In the dizzying wake of Cadel Evans’ extraordinary success in France, Australian sporting fans can be forgiven for frantically searching for where their next hit will come from.
While there’s indeed the World Championships of swimming in Shanghai along with the Women’s Under 19 World Basketball Championships in Chile, the next main treat on offer is FIFA’s Under 20 World Cup which kicks off in Colombia this weekend.
The young Socceroos have sent a team widely considered to be a once in a generation type squad with an expectation that this crop of youngsters can go far in Colombia with a quarter final berth by no means beyond the realms of possibility.
Leading into the tournament there’s however a query over the technical acumen of Coach Jan Versleijen and chiefly his ability to instil the dynamic, interchangeable and possession orientated game which has been his charge to implement.
At the recent Under 17 World Cup in Mexico, Versleijen’s Joey’s failed to grasp the 4-3-3 system and progressed out of the group stage thanks only to a scheduling quirk. They were soon crushed by Uzbekistan 4-0 and departed Mexico with as many red cards as goals. Most alarming however was that in the face of sustained pressure the team reverted to an unsophisticated, long ball and overly panicked game.
With Versleijen’s present contract set to expire at the end of the year, the young Socceroos performance in Colombia will go a long way toward determining whether he’s indeed the most ideal candidate to be in charge of Australia’s youth stocks.
The Australians haven’t exactly been dealt the kindest of draws for the World Cup with games scheduled against Ecuador, Costa Rica and reigning men’s world champions Spain. It’s a group that tricky, but not insurmountable.
The campaign begins on Monday morning with an assignment against Ecuador in Manizales, Colombia’s coffee epicentre. The squad should be buoyed by lead in form which saw them runners up in last year’s Asian Cup along with a friendly victory over Germany in May. They’ve recently been based in Colorado to acclimatise to the elevation of Colombia and in modified games against South Korea and England have performed steadily.
A concern for team is a couple of the absentees which include Mathew Leckie and Brent McGrath whose German and Danish clubs have both stubbornly refused to make the players available for Colombia. It’s a significant blow as both may have indeed started up forward together. Fortunately Brisbane Roar’s Kofi Danning and Czech based Kerem Bulut are capable of filling the void while Central Coast’s Bernie Ibini will use the opportunity to shine. The blistering speed of Tommy Oar down the wings should create havoc for defenders.
The true strength of this Australian team however lies in the midfield where they’ll be lead by the iconic Mustapha Amini and team captain Ben Kataroskvki. Crucially, central midfield in tournament play is pivotal to a team’s prospects and for the Australian’s to have two of their most technically accomplished players operating there gives the squad a significant boost.
Amini and Kantasrovski will be assisted by Sydney FC's Rhyan Grant who operates as an energetic midfielder capable of covering plenty of yards. With players the calibre of Dimitri Petratos and Terry Anotis coming off the bench the Australians are blessed with an array of talented depth in the most crucial area of the park.
At the back Australia looks solid with the experienced central pairing of Melbourne Heart’s Brendan Hamill along with Dylan McGowan. The wing back positions are expected to be filled by Central Coast youth team products Trent Sainsbury and Sam Gallagher. Adelaide’s Mark Birighitti will keep goal however it’s curious that Mariner’s Matt Ryan- so inspirational in his debut A-League season- couldn’t crack into Versleijen's final 21 man squad.
Like all tournaments the first game will be critical to the team’s chances and the young Socceroos must look for a win against perhaps the group’s most inferior team in Ecuador who’ll be competing in just their second Under 20 World Cup, and their first in more than ten years.
An Australian youth soccer team hasn’t made a dent in a world tournament since 1999 when the Joey’s made the final of the Under 17 World Cup in New Zealand. An Under 20 team hasn’t progressed past the group stage since Qatar 1995. In that tournament a certain Mark Viduka scored four goals in the group stage while one Josip Skoko started each game and Clint Bolton kept goal.
Progression to the quarters or perhaps the semis won’t surpass Cadel's efforts in France- it’s hard to imagine what Australian sporting performance will in the coming years- however a strong performance will go a long way in assuring Australian soccer fans that the future’s in good shape.
A group stage exit, coupled with the substandard performance by the Joeys in Mexico last month would however raise some serious questions.
By lunchtime Monday we’ll have a good picture of what the Socceroos may look like in the coming years.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Worth the Weight
When the Women’s marathon gets underway at this year’s World Athletic Championships in South Korea, Australia’s best distance runner won’t be there.
Instead, Lisa Weightman will be in Melbourne, curled up on the couch with her husband Lachlan closely eyeing the form of her competitors.
Though qualified, Weightman’s decision not to run this year in Daegu says a lot about how far she’s come as an athlete and how much she appreciates her body and its limitations.
To understand Weightman’s ascension to the top of Australian distance running is impossible without noting the veritable laundry list of injuries she’s overcome throughout her career. Seven stress fractures in nine years, countless hamstring strains, a severe stomach upset which landed her in hospital and more recently osteitis pubis, have at various stages held Weightman back. However, had it not been for those challenges, she may never have become the runner she is today.
‘Being injured has taught me two basic things; patience and balance. Patience because with injury you have to wait and recover before you can run again and be doing what you love. Balance because injury breaks have given me the time to develop my professional career and spend more time with my family who are very special to me.”
Her maturity as a runner underpins Weightman’s decision to forgo the expected sweltering conditions of South Korea, which will bear no resemblance to what’s predicted for the London Olympics next year – conditions Weightman knows only too well after competing at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October where she won bronze in a punishing marathon.
‘Following Delhi I was just exhausted. The marathon was run in thirty two degree heat in the most gruelling conditions imaginable. We flew home the next day and I remember walking through the airport, barely able to support myself. My knee just buckled at one point……I was a bit of a mess.’
