FRIENDS and colleagues have paid tribute to Donvale soccer administrator John Kelly and expressed concern about how the 45-team Vicsoccer league can continue without him.Mr Kelly, 54, is thought to have been killed on Christmas Eve and was found in his Doncaster Rd home on December 29 by a family friend.
Chris Kafkias, 29, of Hawk St, Doncaster East, has been charged with Mr Kelly’s murder and will reappear in court in April. He was denied bail in a brief hearing last week.
Mr Kelly was chief executive of Vicsoccer, a collection of amateur soccer leagues, and ran the organisation from his home.
Vicsoccer secretary Jim Missihronis said the death threw the league’s future into doubt only a month before the 2011 season was due to begin.
“He was a one-man office; they are big shoes to fill,” Mr Missihronis said.
He said Mr Kelly, who lived alone, was a hard worker and good with computers.
“He loved his dog and his soccer,” Mr Missihronis said.
He said Mr Kafkias had previously worked with Mr Kelly at Vicsoccer.
Vicsoccer referee co-ordinator Andrew Vecris said he was shocked and saddened by Mr Kelly’s death. He said a meeting about Vicsoccer’s future would be held when police allowed access to the organisation’s files that were in Mr Kelly’s home.
Homicide squad detectives and forensic investigators spent hours gathering evidence from Mr Kelly’s single-storey brown-brick house last week.
Neighbour Paul Swann said Mr Kelly, a St John Ambulance volunteer, was a private person.
Club secretary for Highlander United FC Michael Vickers said he was worried about the league’s future. Mr Kelly was a nice guy who “pretty much ran the show”.
Old Xaverians club president Hugh Tobin also paid tribute to Mr Kelly as a “good guy” and passionate supporter of Melbourne soccer. “He ran the league single-handedly,” Mr Tobin said.
“I can’t imagine how the league will survive without him.”
Middle Park Football Club administrator Jason Whiting encouraged people in the soccer community to volunteer their time to help Vicsoccer.