Sometimes the unthinkable can happen in football. Giants do fall. Look at what has happened in Russia during the week when world powerhouse Germany, was eliminated from the Group Stage of the World Cup for the first time since 1938, by South Korea.

Closer to home in the Victorian NPL, the once mighty South Melbourne may not have fallen yet, but they are currently occupying the relegation play-off spot, in contrast to previous seasons when they consistently enjoyed trophy success.

With just four wins from their 16 matches this season, the Lakesiders face the prospect of a fight for survival in the remaining 10 rounds of the season. While South fans have waited with growing impatience and frustration for the expected turnaround of events to arrive, the mounting pressure on the team and coach has taken its toll, with senior coach Sasa Kolman handing in his resignation following last week’s home defeat to Pascoe Vale, and star playmaker Nick Epifano suspended indefinitely.

The club has promoted recently appointed assistant coach Con Tangalakis as the interim senior coach for the remainder of the 2018 season.

Although many would view South’s current predicament as a crisis, SMFC president Leo Athanasakis sees it differently, telling Neos Kosmos “I think it’s more of a slump more than anything else, which every team goes through. Melbourne Knights went through the same thing last year. Every team goes through the ringer. That’s the beauty of promotion and relegation. You can’t afford to make too many mistakes, otherwise you could be in dangerous territory. Our focus is on making sure we finish off the year strong.”

Athanasakis says a number of factors have combined to contribute to South’s predicament.

“We’ve had some coaching change at the start of the year, some serious long term injuries and suspensions to key players. The recruiting from the previous coach before Sasa was little bit short, left a bit to be desired. We didn’t have as good a start or preparation to the season as we typically used to. We had a similar bad start last year, but we seemed to recover mid-season. We haven’t seen that recovery as yet this season. We’re hopeful that will turn around.”

On the subject of Kolman’s resignation, Athanasakis said, “Former coach Sasa Kolman handed his resignation citing the fact that he’d done everything in his power to be able to get the boys around, and felt that he’d give someone else an opportunity to turn the fortunes around. We understood that and we feel that interim coach Tangalakis and his support team, can do the job and finish off the year with a good outcome.”

When asked whether in hindsight, the SMFC board feels it made an error appointing Kolman (who had limited senior coaching experience) as Chris Taylor’s replacement, Athanasakis responded, “In hindsight, now that we have finished up with Kolman, obviously we may have gone with a more experienced coach possibly. But given the circumstances, the same thing may have happened with a more senior experienced coach, so we don’t know. We appointed Kolman in good faith, believing it was the best thing for the club and the football program. It didn’t work out.”

On the appointment of Tangalakis as the interim coach, Athanasakis says, “we believe he’s a strong individual and will be a demanding and imposing figure for the players to respond to. We believe he can get a response out of these players in the next 10 weeks.”

Despite this being Tangalakis’ first job as a sole senior coach at the NPL level (he was joint coach with Peter Tsolakis at Oakleigh Cannons), Athanasakis says the club believes “he’s got the ability to deliver the message and deliver the right sort of culture, that winning culture that’s needed for the club.

“It’s about having a strong mind and strong message to the playing group, to become a strong and resilient outfit. I think that’s been lacking with the previous coach. It was more about trying to develop a different style. But in the NPL, sometimes you need to get results first and then develop style. I think Con understands that and will be looking at getting results and fight as hard as they can to get the right outcome at the end of the year.”

One player who may not be there to take part in the fight on South’s behalf, is skilful midfield playmaker Nick Epifano, whose future at the club is under review. Athanasakis said, “He’s been suspended indefinitely till such time as we investigate the alleged breach of conduct that may have brought the club into disrepute through his actions. We’re reviewing all the footage of the game (against Pascoe Vale) and his conduct during and after the game. We’ll be making a decision on the future of that individual in the next seven days. I think that one thing is clear. I don’t believe there’s much of a future for Epifano at our club.”

And finally, when asked about the implications of SMFC’s current senior woes in terms of their A-League bid, Athanaskis was adamant, “absolutely zero implications. The A-League bid is totally different and separate from any performances of our NPL team.

“Our bid is about how ready we are as a club, and how ready we are from our infrastructure and supporter base. The current on-field performances of our semi-professional team, has absolutely zero impact. None of these players or the coach would be in our A-League platform bid. It’s a totally different prospect in a full time environment.”

In conclusion, Athanasakis called for unity. “You’ve got to take the good periods with the bad. Everything will come out well on the other side, as long as our club, our members and supporters stick together.”