Upon returning to Melbourne Weightman immediately resumed her full time role as a business consultant for IBM as well as moving apartments. All the while sporting a strained quad she’d picked up in Cairns in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. The strain on her body from the Games experience contributed to a restricted training program through to Christmas.
‘We only moved from one apartment in the Northern Suburbs to another yet the experience was surprisingly quite an effort. It was a frustrating time as on the one hand I was over the moon to have won bronze in Delhi, however my body simply wasn’t allowing me to get back to doing what I wanted it to.’
Weightman initially burst onto the marathon scene with her debut appearance at the distance at the London Marathon in 2008. She not only finished 13th but posted a time (to the very second) equal to the best Australian debut set by Lisa Ondieki in 1983. Weightman’s time also qualified her for the Beijing Olympics where in only her second marathon she came in 33rd.
‘Competing in Beijing was so surreal. To have made my first Olympic Games after my debut in London was so unbelievable. I also think the Olympics prepared me well for what I expected in Delhi. I’m hoping that experience helps me get to the finish line in London in a much better position.’
Weightman’s performance in Beijing certainly raised her reputation in the athletics world, but it was what she achieved over the following two years which solidified her status as an elite runner.
At the 2009 World Championships in Berlin Weightman ran 18th in a faster time than what she ran in London on debut, and three and half minutes faster than her time in Beijing. In April 2010, in perhaps her best performance to date, Weightman won the prestigious Nagano Marathon in a personal best time of two hours and twenty eight minutes. In that race, Weightman not only beat her nearest competitor by more than three minutes, but in the process became the first Australian to ever win the event.
‘Nagano was a surprise to some but not to my coach or those closest to me. I was in personal best shape going into the race and I knew I had a really big chance to take it out. What I didn’t expect was to be leading so early and for so long. To record that win was just so enormous to prove that I could be up there with the best.’
Weightman’s presently in recovery mode again, having been diagnosed with osteitis pubis (severe inflammation and bruising of the pelvic bone) in February. Her recovery has consisted of regular visits to the Victorian Institute’s of Sport’s medical team along with calling upon her famous intestinal fortitude which has helped her through similar hard times in the past. She’s only just started running again which for the moment consists of nothing more than a gentle stroll around Princess Park.
In late August her coach Dick Telford has scheduled some altitude training in order to fast-track her recovery and to place her in a better position to record another sub two hour, 32 -minute marathon which is the qualifying standard for the London Olympics. At this stage a location hasn’t been set, however it’s quite possible Weightman will be following in the footsteps of her beloved Collingwood players with a trip to Arizona leading the list of possibilities.
At just 32, Weightman is only now entering her prime and can take comfort in the fact that the winner of the 2008 Beijing marathon, Romanian Constantina Tomescu, was 38 when she crossed the line. And though Weightman will be watching August’s World Championships from her couch, she can be pleased with how incredibly far she’s come in recent times in addition to her numerous achievements outside of athletics.
Next year and those beyond will hopefully be about bringing all facets of her life together. Hopefully minus the injuries.
Instead, Lisa Weightman will be in Melbourne, curled up on the couch with her husband Lachlan closely eyeing the form of her competitors.
Though qualified, Weightman’s decision not to run this year in Daegu says a lot about how far she’s come as an athlete and how much she appreciates her body and its limitations.
To understand Weightman’s ascension to the top of Australian distance running is impossible without noting the veritable laundry list of injuries she’s overcome throughout her career. Seven stress fractures in nine years, countless hamstring strains, a severe stomach upset which landed her in hospital and more recently osteitis pubis, have at various stages held Weightman back. However, had it not been for those challenges, she may never have become the runner she is today.
‘Being injured has taught me two basic things; patience and balance. Patience because with injury you have to wait and recover before you can run again and be doing what you love. Balance because injury breaks have given me the time to develop my professional career and spend more time with my family who are very special to me.”
Her maturity as a runner underpins Weightman’s decision to forgo the expected sweltering conditions of South Korea, which will bear no resemblance to what’s predicted for the London Olympics next year – conditions Weightman knows only too well after competing at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October where she won bronze in a punishing marathon.
‘Following Delhi I was just exhausted. The marathon was run in thirty two degree heat in the most gruelling conditions imaginable. We flew home the next day and I remember walking through the airport, barely able to support myself. My knee just buckled at one point……I was a bit of a mess.’
Upon returning to Melbourne Weightman immediately resumed her full time role as a business consultant for IBM as well as moving apartments. All the while sporting a strained quad she’d picked up in Cairns in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. The strain on her body from the Games experience contributed to a restricted training program through to Christmas.
‘We only moved from one apartment in the Northern Suburbs to another yet the experience was surprisingly quite an effort. It was a frustrating time as on the one hand I was over the moon to have won bronze in Delhi, however my body simply wasn’t allowing me to get back to doing what I wanted it to.’
Weightman initially burst onto the marathon scene with her debut appearance at the distance at the London Marathon in 2008. She not only finished 13th but posted a time (to the very second) equal to the best Australian debut set by Lisa Ondieki in 1983. Weightman’s time also qualified her for the Beijing Olympics where in only her second marathon she came in 33rd.
‘Competing in Beijing was so surreal. To have made my first Olympic Games after my debut in London was so unbelievable. I also think the Olympics prepared me well for what I expected in Delhi. I’m hoping that experience helps me get to the finish line in London in a much better position.’
Weightman’s performance in Beijing certainly raised her reputation in the athletics world, but it was what she achieved over the following two years which solidified her status as an elite runner.
