Skoko's leading role
| April 2nd, 2011

SOCCER legend Josip Skoko has returned to his spiritual home of North Geelong Warriors to aid the club's 2011 season and help develop its legion of promising young players.

Former Socceroo Skoko is forming a coaching dream team with his brother Ante, who has replaced Vinko Buljubasic as head coach. The partnership marks the first time that the brothers, who both have deep connections to Warriors, have worked together in soccer in almost 20 years.

Skoko has registered as a player for the upcoming season, raising the tantalising prospect of the 35-year-old, who won 51 caps for Australia, playing for North in State League 1. Skoko retired at the end of the latest A-League season after a one-year stint at Melbourne Heart.

However, he said: "At this stage, I won't be playing, no. I retired for a reason," he said.

"I would've kept playing at the highest level if I could carry on. I registered just in case something happens, but I'd prefer the young players to take centre stage.

"I want the club to do well and I feel at home there. I want to do anything to help the club and soccer in Geelong. The club is well positioned with its young players and financially too."


Skoko said that he started working with North's under-21 players three weeks ago as a way to keep his fitness up and to dip his toe into coaching. In a rapid series of events, Ante, who was the under-21 coach, has been elevated to the senior coaching position following the dismissal of Buljubasic.

Ante Skoko said: "Will Josip play? I'm not sure. I've had a lot of calls from people hoping he will do, but he is giving his body a well-deserved rest.

"He will be turning up each week to take training and he'll be there on match days too. At training, the kids really can see what it takes to be a top professional from him.

"It's been good fun to have him by my side. You have to respect what he's done in the game."

Ante added of his coaching promotion: "It all happened quite unexpectedly. But I have got a good relationship with the boys there and the club is really re-establishing itself as a place for good, young local talent."

Joe Zilic, North's president, admitted that the abrupt switch in coach on the eve of the season "wasn't ideal", despite the high-profile addition of the Skoko brothers.

"I think highly of Vinko, he has done a lot for the club," he said.

"But there was a situation there that I couldn't just ignore. I have to think of a club of more than 200 people.

"But, as a fan, I'd say it is a hurdle to overcome. You can't forget the players in all of this, I feel for them."

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/04/02/251691_local_sports.html

North Geelong sacks coach
| April 1st, 2011

THE region's top soccer club North Geelong has dropped a bombshell on the eve of the season by replacing its coach.

The Warriors have parted ways with Vinko Buljubasic who led them to promotion to State League 1 in 2009 after three seasons and replaced him with Ante Skoko.

Skoko's brother Josip, the former Socceroo who recently retired from professional football after a stint with Melbourne Heart in the A-League, has been appointed to the Warriors coaching staff and has also registered as a player.

A statement on North Geelong's website read: "We thank Vinko for his efforts and wish him every well wish for his future endeavours. We are sure that whichever club he ends up at will benefit from his experience.

"With Ante Skoko at the helm we can expect to see a continuation of the club's development of the up and coming players."

North GeelongState League 1


Last year: 8th.

Ins: Nathan Long, Connor Reddan, Jack Taylor, Reha Kurul.

Outs: Adam Zilic, Marko Kuna, Adrian Cervinski, Ante Deak, Antun Vulic.

Prediction: 4th

Even before the dramatic departure of Buljubasic, 2011 was shaping up as a season of transition for North Geelong.

Club legends Adrian Cervinski and Ante Deak both retired with a new focus on youth bearing fruit in the preseason City of Greater Geelong cup.

A host of young players, most notably Nathan Cook, shone as North strolled its way to the trophy, demolishing Geelong in the final.

Geelong SCState League 2Last year: Promoted from State League 3.

Ins: Matty Nikloic, Shaya Mamoud, Michael Trigger, Daniel Earley.

Outs: Oktay Yilmaz, Scott Davidson, Chris Psmaris, Paul Petrevski.

Prediction: 6th.

Geelong may have been beaten in the preseason final, but the signs throughout the tournament were good.

With Troy Hardy, James Agius and Jasmin Ikanovic to pick from up front, there shouldn't be a shortage of goals while the addition of Daniel Earley will add penetration down the flanks.

The loss of the retired Scott Davidson and the continued absence of injury-plagued Chris Belaborova leaves Geelong lacking in central midfield, but overall the squad looks in decent shape.

Geelong RangersState League 3

Last year: Relegated from State League 2.

Ins: James Blackburn, Enes Eren, Mohammed Kalid, Jason Le Roux, Nathan Darlington.

Outs: Daniel Earley.

Prediction: 4th.

New coach Dale Harris has a massive job in lifting the club following a disastrous 2010.

Being relegated last year will at least only leave room for improvement and the return of James Blackburn will add some teeth to a goal shy attack.

However, the quality around him is still a little patchy and their defence will have perform well to provide a platform for a promotion push.

CorioProvisional League 1Last year: 3rd.

Ins: Oktay Yilmaz, Grgo Saric, Elton Savice, Vedran Stojanovic, Liam Nelson, Jordan Nelson, Paul Petrevski.

Outs: Chris Greechan, Angelo di Mauro.

Prediction: 2nd.

Corio was agonisingly close to promotion last year so the squad will have plenty of incentive to go one better this year.

Although Chris Greechan has left, Miro Marinovic is finally looking like a striker rather than a goalkeeper and the arrival of Liam Nelson should provide some energy in midfield.

Surf CoastProvisional League 1Last year: promoted from Provisional League 2.

Ins: Jordan White, Jack Taylor, Ian Crane and Jarrod Cayzer

Outs: Paul Senior, Steve McNaughton, Anthony Cooley and Sam Versace.

Prediction: 8th

Consecutive promotions is dizzying progress for a club founded just four years ago.

But 2011 could prove difficult for Surf Coast.

Not only has the club got to negotiate a new, tougher league, it also has it do it without one of its best players of recent years in Jack Taylor who has joined North Geelong and defensive mainstay Ian Crane.

On the plus side, Paul Senior has returned and Xavier Ryan has recovered from a broken foot, but the club could struggle if it suffers a spate of injuries.

However, the Torquay team has made defying expectations a habit in recent years and Falzon is again determined to overcome the odds.

Bell ParkProvisional League 2Last season: 8th.

Ins: Angelo di Mauro, Matt Head.

Outs: Liam Nelson, Jordan Nelson.

Prediction: 3rd.

The word from Bell Park is that new coach Steve Tillinger has had an instant impact upon a somewhat jaded squad.

The players are said to be the fittest they've been in five seasons although he still has largely the same group to pick from that bumped around in the lower reaches of the league for most of last season.

Liam Nelson is a loss, but Angelo di Mauro will prove a reassuring presence in goal and Tillinger's magic should see an improvement in 2011.

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