in the West African nation are relived every time a soccer ball is at his feet.

“Football (soccer) is more than a game to me, it’s a life,” Becket told Leader.

“Back in Liberia, football was played literally everywhere.

“I played it every day and it was more than just a game to me.

“I play it to relax, I play to forget about all my problems; and it certainly helps me take my mind off a lot of things.”

The former Maribyrnong College student, who lived in Sunshine North, left for the Australian Institute of Sport in January after a successful trial for a men’s football scholarship.

Recently, Becket has been training with Melbourne Heart and he is eager to continue working under head coach John van’t Schip and his two assistants, Jesper Olsen and Ante Milicic, on a longer-term basis.

“I’ve been with the Heart for the past three weeks and hope to return again,” he said. “Seriously, they’re just the best people to be around, and extremely caring.

“They are fantastic communicators and are very straight-forward with their coaching.

“My parents are paying the expenses like flying me in and out, but I’m really happy here; the coaches make sure you have a sense of belonging.”

While he has one eye on making the under-20 World Cup in Colombia, the 17-year-old’s immediate focus has not changed: to continue performing for the AIS in the National Youth League and earn his first senior A-League contract.

“I really want to make the (under-20) squad, but right now I’m just focusing on my performances week after week and, hopefully, I can earn a deal with the Heart in the near future,” he said.

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Soccer | Daniel Phan

FORMER South Melbourne coach Vaughan Coveny is being touted for a talented player development role with Football Federation Victoria.

With over a decade of professional soccer under his belt, a career in the sport’s youth development arm could be the next port of call for the Kiwi.

Through coaching under-14 kids at the AS Roma academy in Brunswick, Coveny, who lives in East Keilor, has realised his passion for working with youth.

“I’m really enjoying it so far,” he said. “These kids are just so coachable, and there’s a lot of respect (from them).”

Coveny, who will meet with FFV technical director Sean Douglas next month to discuss the possibility of acquiring a hands-on role with the Talented Player Department, is keen to aid develop the next generation of players.

“I’ve been fairly successful and know what it takes to make it at the top level in Australia,” he said. “I’d love to pull on all that experience and fill these kids with information.

“They are usually hand-picked and are in that mould already so it would be a really exciting opportunity.”

Douglas, who played with Coveny in the New Zealand national team, said successful candidates would head player-focused programs, which encourage playing soccer “the right way”.

“We are looking to send out the right philosophies to these kids,” Douglas said.

“We also must redefine winning and encourage mistakes from the kids. It’s like maths you don’t become the best by not making any mistakes. Mistakes have to be made for young players to learn, and Vaughan certainly has the experience, having played at international level, in the A-League and possessing coaching knowledge for a role with us.”

Coveny was stood down as South Melbourne coach after failing to steer the former Victorian Premier League champions into the 2010 finals series, despite a points deduction by Football Federation Victoria being largely to blame for the side’s shortcoming.

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Football | Daniel Phan

PRESTON Primary School’s girls’ football team will be looking to continue its winning ways after taking out the Collingwood Magpies’ Multicultural School’s Cup.

A valiant win over Mooroopna Primary School ensured the team progressed to the state multicultural finals, where it will meet the winners of multicultural cup programs run by other AFL clubs.

Despite losing to the country Victorians in the round robin stages, the girls from Preston

Primary School managed to edge out their opponents by a solitary goal, thanks largely to a huge team effort.

“It was interesting because we actually lost to them in earlier on,” Preston Primary sports co-ordinator Mary Kalogianis said. “The girls went into the grand

final as underdogs and managed to hold them so it was quite exciting.”

“But there was no one star player.”

Kalogianis also praised the initiative for giving kids who did not usually partake in competitive sports the unique opportunity to embrace team sports and get fit.

Golf | Daniel Phan

COMING third in the Australian Masters is just the start of bigger things for Daniel Gaunt.