At the 2009 World Championships in Berlin Weightman ran 18th in a faster time than what she ran in London on debut, and three and half minutes faster than her time in Beijing. In April 2010, in perhaps her best performance to date, Weightman won the prestigious Nagano Marathon in a personal best time of two hours and twenty eight minutes. In that race, Weightman not only beat her nearest competitor by more than three minutes, but in the process became the first Australian to ever win the event.
‘Nagano was a surprise to some but not to my coach or those closest to me. I was in personal best shape going into the race and I knew I had a really big chance to take it out. What I didn’t expect was to be leading so early and for so long. To record that win was just so enormous to prove that I could be up there with the best.’
Weightman’s presently in recovery mode again, having been diagnosed with osteitis pubis (severe inflammation and bruising of the pelvic bone) in February. Her recovery has consisted of regular visits to the Victorian Institute’s of Sport’s medical team along with calling upon her famous intestinal fortitude which has helped her through similar hard times in the past. She’s only just started running again which for the moment consists of nothing more than a gentle stroll around Princess Park.
In late August her coach Dick Telford has scheduled some altitude training in order to fast-track her recovery and to place her in a better position to record another sub two hour, 32 -minute marathon which is the qualifying standard for the London Olympics. At this stage a location hasn’t been set, however it’s quite possible Weightman will be following in the footsteps of her beloved Collingwood players with a trip to Arizona leading the list of possibilities.
At just 32, Weightman is only now entering her prime and can take comfort in the fact that the winner of the 2008 Beijing marathon, Romanian Constantina Tomescu, was 38 when she crossed the line. And though Weightman will be watching August’s World Championships from her couch, she can be pleased with how incredibly far she’s come in recent times in addition to her numerous achievements outside of athletics.
Next year and those beyond will hopefully be about bringing all facets of her life together. Hopefully minus the injuries.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Invisible Emus
The Australian Men’s Under 19 Basketball team, the Emus, are currently engaged and excelling at the most prestigious youth basketball tournament on the planet. Yet you’d hardly know.
Latvia is currently playing host to the FIBA Under 19 World Championships, a two-week tournament contested by 16 of the world’s strongest basketball nations and their most promising young talent.
Yet coverage of the tournament in Australia is virtually non-existent; no television coverage, very little print media, while even Basketball Australia’s own website isn’t too fussed about the team’s deeds.
This is unfortunate because the Emus are truly shaping up as one of the genuine contenders to win the competition, or at least bring home a medal-a feat rarely achieved in men’s basketball in this country.
By virtue of an increasingly healthy and consistent soccer media, Australian fans have been treated to significant coverage of major tournaments in recent times and know precisely what’s happening where both the national team and overseas based players are concerned.
Each of the Joey’s Under 17 World Cup matches in Mexico was shown live, as will the Under 20’s exploits in Colombia early next month. The Matildas in Germany have received unprecedented exposure recently with all their games broadcast, in addition to a nightly highlight package of every other World Cup match.
In the coming weeks SBS will increase its live coverage to incorporate the final stages of each competition. For good measure they’ll also be screening the last phases of South America’s premier tournament, the Copa America, currently being staged in Argentina.
The broadcaster’s commitment is a key and profound element in aiding the development of the sport. With moving pictures of the best players in the world’s biggest competitions the game will flourish. Without them, the sport runs the risk of stagnating. Which is precisely what’s happening to basketball right now.
Its popularity in youth ranks is equal to soccer in Australia, yet Basketball Australia has been sitting on its hands for too long and now seriously runs the risk of missing out on a major opportunity for the game to grow in this country.
As Australian soccer success has produced a number of players talented enough to play overseas so too has our appreciation and interest in the foreign leagues they inhabit and covet. The Australian audience is now much more proficient in its knowledge of international leagues and continental competitions as well as the characters who contribute to them.
The popularity of basketball in Australia, at least at youth levels, isn’t too dissimilar to soccer, nor is the international achievements by its players. The US college system contains many of our players, as does the NBA, while the bulk of successful Australian basketballers ply their trade in Europe.
Yet TV or press coverage does little to illuminate the public’s understanding.
For the college game we can thank ESPN for showing us pictures. Ditto the NBA where the exploits of Andrew Bogut are concerned, yet we know very little of the countless Australian faces based in Europe. The leagues they play in and the teams they play for remain essentially anonymous. Without the internet, international basketball in Australia would be a virtual ghost sport.
If the Joeys or the young Socceroos achieved anything similar to what the Emu’s are doing in Latvia there’s no way whatsoever, and thankfully so, that they’d go unnoticed in the media. Furthermore you can be sure they’d be live on TV.
For a team like the Emu’s to be doing so well without any media attention is a real shame and a golden opportunity missed to enhance and fortify the sport’s future in Australia.
At the World Championships the Emu’s cruised through their first round of matches with strong wins over Argentina and Taiwan, squeezed in between a narrow loss to the hosts.
The second phase of the competition has proven even more successful for the Emu’s with a stirring come from behind win over Russia followed the next night by gritty six point defeat of Brazil. In the Emu’s final group game they triumphed over Poland by 20 points to seal top position in the group.
The Emu’s will now enter the quarter-final stage split from the US section of the draw, thus increasing the chances of a possible final against the world’s strongest basketball nation.
Unfortunately Australian basketball fans will likely have to scrounge around for a result on the net or through box scores at FIBA’s website throughout the elimination process. Which is a shame, but one which Basketball Australia clearly isn’t too concerned about.
Basketball fans in this country should know that Anthony Drmic has lit the tournament up with 17 three point baskets and is second in scoring only behind the recent fifth pick in the NBA draft, Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas.
Fans should know about Jackson Aldridge from Ryde in Sydney who’s been running the point for the Emus all tournament and who’ll next year be playing for the Butler Bulldogs in the NCAA.
