KOSHIMIZU AT THE CROSSROADS ON THE SUNSHINE COAST

In his own words, this season is a very important one for Shoichi Koshimizu. This year the 25 year old from Japan is on his second assignment with Australian 2nd Tier outfit, Sunshine Coast FC.

Back in 2014 Koshimizu made his first trip to Australia to try his luck in the Queensland NPL. Koshimizu had spent his formative years with the Kanagawa University team before moving onto current J3 outfit YSCC Yokohama. Though 2014 ended with a serious knee injury, Koshimizu impressed enough to be invited back in 2016.

At present Sunshine Coast FC find themselves third from bottom, but the attacker has wasted no time in finding the back of the net. Forced to sit out the last two fixtures, Koshimizu has managed to bag three goals in his four appearances.

On Sunday (10/4/16) Sunshine Coast FC took the field without the Japanese import and were unlucky losers against Redlands United. The Fire drew level in the 79th minute only for a penalty to  be awarded to Redlands in the 86th minute.

Asked about the level of the Queensland NPL, Koshimizu was confident that . . . 

GET MORE AT THE NEW EAST ASIAN SOCCER WEBSITE

SYDNEY FC AND MELBOURNE VICTORY FIGHTING FOR A-LEAGUE LIVES

The race for the Hyundai A-League finals is on in earnest. Perth Glory are now inside the top six and if current form is anything to go by the West Australians will be fighting it out in the finals. Meanwhile, both Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory’s seasons have fallen by the wayside.

With five games of the regular season remaining Sydney FC must correct an alarming run of form that has seen them collect just 3 points from the last 21 available. The form slump has been exacerbated by injuries and suspensions. Unfortunately, Alex Brosque has been ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury (only returning if the team goes deep into Finals).

Along with that, manager Graham Arnold has to navigate the Asian Champions League. [cont out our new website eastasiansoccer.co]

DEAR MR PIGNATA, PLEASE DON'T TELL FANS WHO THEY SHOULD RESPECT

Ali Abbas - Sydney FC

Earlier this week Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata pleaded that Western Sydney Wanderers fans show Ali Abbas some respect in this weekend's Sydney Derby. Abbas returned last Saturday from a knee injury that occurred in a derby match in November 2014. As a result of Pignata's pleas the passionate Iraq born attacker is set to cop a barrage, as the last thing you should do is tell a fan who they need to respect.

CASE IN POINT - ADAM GOODES

Australian sports fans don't have to dig deeply into their memory banks to find a similar situation to that of Ali Abbas. AFL player Adam Goodes experienced a season of cat calls, boos, rude gestures and even racial taunts.

Respected as one of AFL's best players, Goodes - an aboriginal Australian - made it known the constant jeering was affecting him. Did the fans stop and respect Adam? No.

The booing and jeering got worse. Only after a bout of baloney from the 'professional' media and AFL's CEO claiming the booing was racist, did it finally fade. But only temporarily. By the end of the season, the booing was back.

ABBAS THE VOLATILE

Just like Goodes in his sport, Ali Abbas is one of the A-League's most talented. This fact alone makes Abbas a target for the boo boys. Add to that the fact that Abbas plays the game with a frightening passion, producing animated goal celebrations, pumping his fists and berating opponents when the occasion suits. Quite frankly the A-League needs more like him.

But come Saturday evening at Parramatta, Western Sydney fans will unleash hell. Every fist pump and every time he touches the ball, swathes of home fans will remind Ali that they hate him. And the Daily Telegraph feature telling of how affected the Sydney FC attacker was by social media abuse, will only encourage Wanderers fans.

PIGNATA'S PLEA TO FALL ON DEAF EARS

"I just hope from the fans’ point of view that they let him focus on the football," said Pignata. "It would be nice to think that they will show him some respect for what he has achieved simply in getting back on to the pitch."

Oh Please! It's hard to believe that Pignata would be dumb enough to request Wanderers fans be nice to his players. Even in the age of the politically correct, there is no way Abbas will find Parramatta Stadium to be his 'happy place'.

Saturday night just can't come soon enough for Wanderers fans, and Ali Abbas will find himself at the centre of the storm. He can thank Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata for that. 

REDS ATTACKED BY ONLINE TROLLS

Adelaide United kicked off their A-League season with a credible draw against Melbourne Victory, but the club was involved in an off field skirmish on the eve of Friday's clash. The Reds dared to allow club sponsor Travel Superstore to use female staff wearing 'red skirts and black high heels' to sell raffle tickets, on the night of the match. As usual the squeaky wheel brigade screamed into action.

[click here to see the 'offensive' Travel Superstore Reds Girls]

Promoted on the club's Twitter account, the Travel Superstore Reds Girls were attacked by a girl gang that amounted to approximately ten people. Unsurprisingly, some members of the 'professional' media seized the opportunity to assert their moral superiority, while others just sounded like man-haters. 