The boy from Romsey briefly led the leader board after hitting a 16 in the first round, only to relinquish his advantage with a double bogey on Friday.

Despite a valiant effort, which saw him finish right above world No. 2 Tiger Woods, Gaunt is ruing relinquishing the lead, which ultimately cost him a maiden win on Australian soil.

“I’m shattered, to be honest, to have played very well, hitting a perfect 16,” Gaunt said.

Despite his disappointment, the 31-year-old has enjoyed the attention from the Victorian public, and family and friends.

“The whole experience has been amazing especially coming down the straight with everyone screaming your name,” he said.

“I’ve had numerous Facebook messages from people around Romsey. There’s been plenty of support from the town.

“It means all this hard work has started to pay off.”

Gaunt’s mother, Bev, could hardly describe her elation, given the economic pitfalls her sons endured in pursuing their sporting dreams.

“I’m very emotional at the moment, we’re really proud of both of them,” she said.

“It has been so tough on them, living away from their family it is very tough, financially and emotionally. People don’t realise how tough it is to make ends meet.

“It usually costs about a couple of thousand dollars getting to a tournament, the travel and accommodation, and there is a lot of pressure on the boys.”

Growing up on a farm in Romsey, there was never any doubt the direction in which Daniel and his older brother Chris would take their careers.

“They used to set up their own little golf course and played every day,” she said.

“Their father played golf at the Romsey club, as did their grandfather, so it was only natural that both Daniel and Chris played golf.”

Gaunt, who has vowed to return to next year’s tournament, has set his radar on one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments.

“My main goal is to qualify for the President’s Cup, and to push into the top 50 in the world rankings,” Gaunt said.

“And I also hope that I can help get new kids to join up and play golf at the local club. It’d be nice to bring Romsey on to the map.”

Soccer | Daniel Phan

ANTHONY Duzel is already a leader at age 13.

The fledgling midfielder is captaining the Western Wolves’ under-15 side in Football Federation Victoria’s Champions League.

But despite his tender years, Duzel had adapted quickly to the role, partly due to his experience with the Australian representative team at this year’s AFC (Asian Football Confederation) under-14 boys’ Festival of Football.

“At first, I was nervous because in the past the teams I played in rotated captains and there was nothing like motivational talks,” Anthony said.

“It’s also the first time that I’ve been a captain. When I was playing with the under-14 Australian team, I had to be mature so that helped (with being captain).”

The regional tournament, held in Malaysia, provided the Sydenham youngster with a glimpse of life at the top level where he’s aiming to find himself in a few years’ time.

“Our first game was amazing,” Anthony said. “To walk out in the national gear and be treated like professional players was unreal.

“Most of the Asian teams were really quick but I reckon Australia was the most skilful side, plus we were also one of the youngest there.”

Having impressed in his five appearances, Anthony was selected for the all-star team, in which he played alongside the tournament’s standout players.

“I was so happy to make that team and was buzzing the whole time,” Anthony said. “It was a really good experience, one I’ll never forget.”

Anthony will undergo trials with the Victorian Institute of Sport’s National Training Centre and the Australian Institute of Sport next year.

But his talent is not just being noticed locally.

Such is his potential Anthony has been scouted by English Premier League sides Blackburn Rovers and Everton.

But given Croatia’s (Anthony is eligible for a Croatian passport) status with the European Union, neither club could promise Duzel a junior contract for when he turns 16.

“That was exciting and disappointing (about Croatia not being in the EU) at the same time, but now I just have to keep working hard,” he said. “(But) hopefully, Croatia joins (the EU) before I turn 16 so I can apply for a passport and be free to join a team in England or elsewhere.”

Meanwhile, Anthony, whose father Ivan played professionally in Croatia and Australia, will be looking to keep his side’s lead on the Victorian Champions League’s table intact.

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30 NOV 10 @ 12:13PM BY DANIEL PHAN

THERE is a new lot down at Raeburn Reserve.