Bosnian-born Igor Hadziomerovic has provided a great second-scoring option to Drmic, while Adelaide 36s Mitchell Creek has arguably been Australia’s most important player. The Horsham born youngster is top of the pops for boards, assists and steals while he’s second only to Drimic where scoring is concerned.
Then there’s Will Sinclair. The 206cm centre form Lilydale who’s getting more minutes as the tournament progresses and who will be crucial to the team’s success in the final stages.
The Emu with the most potential however is Hugh Greenwood. The Tasmanian represented Australia at the last World Championships when he was just 17. He’s since grown into a more mature, well rounded basketballer and was recently signed by to the New Mexico Lobos NCAA team. In the Emu’s most recent win over Brazil, he top scored with 17.
It’s been an amazing tournament for the Emu’s which from an Australian audience perspective would have been all the more wonderful with the some pictures or at least some enthusiasm from Basketball Australia and the relevant media networks.
Instead the tournament continues, as does the scrounging around for box scores on the internet.
Latvia is currently playing host to the FIBA Under 19 World Championships, a two-week tournament contested by 16 of the world’s strongest basketball nations and their most promising young talent.
Yet coverage of the tournament in Australia is virtually non-existent; no television coverage, very little print media, while even Basketball Australia’s own website isn’t too fussed about the team’s deeds.
This is unfortunate because the Emus are truly shaping up as one of the genuine contenders to win the competition, or at least bring home a medal-a feat rarely achieved in men’s basketball in this country.
By virtue of an increasingly healthy and consistent soccer media, Australian fans have been treated to significant coverage of major tournaments in recent times and know precisely what’s happening where both the national team and overseas based players are concerned.
Each of the Joey’s Under 17 World Cup matches in Mexico was shown live, as will the Under 20’s exploits in Colombia early next month. The Matildas in Germany have received unprecedented exposure recently with all their games broadcast, in addition to a nightly highlight package of every other World Cup match.
In the coming weeks SBS will increase its live coverage to incorporate the final stages of each competition. For good measure they’ll also be screening the last phases of South America’s premier tournament, the Copa America, currently being staged in Argentina.
The broadcaster’s commitment is a key and profound element in aiding the development of the sport. With moving pictures of the best players in the world’s biggest competitions the game will flourish. Without them, the sport runs the risk of stagnating. Which is precisely what’s happening to basketball right now.
Its popularity in youth ranks is equal to soccer in Australia, yet Basketball Australia has been sitting on its hands for too long and now seriously runs the risk of missing out on a major opportunity for the game to grow in this country.
As Australian soccer success has produced a number of players talented enough to play overseas so too has our appreciation and interest in the foreign leagues they inhabit and covet. The Australian audience is now much more proficient in its knowledge of international leagues and continental competitions as well as the characters who contribute to them.
The popularity of basketball in Australia, at least at youth levels, isn’t too dissimilar to soccer, nor is the international achievements by its players. The US college system contains many of our players, as does the NBA, while the bulk of successful Australian basketballers ply their trade in Europe.
Yet TV or press coverage does little to illuminate the public’s understanding.
For the college game we can thank ESPN for showing us pictures. Ditto the NBA where the exploits of Andrew Bogut are concerned, yet we know very little of the countless Australian faces based in Europe. The leagues they play in and the teams they play for remain essentially anonymous. Without the internet, international basketball in Australia would be a virtual ghost sport.
If the Joeys or the young Socceroos achieved anything similar to what the Emu’s are doing in Latvia there’s no way whatsoever, and thankfully so, that they’d go unnoticed in the media. Furthermore you can be sure they’d be live on TV.
For a team like the Emu’s to be doing so well without any media attention is a real shame and a golden opportunity missed to enhance and fortify the sport’s future in Australia.
At the World Championships the Emu’s cruised through their first round of matches with strong wins over Argentina and Taiwan, squeezed in between a narrow loss to the hosts.
The second phase of the competition has proven even more successful for the Emu’s with a stirring come from behind win over Russia followed the next night by gritty six point defeat of Brazil. In the Emu’s final group game they triumphed over Poland by 20 points to seal top position in the group.
The Emu’s will now enter the quarter-final stage split from the US section of the draw, thus increasing the chances of a possible final against the world’s strongest basketball nation.
Unfortunately Australian basketball fans will likely have to scrounge around for a result on the net or through box scores at FIBA’s website throughout the elimination process. Which is a shame, but one which Basketball Australia clearly isn’t too concerned about.
Basketball fans in this country should know that Anthony Drmic has lit the tournament up with 17 three point baskets and is second in scoring only behind the recent fifth pick in the NBA draft, Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas.
Fans should know about Jackson Aldridge from Ryde in Sydney who’s been running the point for the Emus all tournament and who’ll next year be playing for the Butler Bulldogs in the NCAA.
Bosnian-born Igor Hadziomerovic has provided a great second-scoring option to Drmic, while Adelaide 36s Mitchell Creek has arguably been Australia’s most important player. The Horsham born youngster is top of the pops for boards, assists and steals while he’s second only to Drimic where scoring is concerned.
Then there’s Will Sinclair. The 206cm centre form Lilydale who’s getting more minutes as the tournament progresses and who will be crucial to the team’s success in the final stages.
The Emu with the most potential however is Hugh Greenwood. The Tasmanian represented Australia at the last World Championships when he was just 17. He’s since grown into a more mature, well rounded basketballer and was recently signed by to the New Mexico Lobos NCAA team. In the Emu’s most recent win over Brazil, he top scored with 17.
It’s been an amazing tournament for the Emu’s which from an Australian audience perspective would have been all the more wonderful with the some pictures or at least some enthusiasm from Basketball Australia and the relevant media networks.
Instead the tournament continues, as does the scrounging around for box scores on the internet.