One bitter user took to the Reds with the pent-up anger of a thousand feminists. Amy was infuriated that the Reds "could frame women as accessories and infantilise them by calling them 'girls'". Amy was offended because the Travel Superstore raffle ticket sellers were called girls rather than women. 

I tweeted to Amy that adult men are often referred to as boys, particularly in the sports arena. But she was having none of it and replied back that she didn't approve of that either.

Others seemed to totally miss the point of the promotion, labelling the Reds Girls as cheerleaders - god forbid an Australian soccer team uses cheerleaders as apparently only the other 'bogan codes' would use them  - while others shouted for images of the Adelaide United women's team, who had nothing to do with the Travel Superstore promotion.

For clarity, the Travel Superstore Reds Girls were tasked with selling raffle tickets to fans, whom after parting with $5 were in the running to win a $2000 travel voucher. That was their job.

Of the professional media it was The Daily Telegraph's Tom Smithies who led the charge. "I really find it extraordinary that someone thought this sexist rubbish was a good idea," the righteous scribe tweeted.

When asked how the promotion was sexist Smithies failed to answer directly, instead posting a tweet to all his followers in which he was able to insert two word weapons in one sentence - them being: sexist and objectification.

Smithies was displaying the signature behavioural trait that American academic Shelby Steele calls dissociation. It's the kind of behaviour that large government and private institutions exhibit in order to clear themselves from any perceived racism or sexism. In this incidence the Daily Telegraph employee used some keywords as labels in order to assert his moral superiority.

Travel Superstore Reds Girls - offensive?

Of course Smithies was joined by some like-minded minor celebrities in Mel McLaughlin and George Donikian. The pair jumped at the chance to dissociate themselves from 'sexism'. McLaughlin tweeted "Please tell me this is a joke," as if to say that she disapproved of any kind of eye-candy that the Travel Superstore Reds Girls provided. It was the ultimate in irony from the former FoxSports presenter. Donikian, it must be said seemed more to be taking advantage of the gathering of a girl gang, when he tweeted, "We interviewed real female football fans in our series Fields to Dreams."

Fortunately the righteous and hateful tweets gained little traction and only provided an example of how quick some are to use labels in pursuit of credibility. Hopefully, the Travel Superstore Reds Girls don't have to put up with more abusive bullying online or at Adelaide United matches.

BLACKTOWN CITY WINGER MAKES HIS CHOICE

Danny Seung-Joo Choi - Blacktown City FC

Blacktown City's winger Danny Seung-Joo Choi has experienced a break out season. The 21 year old picked up 9 goals and 13 assists in a season that saw Blacktown capture the NSW NPL Premiership and once again feature in the FFA Cup final 32.

This weekend Choi will line up for Blacktown City in the National Premier League Grand Final against Western Australia’s Bayswater City. It will be the last game of a long season, but it looms as another watershed moment in the youngster’s football journey. 

Choi arrived in Australia with his parents in 5th grade. By year 10 of his Australian schooling the kid from soccer city Suwon (South Korea) had been scouted by K-League club Daejon Citizen. However, after spending three years under Korean tutelage, Choi realised his style didn’t suit the K-League and he quickly found himself back in Sydney playing for Parramatta FC.  

After picking up the player of the year award at Parramatta, manager Lee Sterrey referred the youngster to Blacktown City. Now in his second season at Blacktown in the NSW NPL (effectively Australia’s second tier), Choi makes no secret of his desire to go further.

“Every football player wants to play at professional level,” he said. Naming Angel Di Maria and Gareth Bale as some of his heroes, Choi ranked playing in Europe as his ultimate dream. 

One look at his video highlights and it's not hard to imagine Choi strutting his stuff in the A-League, particularly considering the dearth of quality left sided players. But Choi's hopes have been hampered by his Visa situation. Understandably A-League clubs are not willing to use one of their allocated Visa player spots on an untried youngster, but by 2016 it's likely Danny Choi's citizenship complications will be resolved.

When quizzed on his FFA Cup experience he couldn't hide his disappointment, "It would have been good to progress further." 

Blacktown crashed out in the Round of 32 after leading South Australia's Metro Stars 1-nil at halftime. "To be honest I missed a lot of chances," he said. Twenty-one year old Patrick Antelmi - whom Choi expects to make it to the professional ranks - had given the home side the lead, only to concede in the 60th and 78th minutes, for a nightmare loss. 

Regarding this week's clash with Bayswater City, Choi confessed a lack of knowledge of his opponent, but after Blacktown lost the NSW NPL Championship Final to Bonnyrigg, the match is an opportunity for redemption. An added bonus for this weekend's winner is a berth in next season's FFA Cup Round of 32.

