Hakoah Sydney City East FC is gearing up for a big 2017 season with a clear target to play an exciting brand of football as well as cementing itself in the PlayStation4 NPL NSW Men’s Finals Series.
With this in mind the recruitment process is well under way, and the club is excited to announce the signing of former Sydney FC and Young Socceroo Goalkeeper Anthony Bouzanis.
Bouzanis was delighted upon reaching his terms and conditions with the club and couldn’t wait for the new season to kick off.
“After meeting Hakoah Sydney City East FC head coach Gavin Rae, I knew it was the best club for me to play as many games as possible and provide me with the opportunity to make the step back up into the Hyundai A-League.
“Hakoah Sydney City East FC has been on the way up for the last six years, and after promotion to the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s in 2016 and surviving the first year, the coaches were clear that the goal is now competing in finals football and I am excited to help the Club achieve this goal.”
First Grade Coach, Gavin “Guv” Rae was also happy in securing one of the best young keepers in Sydney.
“I am delighted to have secured Anthony Bouzanis as our number one goalkeeper for next season. He has been with Sydney FC and earned a first team contract with them, also being involved with the Young Socceroos, so he brings great experience and will fit into our club very well. We want to provide him with a great platform to reach his undoubted potential.”
Protecting Anthony will be Hakoah Sydney City East FC central defender Brad Walker who re-signed with the club despite attracting offers from a number of suiters. After returning from a four-year stint in the US college system in 2013, Brad has been one of the best players in Hakoah Sydney City East FC’s climb up the divisions, and proved himself to be one of the most talented defenders in the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s competition in 2016. Brad’s father Barry is also a key figure in the club as the Junior Technical Director, and both Brad and Barry will be found attending every Hakoah Sydney City East FC match they can across the age groups.
Hakoah Sydney City East FC President Michael Katz noted his excitement about the signing of Anthony Bouzanis.
“The fact that he chose to play with us reflects Hakoah Sydney City East FC’s commitment to developing talented young players. Gavin Rae comes from an incredible football pedigree and has an exciting vision for our football club next season, any talented young player should be striving to play under him and learn from his experience.”
-Hakoah Sydney City East FC Press Release
Stavroulakis wants to add ‘another one’
In the famous words of current Hip Hop DJ artist Dj Khaled, “Another one”, is the phrase Sydney United 58 FC vice-captain Nick Stavroulakis is going by as his squad prepare for battle in this Sunday’s epic PS4 NPL Finals Series Grand Final clash against Northern NSW’s Premiers and Champions Edgeworth FC Eagles.
Sydney United 58, a club renowned for being steeped in rich history with a number of silverware to match its many players that have gone onto represent Australia on the world stage have big expectations as the club expects nothing but a victory as they host, for the third successive week, after defeating the likes of Adelaide City (5-4) and Brisbane Strikers (2-1) on route to the Final.
Mark Rudan’s men have stacked the trophy cabinet this year taking out the Waratah Cup as well as being crowned Premiers but the Reds are still reeling on their Grand Final loss to Blacktown City – however taking out their second ever PS4 NPL Finals Series title would certainly make amends.
Stavroulakis in particular pointed out that being crowned the best NPL team in Australia was one of the club’s objectives from the get go but understands to get there, they need to defeat a hungry Eagles outfit ready to pounce on an upset.
“It’s a huge game for us as players as well as for the club – reason being we all know what’s up for grabs and that’s a coveted spot in the round of 32 of the Westfield FFA Cup.
“It’s a huge incentive to have going into the new season as you do miss at least four or five games by passing the preliminary qualifying stages giving the team more time to focus on the league.
“We cannot hide the fact that we too want to be crowned the best NPL side in Australia and this is a great platform for us to achieve this.
“Edgeworth won’t be easy, mark my words, they will fight till the very end and our boys need to be at their best to get the result needed.”
Damian Zane’s team have done it the hard way by playing their two NPL Finals Series matches away from home defeating Victorian giants Bentleigh Greens 3-1 and more recently securing a 1-0 win away to Perth SC.
Stavroulakis paid tribute to the Eagles’ tough run but also stated that United 58 faced just as tough opposition.
“What the Eagles have done to get into the Final was great – to win both their matches away from home against two decent clubs isn’t easy.
“But we haven’t had it easy either. We took on two former NSL giants in the shape of Adelaide City coached by Damian Mori and you saw the result that day, 5-4.
“The Strikers, also led by a good coach, pushed and tested us all the way with their shape and structure as well as promoting playing from the back – we were down 1-0 but fought hard to get back into the match and got through in the end.
