South Melbourne took on Singapore high-flyers Gomback FC tonight (8.30pm ASET) but could be missing several key players.
In-form midfielder Daniel Vasilevski trained freely over the weekend despite having missed South’s 3-1 VPL win over Sunshine Georgies but the club could be without another key midfielder Joseph Keenan and Stiven Mrkela who could miss this tie due to family commitments.
Stalwart Fernando De Moraes will line-up for South after the club’s 2010 top scorer made himself unavailable for the Futsalroo’s AFC tournament which will also be played this week.
Gombak United, coached by former Newcastle Breakers and Australian international defender Darren Stewart.
Stewart said he had fond memories of coming up against South Melbourne during his playing days and was relishing the preliminary round clash. “It’s good that they’re in the competition.
They’re a massive team,” he said. ”I’ve played against them and their coach (former New Zealand striker Vaughan Coveny) many, many times, and I know a lot about them.
I’ve already got some friends back home to help me learn even more!” South Melbourne chairman Nick Galatas said he was also savouring their confrontation with The Bulls, and expressed his delight in his team’s participation in the RHB Singapore Cup.
”We look forward to our first match against Gombak,’ he said. ”South Melbourne are excited to be a part of this year’s RHB Singapore Cup. It is a fantastic tournament with a growing reputation that includes some of the top clubs in the region.”