By Peter Kambounias
Sydney Olympic Football Club received a massive boost from a hugely successful 2007 season launch held at the Botany Bay Seafood Restaurant, Brighton-Le-Sands.
The list of who’s-who in attendance was very impressive. Amongst the invited guests were John Hatzistergos MLC and NSW Health Minister, Les Murray from SBS Television, Con Constantine – owner of Parklea Markets and the Newcastle Jets A League side, Matthew Lepouris and Nick Balagiannis – former owners of Sydney Olympic, Tom Doumanis – former Sydney Olympic director and former Soccer NSW President, John Thomson – well known former player, George Thomas – owner of Thomas Hotel Group, Joe Russo – presenter of Sunday Night Soccer on radio 2000FM, Bill Kritharas – Canterbury City Councillor, Abbas Saad & Peter Katholos – former Sydney Olympic legends, Manny Spanoudakis, Chris Kalantzis and Les Scheinflug – all part of the current coaching regime, and some current players in Jack Sobczyk, Michael Cindric, Michael Herbet, Tyler Simpson, George Strogylos (current Joeys vice captain), Raphael Bove (Sydney Olympic captain for 2007) and Kosta Lagoudakis.
Guests were treated to a slick video montage produced by Harry Michaels and heard several moving oratories regarding our great club.
Technical Director Les Scheinflug spoke first:
“A lot of the players in the A League are from the old NSL. Most of the coaches are from the old NSL and Frank Lowy is from the old old old NSL,†he said – earning a hearty laugh for his comment.
“We must never forget our history. My job at Olympic is to help produce new football. What new football has forgotten is the youth. We are trying to produce our own players. Our coaching team is all working together to make this year the beginning of the new Sydney Olympic.†Scheinflug said.
SBS’s Les Murray then took to the microphone:
“Sydney Olympic reaching its 50th year is quite tremendous. The A-League has some former Olympic stars like Nicky Carle, Greg Owens and Clint Bolton, and Sydney Olympic will continue to produce players who will one day be playing in the A League.†Murray said.
“I was at the A League final on Sunday and as I sat there watching the game and as I spoke to fans after the game I thought that without clubs like Sydney Olympic with the years of struggles and hard work that the supporters put in there would not be an A League today. If it wasn’t for the migrants of the 50’s and 60’s football today would be played in the local parks like other sports such as softball and lacrosse. The football that we enjoy today is thanks to the contribution of clubs like Sydney Olympic over the last 50 years. Without clubs like Sydney Olympic there would not have been the Socceroos who excelled in Germany and there would not be football as we know it. I congratulate Sydney Olympic on its 50th anniversary.â€
Sydney Olympic President James Kospetas told the room of his open nervousness about speaking but that didn’t stop him from thanking everyone.
“I am very proud to be part of our great club. I’d like to thank our sponsors; Antenna Television who is our major sponsor, Con Constantine for his support last season and his continued support, George Thomas for his support, Con Kalls who has been with us for the last three years, and George Aliferis from Sport Plus. This club exists thanks to the committee, the sponsors and our supporters.†Kospetas humbly said.
“The Antenna Television sponsorship is for $100,000. Sport Plus is sponsoring us for $30,000. We are trying to run a budget of around $550,000. It’s a lot of money for where Olympic is compared to where we used to be but other teams like Marconi and Sydney United are spending more on their player budgets.†Kospetas revealed.
Master of Ceremonies Cleo Antoniou then invited the ‘Friends of Sydney Olympic’ to present the proceeds of the recent Fundraiser held at the Sydney Olympic Sporting Club. Spokesperson Peter Dendrinos then handed James Kospetas a cheque for $20,000.
“We feel that we all have an obligation to the club because when we go we would like to think we’ll leave something behind to our children and grandchildren.†Dendrinos said.
Moments later MC Antoniou then announced that the club had just received a donation of $50,000 from Con Constantine. Con Kalls from MPS Security matched the donation. Antoniou announced more donations: $5,000 from Greg Gavrilidis, $50,000 from George Thomas, $5,000 from Harry Kospetas, and $5,000 from Mr Pliastikas.
Each donation announcement was received with loud and enthusiastic applause from all in attendance.
It was then the turn of First Grade coach Manny Spanoudakis to speak on behalf of the coaching and playing staff.
“We all really appreciate the support for Sydney Olympic tonight. Personally as a Sydney Olympic junior then youth league and first grade, it was an honour for me to be appointed as first grade coach at the club. Sydney Olympic is a brand. Sydney Olympic has a history. It’s a well respected footballing organisation. Sydney Olympic means a lot to me and I take this role very seriously. My assistant is Chris Kalantzis and he needs no introduction to Australian football fans.†Spanoudakis started.