“I haven’t seen much of Edgeworth but I did catch their Westfield FFA Cup match on Fox Sports when they took on the Western Sydney Wanderers – they’re a team that can make it hard for the opposition to break down and have some quality in their roster with a few good young players as well as their striker Daniel McBreen who has knocked in a few goals this year and will pose as a major threat.
“It’s not going to be easy I know they’ll be up for the challenge and will give it their all so we need to be at our best but we believe we are the best team in the NPL and need to show this on Sunday.
“We are playing on our home ground and we’ve made it a fortress and want to continue that trend in finishing off the season on a high in winning our third piece of silverware.”
McBreen’s inclusion into the squad for Sunday has come as a major boost for the Novacastrians and Stavroulakis stated that his presence will only better the match at Edensor Park.
“In every game you play as a footballer you want to play the best opponents because you don’t want any excuses but for us we aren’t too focused on the opposition, but if we play to our strengths then I am confident we can beat anyone on the other side.
“Daniel McBreen has shown he can still mix it and I know we will have our hands full with him but we need to focus on ourselves and our game first.”
Stavroulakis paid tribute to his teammates, in particular Panny Nikas who has been on fire in the PS4 NPL Finals Series having scored an incredible five goals in two matches after having a standout season with the Reds.
“Panny has been unbelievable this year – I’ve been watching him playing in-front of me for nine years but his performances have not surprised me as that’s what he can bring to the team with his form which I have seen time and time again. He can change the game on its head whenever he likes and he puts bums on seats as he does things you don’t normally see in the NPL.
“I know the focus will be on him but he is used to that and has been doing this for a long time.”
The tenacious midfielder paid respect to a few other of United 58’s players as he stated will be focused for the big clash.
“Glen Trifiro is another X factor for us as well as Chris Payne who is ‘Johnny on the Spot’ and does provide us with the goals as he has shown this year taking out the Golden Boot award.
“You can’t go past a few other boys like Yianni Fragogiannis, Tomislav Uskok, Peter Triantis, our keeper Tom Manos, who has played 38 games this year and has not missed a match.”
After tasting PS4 NPL Finals Series success in 2013 when Rudan’s team defeated South Hobart FC in Tasmania, Stavroulakis believes that winning it a second time round would be even sweeter.
“The club is very ambitious, we set out our goals this year and we now have the opportunity to win three out of the four trophies on hand this season.
“To knock off another trophy is something the club is really wanting, yes, United 58 have won this before and now because of the way it is with the rewards of winning the trophy as well as a spot in the Westfield FFA Cup round of 32, there’s a lot more at stake so getting a victory will mean much more.
“We want to not only do this for our club, ourselves and our fans but for NSW as we want to get that extra spot in the Cup again for next year.”
Match Details
Sunday October 2nd
Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 v Edgeworth FC Eagles
2:30pm kick off
-By Marcus Angello
Major jets off to Hong Kong
Blacktown City FC stalwart Travis Major has bid farewell to Sydney after securing a professional contract with the Hong Kong Pegasus FC.
The 26-year-old who spent the majority of his football career with Blacktown City before moving to the Hyundai A-League in 2015 playing with the Central Coast Mariners, attracted interest from the Hong Kong Premier League based club and wasted no time in landing Major.
Playing in a number of positional roles for Mark Crittenden’s side whether it were in defence, midfield or up-front, Major’s never say die attitude and workman like attributes will certainly assist in Hong Kong Pegasus FC’s push for a Championship.
Major played an integral role in Blacktown City’s golden years, especially the last two where he has won the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s Championship and PS4 NPL Finals Series title as well as playing in the Westfield FFA Cup.
Major will begin his professional career with his new club effective immediately.
Keanu Moore ready for United 58 battle
One things for certain, Northern NSW Premiers and Champions Edgeworth FC Eagles are coming to Sydney with one thing on their minds – lifting the 2016 PS4 NPL Finals Series Trophy.
One player that will play a pivotal role in hopefully achieving this amazing feat is 21-year-old attacking midfield whiz Keanu Moore.
The dazzling rising young star has been one of Damian Zane’s standout players for the 2016 season – a year that has seen the club lift the Premiership, Championship, defeat the Far North Queensland FC Heat in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 only to be knocked out by the Western Sydney Wanderers in the Round of 16 while progressing to Sunday’s PS4 NPL Finals Series big dance winning two very tough away matches to the Bentleigh Greens and Perth SC.
A marked man no doubt with Sydney United 58 set to stamp its authority on shutting out the Eagles’ promising young gun, Moore was looking forward to the Edensor Park experience.
“It’s probably right up there as the biggest game in the club’s history.
“The club is really looking forward to what will be a massive game against a good side.
