Talent scouts on lookout for next Viduka as Knights take on South

Photo: Ivan Senzen, Dinko Jelicic and Romeo Jozak...the three Dinamo Zagreb youth coaches who came to Hobart but weren't able to see a game

South Hobart, the reigning Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League champions, can draw level with current leaders Tilford Zebras if they beat third-placed Glenorchy Knights at South Hobart on Saturday.

But, Zebras play Hobart Olympic in an evening match at KGV Park on Saturday and a win would put them three points clear again.

Both games hold plenty of interest in terms of league position, while four coaches from the famous Dinamo Zagreb team from Croatia will also be at South Hobart to cast their eyes over the local talent.

Visions of a future Mark Viduka being discovered come to mind, and the coaches are believed to be here to watch young Knights striker Amadu Koroma in action.

They have been to Sydney and Melbourne to watch games and will return next year to see matches in Perth and Adelaide.

Knights will be without utility player Corey Smith, who was handed an 8-game suspension by the FFT tribunal on Wednesday night for his behaviour in the grandstand after being sent off against Zebras on 12 June, for which he initially served a one-match ban.

Smith did not help his cause by coming up to the stand still in his playing kit.

His absence will probably make way for Will Roberts to return to the starting line-up.

South Hobart will probably make only one change to the team that beat Zebras 1-0 through a Liam Scott goal on Wednesday night.

Ricki Eaves will probably start in preference to David Abbott, who is out of form, according to coach Ken Morton.

Morton feels that Abbott was bitterly disappointed at not playing in last year’s State under-21 games against A-League sides and has not recovered psychologically and this is affecting his form.

Jonathon Ladic will play his last game for South Hobart before heading to Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons, or possibly Indonesia, where Morton may have a club for him.

Knights have dropped to third on the ladder and are looking shaky and they will need to improve considerably to have any chance against a South side that is hitting peak form.

Zebras are also looking fragile and Olympic, who are now in fifth place, must be in with a chance, despite being hammered 11-0 the last time the sides met.

That was an aberration and Olympic had two players sent off when 6-0 down.

Fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United host sixth-placed New Town Eagles at Lightwood Park on Saturday and a close game can be expected.

Both teams should be close to full strength and the goals may well flow, as they did last time the sides met at this venue, the Lions having won 6-3.

Lions are suffering from a lack of football training on grass. On Tuesday they had an orienteering session and they have not been able to get near a gymnasium at other times.

Eagles coach George Krambousanos is considering giving Josh Hadfield a run as he has impressed in the reserves, but the youngster will need to show greater commitment.

Cormac Collins is injured and will not play.

The remaining match of the round is at Olinda Grove on Sunday, where bottom-side University entertain second-last Clarence United in an important match for both teams.

Clarence has everyone fit, but there may be tactical changes in store for a side that is flirting with danger but has a couple of games in hand.

Clarence beat University 2-0 in a recent State-wide Cup quarterfinal, but the score-line flattered them as University might easily have led by half-time had they taken their chances.

Home-ground advantage may favour University and a win for the Students would give them a glimmer of hope for avoiding relegation.