“I remember in 1981. . we were playing St George in the under 16’s semi finals. We won 5-2 and were very happy we were going to the grand final and I remember the legendary Tommy Docherty coming into the dressing room and pointing at Chris Kalantzis and saying “You….tomorrow…Pratten Park. ..two o’clock.†He pointed at me and Andy Zervas: “You two. . twelve o’clockâ€. Chris turned to me and said: “We’re gonna be ballboys!!â€. I replied: “You’re playing first grade!â€. Spanoudakis elaborated.
He then turned his focus to Sydney Olympic today.
“We have a very young squad. Thirteen of the eighteen players are under 21 years of age. It’s a young team but we will aim to entertain. The results may not all go our way. I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work but we have a program that will make Sydney Olympic a successful and entertaining team again.
Cleo Antoniou returned to the rostrum and got into a donations discussion with Nick Balagiannis. “I’ll put in ten thousand if you put in fifty thousandâ€, Cleo shouted. “You’ve got a deal!â€, Balagiannis shouted back.
James Kospetas then showed off this year’s First Grade playing jersey. The blue and white vertical striped jersey featured the original Pan-Hellenic emblem and the current Sydney Olympic emblem. The gold Antenna Television logo was emblazoned on the front of the jersey and on the rear the number ‘50’ along with the Thomas Hotel Group logo featured.
Antoniou proceeded to offer the unique jersey by way of auction. Matthew Lepouris ended up being the successful bidder with a bid of $15,000. He then donated the jersey back to the club. It was auctioned again and George Thomas’ bid of $5,000 won the jersey the second time around. He too donated the jersey back to the club. It was decided to keep the jersey for a future function.
Effie Kospetas, wife of the President, bid $3,000 for a signed and glass encased Newcastle Jets football.
Olympic great Peter Katholos then gave everyone an appetizer for this Sunday’s game by announcing that there will be a legends game kicking off at 5.30pm at Belmore Sports Ground.
Some of the Olympic legends that will grace the field will be Abbas Saad, Chris Kalantzis, Marshall Soper, Manny Spanoudakis, Gary Meier, David Barrett, Mark Koussas, Nick Plataniotis, Jean Paul de Marigny, Kimon Taliadoros and Katholos.
Special thanks to all who donated much needed money to the Club, to all who helped in organising the event, to all who attended and also a big thank you to the staff and management of the Botany Bay Seafood Restaurant for being great hosts.
Well known Sydney Olympic supporter Jim Augerinos reflected after the event: “There are very few football clubs in Australia that can raise the sort of money our club got tonight. Sydney Olympic will live forever!â€.
See you all at the game this Sunday.
© Peter Kambounias – Sydney Olympic Football Club.
Sydney Olympic Season Launch
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the REAL one
- First Team Regular
- Posts: 2054
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gotta love the chant that u use 2 hear on tv by the supporters:
OOOOOOLYMPIC
and the marshall soper 1 arm windmill goal celebration
and when chris kalantzis scored in the final vs marconi??? and he ripped off his shirt and ran around the ground waving it
good work olympic!
OOOOOOLYMPIC
and the marshall soper 1 arm windmill goal celebration
and when chris kalantzis scored in the final vs marconi??? and he ripped off his shirt and ran around the ground waving it
good work olympic!
"Thats not sexy football!" and "Play the REAL one... again and again"
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the REAL one
- First Team Regular
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- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:28 pm
any idea what he did after olympiakos? did he play back here, i cant remember.the REAL one wrote:gotta love the chant that u use 2 hear on tv by the supporters:
OOOOOOLYMPIC
and the marshall soper 1 arm windmill goal celebration
and when chris kalantzis scored in the final vs marconi??? and he ripped off his shirt and ran around the ground waving it
good work olympic!
-
the REAL one
- First Team Regular
- Posts: 2054
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:28 pm
i thought he went to pao???Frappe wrote:any idea what he did after olympiakos? did he play back here, i cant remember.the REAL one wrote:gotta love the chant that u use 2 hear on tv by the supporters:
OOOOOOLYMPIC
and the marshall soper 1 arm windmill goal celebration
and when chris kalantzis scored in the final vs marconi??? and he ripped off his shirt and ran around the ground waving it
good work olympic!
"Thats not sexy football!" and "Play the REAL one... again and again"
na i reckon he was at pao b4 olym...the REAL one wrote:i thought he went to pao???Frappe wrote:any idea what he did after olympiakos? did he play back here, i cant remember.the REAL one wrote:gotta love the chant that u use 2 hear on tv by the supporters:
OOOOOOLYMPIC
and the marshall soper 1 arm windmill goal celebration
and when chris kalantzis scored in the final vs marconi??? and he ripped off his shirt and ran around the ground waving it
good work olympic!
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Paleon Patros Germanos
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