Friday, June 24, 2011
And the winner is Mehmet....For now
Tuesday's announcement that Mehmet Durakovic would be the new Melbourne Victory coach came as little surprise.
After a supposedly lengthy and exhaustive international selection process it became increasingly clear that caretaker coach Durakovic would be handed the keys full time.
Why? Because it was the easiest and cheapest option. And the one which kept Kevin Muscat at the club.
The only real surprise from yesterday’s announcement was that Francis Awaritefi will be the club’s 'director of football' - a role not previously held at the Victory, and given to someone who’s worked as a TV analyst for the last decade.
Durakovic won the job on the back of five patchy Asian Champions League matches which ended with just one win and a last-place finish in their group. He employed a slightly more attacking formation throughout, however few new faces were introduced. He connected well with the media which ensured his name remained relevant and positive throughout the questionable selection process.
In Tuesday's press conference, all the right things were said. The usual boasting about the being the biggest club in Asia and the predictable rhetoric about wanting to play like Barcelona.
However to be fair to Durakovic, I don’t believe he was complicit in all the shady dealings and half-truths of the last couple of months. Instead I think he was a pawn in a much larger game.
The truth is Durakovic won the job for two main reasons above all else: because he’ll work cheap, but most crucially, he has Kevin Muscat in his corner. Or at least on his ticket.
Muscat’s role in Durakovic’s hiring simply can’t be understated. The Victory hierarchy both pre- and post- Ernie have been seduced by him and view him as a prodigal son. Where others see a thug, the club sees a passionate soldier. Instead of a dogged defender, Victory sees a tactical genius. Most of all they view him as crucial to ticket and membership sales and the logical successor if things don’t quite work out with Mehmet.
No, Durakovic was always going to win the job because any other outcome would have spelled the end of the Muscat era at the Victory.
Which brings us back to Durakovic. First and foremost, he should be warmly congratulated on winning the role. He was neither groomed for it, nor possessed the text-book coaching or playing pedigree despite more than 60 caps with the Socceroos.
What Durakovic does bring to the job is genuine enthusiasm and charisma. He mightn't be the most articulate and inspiring media performer but he developed an excellent rapport with the players at a time when morale was at its lowest. Most importantly however, he was in the right place at the right time. An accidental hero if you like.
When Merrick was sacked, the board’s plan A was to poach Ange Postecoglou from Brisbane. The only problem was Ange wasn’t ready to return to Melbourne while the Victory wasn’t actually in possession of a plan B.
Thankfully for the board Durakovic’s ACL rehearsal wasn’t a complete embarrassment which meant they could publically justify their decision rather than going with a more profiled, perhaps more experienced and qualified candidate. Having the media on their side throughout, helped a great deal.
Yet none of this is to say that Durakovic can't emerge as the real winner from this unfortunate set of events. For starters, he’ll inherit a decent team strengthened by the additions of Marcos Rojas and Jean Carlos Solorzano while he’ll surely have a far fitter Carlos Hernandez to work with.
The best Durakovic can do is put his head down and concentrate on the job of making the Victory the relevant force it once was and perhaps mould the team into the regional force it keeps telling us it is. The worst he can do is to start second-guessing his appointment and looking over his shoulder at Kevin Muscat.
Yes, the Victory appointment was underwhelming yet so too was Postecoglou’s at Brisbane and Holger Osieck’s at the Socceroos yet both will go down now as among the very best in the history of the sport in Australia.
Hopefully Durakovic can ride out all the board’s double-speak and prove them wrong and win the job for a second time. This time under more transparent circumstances.
After a supposedly lengthy and exhaustive international selection process it became increasingly clear that caretaker coach Durakovic would be handed the keys full time.
Why? Because it was the easiest and cheapest option. And the one which kept Kevin Muscat at the club.
The only real surprise from yesterday’s announcement was that Francis Awaritefi will be the club’s 'director of football' - a role not previously held at the Victory, and given to someone who’s worked as a TV analyst for the last decade.
Durakovic won the job on the back of five patchy Asian Champions League matches which ended with just one win and a last-place finish in their group. He employed a slightly more attacking formation throughout, however few new faces were introduced. He connected well with the media which ensured his name remained relevant and positive throughout the questionable selection process.
In Tuesday's press conference, all the right things were said. The usual boasting about the being the biggest club in Asia and the predictable rhetoric about wanting to play like Barcelona.
However to be fair to Durakovic, I don’t believe he was complicit in all the shady dealings and half-truths of the last couple of months. Instead I think he was a pawn in a much larger game.
The truth is Durakovic won the job for two main reasons above all else: because he’ll work cheap, but most crucially, he has Kevin Muscat in his corner. Or at least on his ticket.
Muscat’s role in Durakovic’s hiring simply can’t be understated. The Victory hierarchy both pre- and post- Ernie have been seduced by him and view him as a prodigal son. Where others see a thug, the club sees a passionate soldier. Instead of a dogged defender, Victory sees a tactical genius. Most of all they view him as crucial to ticket and membership sales and the logical successor if things don’t quite work out with Mehmet.
No, Durakovic was always going to win the job because any other outcome would have spelled the end of the Muscat era at the Victory.
Which brings us back to Durakovic. First and foremost, he should be warmly congratulated on winning the role. He was neither groomed for it, nor possessed the text-book coaching or playing pedigree despite more than 60 caps with the Socceroos.
What Durakovic does bring to the job is genuine enthusiasm and charisma. He mightn't be the most articulate and inspiring media performer but he developed an excellent rapport with the players at a time when morale was at its lowest. Most importantly however, he was in the right place at the right time. An accidental hero if you like.
When Merrick was sacked, the board’s plan A was to poach Ange Postecoglou from Brisbane. The only problem was Ange wasn’t ready to return to Melbourne while the Victory wasn’t actually in possession of a plan B.
