Loic Feral latest in a bunch of new signings by Olympia Warriors

Photo (L-R):  Olympia coach Andrew Brown, new signing Loic Feral and football manager Rob Clarke [Photo courtesy of Olympia Warriors]

South Hobart midfielder Loic Feral has signed for Olympia Warriors for the 2020 NPL Tasmania season.

He joins Adam Gorrie as one of Olympia’s new recruits from South Hobart.

Feral is a midfielder and Gorrie is a right-back.

Olympia’s other new signings are Declan and Callum Brown from Glenorchy Knights, Joseph Juma, Joseph Mwarabu and Jackosn Khalif from Hobart United, and goalkeeper Elliot Hoysted from University.

The Brown twins’ father, Andrew Brown, is, of course, Olympia’s new coach.

Star midfielder Jordan Scott and powerful centre-forward Jack Ryan are both currently overseas.

Olympia president George Mamacas said he was delighted by the announcement of Feral’s signing.

Mamacas has high hopes for Olympia in 2020 after they finished second to Devonport in the 2019 NPL Tasmania standings.

He said he expected the club to finish in the top two and was confident they could even go one better.

Feral, who came to Tasmania from France, has won two league titles with South Hobart and several cups.

“I am definitely excited to be joining Olympia and to see where I can go with this club,” the 32-year-old midfielder said.

Feral spent 2011 and 2012 with South Hobart before returning to France.

He came back to Australia in 2015 and rejoined South Hobart until last season.

Feral said it would be a new challenge for him and provide him with a real possibility to win another league title.

South Hobart have also lost the services of defenders Connor Schmidt and Oscar Thomas, who have both signed for Glenorchy Knights.

Knights, who have a new president in Paul Woodham, have also signed Sam Leszczynski from New Town Eagles.

2020 rosters, and three brief obituaries

I don’t know what Football Tasmania are playing at if they are aiming to promote the game in this State.

According to the 2020 rosters I have seen, all NPL games are on Saturdays, while the Women’s Super League games are on Saturdays and Sundays.

Surely the aim should be to enable as many people as possible to watch as many top-flight games as possible.

Whatever happened to the notion of big NPL games being on one day, say Sunday, with no competition from other NPL fixtures, which would be played on Saturdays?

On Saturdays, there are often games at, say 2.15pm, with a second game at a different venue at, say 4.30pm.

That may be okay for the media, whose job it is to attend all games, if at all possible.

It’s a bit tough for the average punter, though, especially the younger crowd, who may not have the transport available to travel quickly to another venue.

This roster is a backward step, I feel.  After 7 years of State-wide football, I would have thought we’d have settled on a proven formula by now instead of a game of revolving chairs.

Let’s hope it’s not a case of moving the deck chairs on the Titanic.

It’ll be interesting to see what the attendances are.

That’s my two bobs’ worth.  Feel free to disagree.

*****

Three players from the past have passed away in recent months.

Goalkeeper Adrian French, who passed away in November aged 75, began his career with Metro in the early 1960s.

He was then signed by Rapid coach Alex Sarfalvy in 1964 and loaned to Rangers on the proviso he return to Rapid at the end of the season.

French never did return to Rapid and played with Rangers until their merger with Caledonians in 1968.

In 1967, he was sidelined for much of the season through injury and made only a few appearances earlier in the year.

French was a fine keeper and was selected for the Southern Tasmanian squad on a couple of occasions, including against the visiting Victorian club Wilhelmina..

He was not tall, but he was agile and was highly rated.

Peter Imlach passed away in November aged in his 80s.  He was a life member of University and played mostly in the second-tier and lower leagues until well into his 50s.

He was a member of the successful University Graduates second division team which won that league's title in 1967.

And, just last weekend, one of the finest centre-backs to have graced the local game passed away in Sydney aged 77.

Jakov Plazonic was a promising junior in Croatia and was on the verge of making the professional ranks when he moved to Australia and Melbourne.

He came to Tasmania and played for Croatia, Rapid, South Hobart and, briefly, White Eagle.

A bit on the heavy side and lacking pace, Plazonic’s reading of the game was exceptional and so he didn’t need speed or athleticism to dominate in defence.

He was tactically astute and his excellent technique and skill made him a formidable opponent throughout the 1970s.

I had many a conversation with him while watching games and he could sum up players’ strengths and weaknesses at a glance.

He was an upholsterer by trade and moved to Sydney a decade or so ago with his family.

My condolences go to all three players’ families.

Tasmanian Government backs Women's World Cup bid

Photo:  Premier Will Hodgman as a supporter of Tasmania's A-League bid [PlessPix]

Football Tasmania has welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s support for Australia’s bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Premier Will Hodgman today announced that Tasmania would be a part of the bid book that makes up Australia's push to host the biggest women's sporting event on the planet.

If successful, Tasmania could host up to three games in the tournament, with Aurora Stadium in Launceston the venue to be used.

Football Tasmania CEO, Matt Bulkeley, said that football is Tasmania’s most popular team sport and was glad the government was on board with the bid.

Photo:  Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley [PlessPix]

“More people play football than any other team sport in Tasmania,” Mr Bulkeley said.

“It’s not just the world game, it’s Tasmania’s game.

“Not only that, but Tasmania has one of the highest number of female football players in the country and the government’s support shows they recognise just how important football is to the community.

“Women’s football has been going from strength to strength in Tasmania for over 40 years.

“The Matildas performed brilliantly at this year’s World Cup and, while we don’t have final figures for the 2019 season, anecdotally, it’s clear we saw a big rise in female participation off the back of the 2019 World Cup.

“We are seeing a huge uptake in football from younger women, especially, and being able to see the best players in the world playing in their home State would be a game-changer for many young Tasmanian women.

“If the government wants to reach its targets relating to social inclusion, general health and childhood obesity, it’s vital they work with the football community, and this is a great step.”

Mr Bulkeley said all states have now agreed to support an Australian bid to host the World Cup in 2023 and FIFA will now consider all bids before making a decision next year.

Photo:  Will Hodgman nets a spot-kick.  I hope Tasmanian and Australian politicians recognise the power of football as an economic, political and cultural tool in the world.  [PlessPix]