“We are proud of how far we have come in this tournament but the club has high hopes of taking this out so hopefully we can get the job done.
“We know that Sydney United 58 will be a tough team to beat but we did knock off Bentleigh Greens so we have the belief that we can beat anyone.”
Away victories to Victorian guns Bentleigh Greens 3-1 as well as their recent triumph in Western Australia downing Perth SC 1-0, travelling and playing away was no issue for Moore.
“To be honest I would prefer to play away because when you are travelling it feels like you are a full-time professional and that’s something I want to do moving forward become a professional footballer.
“You stay with the team at hotels, you have meals provided, you focus on the match on hand with the boys, it all plays well with getting you geared for the big game ahead.”
The Eagles will be utilising Football NSW’s Valentine Sports Park accommodation as its official base on Saturday when the entire squad and coaching staff make the trip from the Hunter region in preparation for the big match on Sunday.
Their opponents will by no means be easy beats and the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s Premiers and Waratah Cup Champions have shown during the PS4 NPL Finals Series matches that they really mean business.
Moore knows that they’ll be in for a dog fight come Sunday in Sydney’s West.
“We played them in a pre-season friendly earlier this year but I know a lot has changed since then from both sides with new faces and what not.
“Zaney (Edgeworth FC Eagles Coach) has done his homework on them and will no doubt be ready for a game plan in hopefully lifting the Cup.”
Asked whether the club will keep a special eye out on Sydney United 58’s red hot attacker in Panny Nikas, Moore replied.
“I have seen some footage of his goals during this tournament and he is in really good form.
“Again our coach will no doubt be giving us pointers on shutting him and the rest of the team down but it’s all about concentrating on our own performances first.”
One such player that Moore is happy will be playing in the big finale is ace marksman Daniel McBreen.
The former Central Coast Mariners attacker has been the heart and soul of the club and has been the name that has knocked in a plethora of goals for the rampaging Eagles – however, a planned family trip on Sunday abroad left Edgeworth’s number one star in limbo although the club has offered to fly the star back in time for the match.
“It’s great to know he is playing on Sunday.
“I know it wasn’t the best situation to be in but this is his boyhood club and I’m glad he will be part of the day.”
Apart from McBreen, the club will look towards captain Josh Evans as well as promising youngsters Dylan Holz, Aden Gardner and current PS4 Player Pathway Camp trialists Brody Taylor, Ayden Brice, and Lachlan Pasquale as key men for the visitors.
The former Tamworth FC junior spoke highly of his head coach who will complete his second full year at the club having won a fair bit of local silverware since being appointed.
“Zaney is a very good coach, he knows what he is doing and the players have put a lot of trust in him as he has put a lot of trust in us so it’s been a good balance.
“When he initially took over the club at the start of last season he rung me and said that he wanted to give me a chance as well as giving all the young boys a shot because he didn’t think we had been given our chances yet.
“So he put a lot of trust in us and we have repaid him by giving us this chance by being rather successful these past two seasons but the great thing is our team is a mixture of youth and experience as well so that’s always a good combination to have.”
The tag of being the best NPL team in the country is something Moore and his troops are hoping to achieve on Sunday as well as grabbing a spot in next year’s Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32.
“Considering that ourselves and Sydney United 58 are currently the best two teams in the country, the winner will grab the glory of being the best NPL side in Australia and that is something we really want.
“A victory would definitely put Northern NSW football on the map too because every game we’ve been underdogs against the Greens and also Perth so coming into Sunday’s match we will once again be the underdogs.
“We just want to make our town proud as this is probably the biggest game the club’s history and everyone is talking about it in the area.”
The Eagles fans will be coming down in numbers as Moore stated to Football NSW that they’ve had some amazing support throughout the course of the season especially on away trips.
“I’m pretty sure there will be a few buses coming down from Newcastle to support the boys so we can’t wait for that.
“Everywhere we’ve played this year we’ve had great support.
“When we went to Cairns for the Westfield FFA Cup we had support there as well as our fans being in Melbourne and Perth so this short trip to Sydney will certainly see a fair few sporting our club colours.”
Match Details
Sunday October 2nd
Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 v Edgeworth FC Eagles
2:30pm kick off
-By Mark Stavroulakis
Nikas brilliance downs Strikers
Cometh the man, cometh the hour, Sydney United 58 have once again been rescued by the individual brilliance of Panny Nikas who bagged two goals against a gritty Brisbane Strikers to gift the Reds a home tie in next weekend’s PS4 NPL Grand Final against Northern NSW’s Edgeworth Eagles.
The charismatic talisman stepped up and scored two goals in the second half after the Strikers hit the lead in the 36th minute courtesy of a Trent Clulow header in the opening half.
