NO DRAW, BUT CLUBS STILL HAVING HIT-OUTS

21 February 2015

Shepparton News - Matthew Galea

Goulburn Valley Suns might be starting their season tonight, but for the rest of the soccer community, the wait is still on.

The clubs that once formed the defunct Goulburn North East Football Association have yet to formalise which clubs are submitting what teams into the new Football Federation Victoria-administered competition.

As such, no draw has been made for the new season, but that has not stopped the clubs from starting their preparation for the season, despite a raft of big changes in the local soccer scene.

Shepparton Soccer Club has committed to returning to the top flight of senior men’s competition, visa spots have been cut from four to two and a number of the region’s best players have moved to the Suns.

The Reds had their first hit-out last weekend and lost 2-1 to Melbourne-based Noble Park, which plays in State League Four.

Coach Steve Hawks said he was happy with how the club was tracking.

‘‘We’ve had a few former juniors come back to the club like Carlo Meola, my son Ben, and Troy Kennedy has been training as well,’’ Hawks said.

‘‘We’re getting around 20 players on the park for training, so it’s a good start at this stage.

‘‘We had a good run out against Noble Park. They’re not a brilliant side, but they’re not terrible and we matched themonly for themto win a game with a goal they’ll never score again.’’

Hawks said the club had no real intention to use the visa spots, although a number of backpackers who had been training with the club could conceivably use them.

Tatura took on Benalla in a friendly last week and won 4-1, despite its coach still not being announced.

The News understands former Shepparton United import Ben Shepherd is set to be announced as playing-coach, while the returning Jared Cunniff will fill the second import spot.

Meanwhile, former Ibis import Ury Fernandez has made the switch to Shepparton South, where another former Ibis and premiership player, David Nicholas, has been training.

The Southerners have played two friendlies against Albury Wodonga Football Association’s Myrtleford, drawing the first 2-2 and winning the second 2-0.

Kyabram Phoenix president Simon Fiske said his side was struggling for players in the senior department, but said the appointment of Jean Giuca as a coaching mentor and development coach had injected some much-needed soccer knowledge into the area.

‘‘We’re still pushing for numbers, so if there are any young blokes looking for a senior opportunity they can come to us and know we will give them a crack,’’ Fiske said.