I've basically copied and pasted the main parts of this entry from this blog piece from Walter Pless' excellent Tasmanian soccer blog. There's a couple of photos in there that I haven't included, and it's a great blog, so it's worth clicking on the link anyway.
The famous South Melbourne arrive in Hobart on Thursday for a 3-match tour
South Melbourne Hellas arrive at Hobart Airport on a Jetstar flight at 9.30am on Thursday.
South Melbourne will play South Hobart twice during their four-day stay and Olympia Warriors once.
On Thursday, South Melbourne will play South Hobart at South Hobart at 6pm, but this match will probably feature youth and reserve players from both clubs.
South Melbourne will then play Olympia Warriors at KGV Park on Friday at 7pm.
The visitors are likely to train at South Hobart on Saturday prior to the big game against South Hobart at South Hobart at 4pm on Sunday for the Hill Street-Thrifty Cup.
At 1pm on Sunday at South Hobart, there will be a curtain-raiser between the South Hobart development squad and the Glenorchy Knights under-19s.
“We are really excited about the visit by South Melbourne and would like to invite all football supporters in Tasmania to come along on Sunday afternoon as there will be plenty of good football, great food and drink and fairy floss and slushies for the kids,” said South Hobart President, Vicki Woods.
“Over many years, South Melbourne have boasted some of Australia’s best football players, including the likes of Oscar Crino, Alan Davidson, Ange Postecoglou [current Brisbane Roar Coach], Paul Wade and Paul Trimboli.
“South Melbourne have a rich history, having won the former National Soccer League on four occasions, and the Oceania Club Cup in 1999. They were FIFA World Club Cup Finalists in 2000 and, last year, were recognised as the FIFA Oceania Club of the 20th Century.”
Former Tasmanian David Clarkson, who played for Brighton and Hove Albion in England and also in Hong Kong, was a star with South Melbourne and captained the side for a couple of seasons before retiring.
The legendary ‘Galloping Major’ from Hungary, and of Real Madrid and Panathinaikos fame, the left-footed Ferenc Puskas, also coached South Melbourne Hellas in the early 1990s.
Puskas, who also coached Panathinaikos in a European Cup final against Ajax at Wembley, possessed one of the most powerful shots in the game.
He was once coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada but his contract was terminated because he intimidated the club’s goalkeepers and shattered their confidence with his shooting at training.
Puskas conducted a coaching session in Launceston in the 1990s and one of my biggest regrets in the game is that I did not attend that session as he was one of my heroes.
A Tasmanian team coached by Steve Darby beat South Melbourne 2-1 at South Hobart in the 1980s. Former Liverpool star Alun Evans was a member of that South Melbourne team.
South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, is excited at welcoming the visitors, who have been to Tasmania before on several occasions, including when Morton was coach of Olympia in the early 1980s.
South Hobart, under Morton, have visited Melbourne twice in the past two years to play South Melbourne Hellas in pre-season practice matches.
“It is so important for Tasmanian football players to be playing the better teams from interstate on a fairly regular basis if we are serious about improving our football standard here in Tasmania,” said Ken Morton.
“Over the last two years, we have taken our lads to Victoria and performed well against teams like South Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons and there is no doubt this has helped us greatly with our preparation over the last two seasons.
“This year, South Melbourne have come to us as they are having renovation work done to their home ground and we look forward to welcoming them and playing some good attacking football.”
The South Melbourne Team will boast some of the best players in the country with the likes of Rama Tavsancioglu, from A-League Club North Queensland Fury, and Brazilian Fernando de Moraes (formerly New Zealand Knights) sure to be big winners with the fans.
Former Socceroo Eddie Krncevic is the South Melbourne coach and he is joined by his son, Jessie Krncevic, a recent signing from Richmond Eagles.
The match details are:
Thursday, 13 January 2011 (SQUAD MATCH)
Darcy Street, South Hobart
South Hobart FC v South Melbourne Hellas FC
6.00pm
Friday, 14 January 2011
KGV Park
Olympia Warriors v South Melbourne Hellas FC
7pm
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Darcy Street, South Hobart
South Hobart Development Squad v Glenorchy Knights Under 19’s
1.00pm
HILL St/THRIFTY CUP
Darcy Street, South Hobart
South Hobart FC v South Melbourne Hellas FC
4.00pm
South Melbourne fly out of Hobart Airport at 10pm on Sunday night.
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