It came off the back of a memorable hat-trick by Nikas last weekend when Sydney United 58 downed Adelaide City 5-4 but once again raised the discussion why the star attacker has not been snapped up by Hyundai A-League club for the new season.
The game had a number of twists and turns as both teams showed their brilliance having provided some well-structured play throughout the course of the game.
The action kicked off as early as the second minute when Nikas hit a free-kick that sailed well over the bar after Strikers hard-man Greg Henslee fouled Glenn Trifiro just outside the box.
Henslee was then involved in the thick of the action as the big defender had the visitors first chance but he skewed his shot well over the bar in the 8th minute.
The home side thought they had their first goal on the eleven-minute mark and it was the deadly combination of Nikas and Trifiro who rallied, but the latter seeing his shot shade just wide of the post.
Four minutes later and Jake McLean broke clear after beating an offside call but his resulting shot failed to trouble Tom Manos.
Nikas again was involved in all the Reds attack and was gifted a great opportunity to open the scoring in the 34th minute when he received the ball and got behind two Strikers defenders only to see his attempted lob over Michael Weier bounce wide of the post.
With the Reds having most of the play and chances it was the Strikers who struck the first goal of the match against the run of play, much to the joy of visiting coach Kevin A’Herne Evans.
Japanese winger Hiroki Omori punched through a great cross to Clulow who rose above the United 58 defence and gave the Strikers a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.
The home side were shell shocked and rallied instantly as Reds skipper Nick Stavroulakis saw his shot just miss the target after some great build up play by that man again, Nikas.
Half time approached and Mark Rudan’s men had it all to do in the second half as they went in search of their second PS4 NPL Finals trophy, one they took out in 2013 when they defeated South Hobart FC to lift the inaugural Cup in Tasmania.
The half-time talk sparked up the home side and on the 52nd mark they got their equaliser.
Japanese high flyer Yutaro Shin swung in a deadly cross inside the Strikers’ six-yard box only to have been partially cleared to the feet of Nikas.
With poise and calm, Nikas smacked home from close range and it was game on.
The pendulum looked to have swung the home side’s way but were dealt a huge blow when Yianni Fragogiannis was taken from the field a minute after with a suspected knee injury.
The ever reliable defender was on top of his game until that moment and the club will be hoping that Fragogiannis will be playing for the big finale against the Eagles next weekend.
With Jacob Tratt already signed to the Wellington Phoenix also, Rudan will be sweating on the fitness of his star defender.
Back to the match and the Strikers, who for the course of the match, were giving it their all, nearly hit the lead via Clulow in the 57th minute but Manos saved well.
Clulow went close again in the 63rd minute but it was the 71st minute that was the talk of the match as the home side took the lead courtesy of a thunderbolt from Nikas.
Asserting himself from a good 30-yards, Nikas lined up and smashed home a right foot bomb that hit the top right corner leaving Weier with no chance.
It was to be the winning goal as the game went the home team’s way and all but confirmed an intriguing PS4 NPL Finals Series Grand Final against Northern NSW Premiers Edgeworth Eagles next weekend.
Match Stats
Sydney United 58: 2 (Panni Nikas 51’ 71)
Brisbane Strikers: 1 (Trent Clulow 35’)
Referee: Adam Susz
Assistant Referees: Andrej Giev & Scott Edeling
Fourth Official: Samuel Grasso
Sydney United 58 FC: 21: MANOS Thomas, 2: VLISMAS Kristopher, 6: PAYNE Christopher, 7: SHIN Yutaro, 8: TRIANTIS Peter, 14: STAVROULAKIS Nick, 17: KOFINAS Theo (20: USKOK Tomislav 46’), 18: TRIFIRO Glen (10: MILESKI Robbie 80’), 19: BILIC Matthew, 20, 22: FRAGOGIANNIS YIANNI (3: MOCHIZUKI Masato 53’), 23: NIKAS Panagiotis
Substitutes Not Used: 11: TANESKI Nikola, 30: BABIC Luke
Cautions: Stavroulakis 69’, Mileski 91’
Brisbane Strikers: 20: WEIER Michael, 4: MARSHALL Jake, 5: HENSLEE Greg, 6: HILLS Fraser (PALMER Ryan 85), 8 ANGUS Michael ©, 12: CARLOS Shaun, 13: KNIGHT Sam, 14: MCLEAN Jake (7: SHERIFF Fraser), 17: OMORI Hiroki, 18: CLULOW Trent, 19: MARSH Luke
Substitutes Not Used: 1: USAU Sebastian, 21: JOHNSON Sam, 23: BALL Samuel
Cautions: Hills 56’, Omori 76