Thanks to the determined efforts of the Pascoe Vale Football Club, coupled with Moreland City Council’s push for gender equality in sports participation, a junior girls’ football team has joined the Panthers ranks.

Newly appointed club president Faye Biedukiewicz admitted it took a strenuous effort assembling the team, which will compete in the AFL Victoria Girls’ Youth League from next season.

“Next year we will be entering a women’s team who will play in AFL Victoria’s women’s competition,” Biedukiewicz told Leader.

“We were initially under the pump to approach players and coaching staff for the team but now we’re really pleased about having the team up and away.

“For the football club it definitely sends the message that the time has come (for women’s sport to be more widely accepted).”

The creation of a Panthers girls’ team ensures the club meets the council’s Grounds Allocation policy whereby it will get access to the necessary training and playing facilities.

“We know from our point of view that it can help us with the council and we also want to be inclusive with everyone in the community,” Biedukiewicz said.

It also means gender-appropriate facilities must be built to accommodate the girls. “Now we just have to wait for the council to install new changerooms and toilet facilities to accommodate for the girls,” Biedukiewicz said.

Moreland City Council’s pressing for a greater balance between males and females in sports participation has been praised by senior sports lecturer Johanna Adriaanse of the University of Technology Sydney.

Adriaanse said a change in attitude towards women in sport can only be realised if sporting clubs subjected to stringent council policies.

“Traditionally sport is male dominated, and you have to take certain measures to provoke some change,” she said. “Naturally, change won’t occur so quickly.

“Clubs need to have a plan in place that is open to both genders and connects all the people in the community who pay council rates.”

According to Moreland councillor Stella Kariofyllidis, the response to the Grounds Allocation policy has so far been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s been very positive – the sporting clubs are doing the most they can (to embrace female participation at on-field and administrative level),” she said.

Pascoe Vale Football Club has indeed set a healthy example for other clubs.

An inherent football buff, Biedukiewicz said her gender would not define her ability to oversee the club’s operations as president.

“It’s time people realise that the passion for females is as much as men,” she said. “My job involves negotiating with the club for players and everything else.

“(And) hopefully I’ll become the first female president in the EDFL to bring home a premiership.”

16 NOV 10 @ 04:17PM BY DANIEL PHAN

TOM Milardovic cannot contain his excitement about putting on the St Albans Saints strip again after spending almost six years away from the club.

The defender, who spurned an offer to remain with minor premiers Richmond Eagles in order to return his childhood club, already has his sights on a gruelling pre-season hit-out.

“I just can’t wait until pre-season,” Milardovic said.

The Saints are back in the Victorian Premier League fold after a five-year absence but, despite big expectations, Milardovic admitted their priority was retaining top-flight status beyond the 2011 season.

“We want to become a stable club,” Milardovic said. However, with a three-year plan in place, Milardovic is quietly confident the Saints will challenge for silverware in good time.

“We must be realistic, which means making sure we’re still in the Premier League for the following season before we can think too much about pushing for (the) finals,” he said.

“But everyone wants to win trophies and achieve at this club. I’m talking for all the boys, that’s what you play for – to win – and I think anything’s possible.”

Saints football operations manager Mark Ivkovic said the club was rapt to have secured its No. 1 off-season recruiting aim.

“The day we sealed the State League 1 championship we quickly began working on what areas we needed to improve on if we are going to be successful in the VPL,” he said.

“Milards (Milardovic) was our number one priority and we worked very hard to get him down here, so to finally secure his signature is very rewarding and exciting for the club.”

The 28-year-old is adamant his was the right choice in swapping the more-established set-up at Richmond for the familiar surrounds of Churchill Reserve.

“Richmond were disappointed and shocked initially but they understood after I explained the reasons,” Milardovic said. “I had a really good relationship with the coach and everything, but that’s football for you.

“It’s (St Albans) just home, and I really want to achieve at this club.”