Thankfully for the board Durakovic’s ACL rehearsal wasn’t a complete embarrassment which meant they could publically justify their decision rather than going with a more profiled, perhaps more experienced and qualified candidate. Having the media on their side throughout, helped a great deal.
Yet none of this is to say that Durakovic can't emerge as the real winner from this unfortunate set of events. For starters, he’ll inherit a decent team strengthened by the additions of Marcos Rojas and Jean Carlos Solorzano while he’ll surely have a far fitter Carlos Hernandez to work with.
The best Durakovic can do is put his head down and concentrate on the job of making the Victory the relevant force it once was and perhaps mould the team into the regional force it keeps telling us it is. The worst he can do is to start second-guessing his appointment and looking over his shoulder at Kevin Muscat.
Yes, the Victory appointment was underwhelming yet so too was Postecoglou’s at Brisbane and Holger Osieck’s at the Socceroos yet both will go down now as among the very best in the history of the sport in Australia.
Hopefully Durakovic can ride out all the board’s double-speak and prove them wrong and win the job for a second time. This time under more transparent circumstances.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Boom Recruit
In this Friday’s NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers will select Duke University point-guard Kyrie Irving with the number one pick.
Not only will it be a major step in the healing process for Cavs fans in the wake of LeBron James skipping town a year ago, but in selecting Irving, the state of Victoria will amazingly have its second NBA number one pick in five years.
Irving was born in Melbourne in 1992 to American parents while his father Drederik was in Australia playing for the Bullen Boomers. The family moved back to the US when Kyrie was two and went on to have a staggering high school career in New Jersey, along with an impressive, albeit brief, spell at Duke.
Most importantly, however, for future Boomers prospects, is the fact Irving still indentifies with Australia and hasn’t totally ruled out playing for his country of birth.
In a recent interview with BackPageLead’s Ed Wyatt, Irving stated: ‘I’m an Australian-American African-American’. In a separate interview Irving added: ‘You know, it would be great to play for my country, which is primarily Australia. I was born there and want to represent Australia….I want to be claimed by Australia’.
It might indeed be wishful thinking for Australian basketball fans to contemplate Irving playing representative basketball for a country he spent just two years in. However there’s a compelling case to believe it’s a possibility.
As it stands the US national team is currently loaded with established NBA talent at the point-guard position. To think Irving could jump the cue and supersede some of the world’s very best, so early, is doubtful.
It’s where reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose plies his trade, along with team US members and perennial NBA all-stars such as Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul. Others like Rajon Rondo, Derrick Williams, Stephen Curry and Russel Westbrook also excel at the point-guard position.
It would, of course, be an incredible coup to recruit Irving to the Boomers’ cause, though there are still some obstacles standing in the way, forgetting for the moment Irving himself has given no guarantee of intent.
The major problem is that Irving has previously represented the US at junior level and there are strict FIBA regulations that prohibit players competing for two nations.
However, there exists a vague stipulation where FIBA’s Secretary-General may authorise such a move if he or she believes it would aid the development of basketball in that country.
If Irving were to play for Australia, it would certainly aid development.
The Boomers have contested 12 Olympic tournaments and 10 World Championships over the past 50 years, yet failed to win a single medal in either competition.
For all of Australia’s basketball achievements, which include individual accolades in both the US and Europe, the national team has proven somewhat of a let-down.
Especially when considering the success of the women’s national representative team - the Opals – who have contested 18 major tournaments for seven medals, including gold at the 2006 World Championships in Brazil.
Whether Irving opts to play for Australia and whether FIBA would back the plan are two outcomes which are currently in the air. However Basketball Australia would be remiss to not explore all opportunities.
It could well be the difference in securing a long sort-after medal and the difference between further developing the game in this country.
Not only will it be a major step in the healing process for Cavs fans in the wake of LeBron James skipping town a year ago, but in selecting Irving, the state of Victoria will amazingly have its second NBA number one pick in five years.
Irving was born in Melbourne in 1992 to American parents while his father Drederik was in Australia playing for the Bullen Boomers. The family moved back to the US when Kyrie was two and went on to have a staggering high school career in New Jersey, along with an impressive, albeit brief, spell at Duke.
Most importantly, however, for future Boomers prospects, is the fact Irving still indentifies with Australia and hasn’t totally ruled out playing for his country of birth.
In a recent interview with BackPageLead’s Ed Wyatt, Irving stated: ‘I’m an Australian-American African-American’. In a separate interview Irving added: ‘You know, it would be great to play for my country, which is primarily Australia. I was born there and want to represent Australia….I want to be claimed by Australia’.
It might indeed be wishful thinking for Australian basketball fans to contemplate Irving playing representative basketball for a country he spent just two years in. However there’s a compelling case to believe it’s a possibility.
As it stands the US national team is currently loaded with established NBA talent at the point-guard position. To think Irving could jump the cue and supersede some of the world’s very best, so early, is doubtful.
It’s where reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose plies his trade, along with team US members and perennial NBA all-stars such as Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul. Others like Rajon Rondo, Derrick Williams, Stephen Curry and Russel Westbrook also excel at the point-guard position.
It would, of course, be an incredible coup to recruit Irving to the Boomers’ cause, though there are still some obstacles standing in the way, forgetting for the moment Irving himself has given no guarantee of intent.
The major problem is that Irving has previously represented the US at junior level and there are strict FIBA regulations that prohibit players competing for two nations.
However, there exists a vague stipulation where FIBA’s Secretary-General may authorise such a move if he or she believes it would aid the development of basketball in that country.
If Irving were to play for Australia, it would certainly aid development.
The Boomers have contested 12 Olympic tournaments and 10 World Championships over the past 50 years, yet failed to win a single medal in either competition.