7 DEC 10 @ 11:37AM BY DANIEL PHAN

SIX-TIME Victorian Premier League championship-winning coach Peter Ollerton has expressed concern about the lack of compensation from A-League clubs that recruit local talent from state league-competing sides.

Ollerton also called for Football Federation Australia to help state league clubs raise funds and publicity through some shrewd scheduling, should the recently-proposed FFA Cup become a reality.

“I like the idea of the FFA Cup; it would give the lesser-type clubs an opportunity to play against a higher level,” the former Green Gully boss said.

“The only thing I would query is that they would have to try to play the games at the lesser-type clubs’ stadiums, to help these clubs get money from attendances. The state league clubs would benefit financially and also get some publicity.

“It’s common sense.”

Ollerton believes State League clubs are not duly compensated for their developing and raising of local talent.

“A lot of players are taken from the Victorian Premier League for no cost,” he said. “When I was at Green Gully, nobody compensated us for Diogo Ferreira or Aziz Behich.

“I suppose at the end of the day, you make the player and the A-League clubs take them and you get nothing out of it.”

In 1986, former Socceroo Ollerton led Croydon City to the latter stages of the short-lived Australian Cup, which bears similarities to the FFA Cup, whereby top-flight domestic teams are pitted against their state counterparts.

“Back in the 1986-87 season, I coached Croydon to the state championship and we beat everybody in the then-Australian Cup, only to lose to West Adelaide in the latter stages,” he said.

While he has no desire for a return to coaching in the VPL, Ollerton said he would enjoy a role as a specialist coach at an A-League club. “I’d like to be able to go to the Victory or Heart – something like that – and be used as a technical striking coach,” he said. ‘I’d enjoy that.”

1 DEC 10 @ 07:00AM BY DANIEL PHAN

NICK Kalmar and Rodrigo Vargas are oft-cited examples of VPL-groomed players established in the A-League.

Their seamless transition from state league football to Australian club soccer’s highest echelons has now inspired Glen and Jason Trifiro to make Victoria’s top-flight their next destination.

The brothers, both Australian representatives at youth level, recently signed with last season’s unexpected finalist Northcote City, and admitted the chance of a step-up to the A-League was a swaying factor behind their decision.

“Everything we do is towards our future,” younger brother Glen said.

“For us, we’re always looking at the future – we always look past our current move and think of where it can potentially lead us.

“With the two A-League franchises in Melbourne, it offers a great opportunity because of the history of players moving from the VPL to the A-League.”

“We’re from Sydney, and everyone there knows us and our game so, for us, this move will give us a fresh start,” the attacking midfielder added.

Glen, 21, who arrives from Perth Glory’s youth team, said he is not intimidated by the at-times uncompromising nature of the VPL.

“I’ve heard the VPL is a bit tough and very physical,” he said. I’m expecting a tough league which will benefit Jason and me.”

“We want to challenge ourselves and a more physical league will help us develop our games.”

Jason is equally enthused about moving south, relishing the prospect of linking up with his brother on the pitch.

“I’m looking forward to playing with my brother,” the holding midfielder said. “I last played with him at Marconi Stallions three years ago; it was an enjoyable experience as we have a lot of understanding.”

City coach Peter Tsolakis hinted he could experiment with the team’s playing formation should the Trifiro brothers meet his expectations when they join the club for pre-season in a few weeks.

“I’ll probably stick to the traditional 4-4-2, where we’ll be hard to break down defensively but I could use a midfield diamond (4-3-1-2 or 4-1-2-1-2) now we’ve got them (Jason and Glen),” he said.

“I’ve seen a lot of footage of them both and I really like what I see.

“They are very skilful and I’ve only had glowing reports about them both.

“If they get protected by the referees then I’m certain they’ll do well here; and if they have skill to burn, then show me!”

http://www.preston-leader.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/preston-soccer-fans-to-be-cheering-for-ognenovski/

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