For all of Australia’s basketball achievements, which include individual accolades in both the US and Europe, the national team has proven somewhat of a let-down.
Especially when considering the success of the women’s national representative team - the Opals – who have contested 18 major tournaments for seven medals, including gold at the 2006 World Championships in Brazil.
Whether Irving opts to play for Australia and whether FIBA would back the plan are two outcomes which are currently in the air. However Basketball Australia would be remiss to not explore all opportunities.
It could well be the difference in securing a long sort-after medal and the difference between further developing the game in this country.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
In Pods we trust
When Geelong hoisted the AFL premiership cup in 2009 nobody could have foreseen that the key ingredient to winning another would be a 28-year-old full-forward who’d been running around in the VFL for a decade.
In December that year Geelong drafted James Podsiadly as a mature rookie in a move more motivated by the staffing needs of the fitness and conditioning department than adding another foot soldier to its impressive cavalry.
Two years later, Podsiadly has become one of the most crucial cogs in the undefeated Geelong machine and one whose form will go a long way in determining the club’s premiership prospects this season.
To quote The Age’s Greg Baum ‘a man either knows how to play full-forward or he doesn’t’. And in a position increasingly hard to define and one quickly losing its romance, Podsiadly’s one player who operates as something as a throwback to a time long past.
Unlike many, Podsiadly was able to craft his ancient trade for a decade in a competition not nearly as scrutinised as the AFL and in an environment where his style was allowed to flourish.
The problem was it took ten years for an AFL club to see that his talents were transferable to the big league.
Podsiadly runs straight and kicks straight. He’s a no-nonsense type forward who understands his role perfectly. He contests the ball at its highest point and by virtue of a combination of his pace and brain is adept at creating space for Geelong’s many and varied swoopers.
In Podsiadly’s short AFL career that’s spanned just 29 matches, he’s kicked 72 goals and 46 behinds at a remarkable accuracy of 61%. In the 13 games Podsiadly has kicked 3 or more goals the Cats have prevailed each time and by an incredible average of 65 points.
In short, when Podsiadly’s on his game the Cats are near enough to being unstoppable. When it’s down and his goal output is less than 3, the Cats have tended to struggle boasting a 10-6 record with an average winning margin that slips to 25.
As the season develops Podsiadly’s role will be increasingly important to the Cats as will his dead-eye accuracy which in close matches like Saturday nights’ game often represents the difference between winning and losing.
Geelong can rest assured it made the right move in giving Podsiadly the chance when it did and when no one else would.
Without him Geelong’s predicted slide would have surely arrived by now.
In December that year Geelong drafted James Podsiadly as a mature rookie in a move more motivated by the staffing needs of the fitness and conditioning department than adding another foot soldier to its impressive cavalry.
Two years later, Podsiadly has become one of the most crucial cogs in the undefeated Geelong machine and one whose form will go a long way in determining the club’s premiership prospects this season.
To quote The Age’s Greg Baum ‘a man either knows how to play full-forward or he doesn’t’. And in a position increasingly hard to define and one quickly losing its romance, Podsiadly’s one player who operates as something as a throwback to a time long past.
Unlike many, Podsiadly was able to craft his ancient trade for a decade in a competition not nearly as scrutinised as the AFL and in an environment where his style was allowed to flourish.
The problem was it took ten years for an AFL club to see that his talents were transferable to the big league.
Podsiadly runs straight and kicks straight. He’s a no-nonsense type forward who understands his role perfectly. He contests the ball at its highest point and by virtue of a combination of his pace and brain is adept at creating space for Geelong’s many and varied swoopers.
In Podsiadly’s short AFL career that’s spanned just 29 matches, he’s kicked 72 goals and 46 behinds at a remarkable accuracy of 61%. In the 13 games Podsiadly has kicked 3 or more goals the Cats have prevailed each time and by an incredible average of 65 points.
In short, when Podsiadly’s on his game the Cats are near enough to being unstoppable. When it’s down and his goal output is less than 3, the Cats have tended to struggle boasting a 10-6 record with an average winning margin that slips to 25.
As the season develops Podsiadly’s role will be increasingly important to the Cats as will his dead-eye accuracy which in close matches like Saturday nights’ game often represents the difference between winning and losing.
Geelong can rest assured it made the right move in giving Podsiadly the chance when it did and when no one else would.
Without him Geelong’s predicted slide would have surely arrived by now.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
That would be Kewell
It’s dangerous to jump to conclusions and break out the champagne when it comes to rumours in Australian soccer.
Fanciful notions concerning players who may be on their way here, along with the string of managers perennially linked with a move down under have been a mainstay of the sport. Think Gabriel Batistuta’s link to Perth Glory a few years ago or the recent spotting of Roy Keane in Sydney that soon turned into the fiery Irishmen becoming the Victory’s next coach.
Granted, there’s sometimes an element of truth to the rumours and it’s often simply the tyranny of distance or money, usually both, which keep the rumour form eventuating. Regardless, such innuendo adds colour to the Australian soccer scene along with genuine hope, however fleeting and far-fetched.
The current status of Australian soccer is hard to define. On the one hand, participation at a junior level is second to none in this country while the Socceroos under Holger Osiek have emerged as a formidable team who is now ranked inside FIFA’s top 20.
On the other hand, the sport’s governing body in Australia, the FFA, has proven something of a different beast.
Despite the ever improving on-field quality of the A-League, the competition has been plagued by infighting and economic mismanagement since day one. It’s continually been marketed deplorably and after six years struggled to capture the public’s imagination. Crowds are dwindling and not a single club operates at a profit; one was thrown out last season while one was still-born. It’s broadcasting deal, due for negotiation, remains in limbo.
Thankfully, steps are being taken to lift the competition’s status. Recently, the League’s start and end dates have been modified so it doesn’t conflict with the AFL or NRL finals whilst extra revenue has been allocated to marketing. Most importantly, the national team coach has endorsed the League’s standard resulting in promising players thinking twice about leaving for Europe on the first available flight.
But the problem for the A-League has never really been the standard. Getting people to watch has been the real issue.
This is where a player like Harry Kewell can help.
Kewell’s one Australian player who needs no introduction. No singing of his brilliance, no regaling of his feats.
Simply put, Kewell’s the most recognisable soccer player this country has produced and for those not the slightest bit interested in soccer, it’s his face that’s most easily identified in a green and gold line-up.
At almost 33 Kewell still has something to give. He proved this at January’s Asian Cup where he was the Socceroos most potent threat for most of the tournament. And there’s no reason to think he won’t still be by the time the 2014 Brazilian World Cup rolls around.
In the past three seasons he’s scored 33 goals for his club side Galatasaray in the Turkish league and if not for the teams’ failure to qualify for Europe next season, Kewell would more than likely have earned himself another contract there.
So essentially he’s now a free agent. Newly promoted EPL side Queens Park Rangers have apparently expressed an interest, as too have a host of MLS sides in the States. And now Melbourne Victory.
Kewell would have plenty to gain from a move back to Australia. Financially he’ll be offered big bucks now that the Victory has shown its hand and one can soon expect other A-League clubs to follow suit. Sydney FC has declared an interest as too has the Newcastle Jets based on Nathan Tinkler’s sizable wallet coupled with his passion for sport in the Hunter region.
From a professional point of view, Kewell has nothing to fear from returning. Holger Osiek has put his money where his mouth is in regards to Socceroos playing in the A-League; Brisbane Roar’s Matt McKay is now a fixture in the Socceroo midfield, likewise with Victory’s Robbie Kruse. Newcastle’s Jason Culina’s Socceroo status is more determined by his own injuries rather than his chosen workplace these days, while many others such as Mile Jedinak and Sasa Ognenovski are previous A-League graduates.
It might all be pie in the sky and Kewell might just be testing the waters for the best possible deal, wherever that may be, however in the meantime Australian soccer has been provided with one hell of a day dream to contemplate.
Watch out if this one comes true.
Fanciful notions concerning players who may be on their way here, along with the string of managers perennially linked with a move down under have been a mainstay of the sport. Think Gabriel Batistuta’s link to Perth Glory a few years ago or the recent spotting of Roy Keane in Sydney that soon turned into the fiery Irishmen becoming the Victory’s next coach.
Granted, there’s sometimes an element of truth to the rumours and it’s often simply the tyranny of distance or money, usually both, which keep the rumour form eventuating. Regardless, such innuendo adds colour to the Australian soccer scene along with genuine hope, however fleeting and far-fetched.
The current status of Australian soccer is hard to define. On the one hand, participation at a junior level is second to none in this country while the Socceroos under Holger Osiek have emerged as a formidable team who is now ranked inside FIFA’s top 20.
On the other hand, the sport’s governing body in Australia, the FFA, has proven something of a different beast.
Despite the ever improving on-field quality of the A-League, the competition has been plagued by infighting and economic mismanagement since day one. It’s continually been marketed deplorably and after six years struggled to capture the public’s imagination. Crowds are dwindling and not a single club operates at a profit; one was thrown out last season while one was still-born. It’s broadcasting deal, due for negotiation, remains in limbo.
Thankfully, steps are being taken to lift the competition’s status. Recently, the League’s start and end dates have been modified so it doesn’t conflict with the AFL or NRL finals whilst extra revenue has been allocated to marketing. Most importantly, the national team coach has endorsed the League’s standard resulting in promising players thinking twice about leaving for Europe on the first available flight.
But the problem for the A-League has never really been the standard. Getting people to watch has been the real issue.
This is where a player like Harry Kewell can help.
Kewell’s one Australian player who needs no introduction. No singing of his brilliance, no regaling of his feats.
Simply put, Kewell’s the most recognisable soccer player this country has produced and for those not the slightest bit interested in soccer, it’s his face that’s most easily identified in a green and gold line-up.
At almost 33 Kewell still has something to give. He proved this at January’s Asian Cup where he was the Socceroos most potent threat for most of the tournament. And there’s no reason to think he won’t still be by the time the 2014 Brazilian World Cup rolls around.
In the past three seasons he’s scored 33 goals for his club side Galatasaray in the Turkish league and if not for the teams’ failure to qualify for Europe next season, Kewell would more than likely have earned himself another contract there.
So essentially he’s now a free agent. Newly promoted EPL side Queens Park Rangers have apparently expressed an interest, as too have a host of MLS sides in the States. And now Melbourne Victory.
Kewell would have plenty to gain from a move back to Australia. Financially he’ll be offered big bucks now that the Victory has shown its hand and one can soon expect other A-League clubs to follow suit. Sydney FC has declared an interest as too has the Newcastle Jets based on Nathan Tinkler’s sizable wallet coupled with his passion for sport in the Hunter region.
From a professional point of view, Kewell has nothing to fear from returning. Holger Osiek has put his money where his mouth is in regards to Socceroos playing in the A-League; Brisbane Roar’s Matt McKay is now a fixture in the Socceroo midfield, likewise with Victory’s Robbie Kruse. Newcastle’s Jason Culina’s Socceroo status is more determined by his own injuries rather than his chosen workplace these days, while many others such as Mile Jedinak and Sasa Ognenovski are previous A-League graduates.
It might all be pie in the sky and Kewell might just be testing the waters for the best possible deal, wherever that may be, however in the meantime Australian soccer has been provided with one hell of a day dream to contemplate.
Watch out if this one comes true.
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