Kick off will be 08:30pm AEST, and for those who can't be at the ground, live footage will be screened via the National Premier League's website. For live streaming info visit the NPL site here:

www.nationalpremierleagues.com.au

SUNS HOPING TO ROCK A-LEAGUE CHAMPIONS IN FFA CUP

Iwamoto & Murayama of Rockdale City Suns

On Tuesday night (1st September) in the FFA Cup Rockdale City Suns take on A-League champions Melbourne Victory. The match is set to be a watershed moment for the club, and a number of it’s semi pro players. 

While the Suns club is home to a number of men with A-League experience, there are also a host of ambitious young players looking to take the next step in their soccer careers.

Waseda University (Japan) graduate Takuya Murayama is one of those men. The 28 year old has been a regular with the Suns since 2012 and sees Tuesday night’s clash with Melbourne Victory as one of the biggest games of his career. 

Murayama said, “We believe we are capable of competing, and we may be the team that surprises in the Final 16,” of the FFA Cup. The Osaka native’s comments come on the back of Rockdale City’s disappointing NSW Premier League season. The Suns finished sixth, and out of a place in the end of season finals. 

Though the right back has been used in midfield at times in his Rockdale City career, any attacking forays against a full strength Melbourne Victory outfit would be fraught with danger. It’s likely that Murayama will be dealing with marauding Tunisian Khalid Ben Khalfallah. [For more on Takuya Murayama, grab the current edition of JSOCCER magazine]

Now under the guidance of player/manager Paul Reid, the Suns will line up as $17.00 outsiders and despite being hosts, the Sydney club has been forced to play the match at nearby Jubilee Oval. Regular home Ilinden Park (Bicentennial Park) failed to meet FFA ground lighting criteria. 

When quizzed on the matter, Rockdale City’s Japanese import noted the ground issue as a setback as A-League players would have struggled with the Ilinden Park surface, particularly after a full season of NSW Premier League action. 

In the Suns favour is the disparity in ‘knowledge of the opponent’ between the sides. Due to the NSW Premier League receiving very little video/television coverage, the big guns from Melbourne will know very little about their opponents. On the other hand, the home team have an intrinsic knowledge of A-League stars such as Berisha, Thompson, Finkler and the aforementioned Khalfallah. 

Additionally, former Newcastle Jet Marco Jesic and A-League journeyman Dylan Macallister will add more top level experience and know-how for the team’s big moment. 

Rockdale City will also line up with a distinctly Japanese flavour as right back Murayama is joined by 26 year old Mitsuhiro Iwamoto. The attacker will likely take his place as a substitute in Tuesday’s subscription television broadcast. [For more on Mitsuhiro Iwamoto, grab the current edition of JSOCCER magazine.] Murayama also gave special mention to right winger Tougic Alemeddine as a player to watch in tomorrow's clash.

Catch the action from 07:30pm AEST on FoxSports or on the FFA Cup’s live streaming option (tedious registration process involved). 

MOOY STUNNERS SINK EDGEWORTH FC IN THE FFA CUP

Northern NSW NPL club Edgeworth FC crashed out of the FFA Cup last night. Taking on the A-League's richest club Melbourne City, the semi pros put in a stellar shift and could only be killed off with a free kick in injury time.

Currently leading the Northern NSW NPL, Edgeworth restored some pride for the region after locals Broadmeadow were sunk by Heidelberg last week.

Under the pump for most of the first twenty minutes, Edgeworth eventually found some rhythm against their well remunerated opponents. In the 25th minute the 2400 plus crowd were in raptures after a Kisnorbo challenge gifted the home side a penalty. Hammel's conversion from the spot had locals daring to dream.

City threatened soon after but usually through fast breaks rather than shoddy defending, and Edgeworth's ability to repel City's slick attack was a theme throughout the night. 

But when Mauk was fouled with some standard man-handling, Mooy duly punished Edgeworth. It was a taste of reality on the cusp of half time. 

However, the second half wasn't greatly different, and Edgeworth had an early chance when left back Aaron McLoughlin found the ball at his feet on the junction of the eighteen yard box. Facing just the keeper and no time to think, the defender's shot flew into row zed. 

Edgeworth continued to provide stiff opposition for the remainder of the match, ensuring no one left early despite the freezing conditions pitch-side. 

Melbourne City's new recruit Harry Novillo had Edgeworth players and fans nervous all night. It was the Frenchman who won the vital free kick in injury time that would send Edgeworth crashing out. 

Gutted by the cruel 2-1 defeat in the shadows of extra time, Edgeworth manager Damien Zane said, 

". . . I'm just so proud of them. The work they put in, and to still look dangerous . . ." 

Aaron Mooy's second stunning free kick ensured that Edgeworth pack away any FFA Cup dreams for at least another twelve months. 

KIT FIDDLERS MAY TINKER WITH NEWCASTLE IDENTITY

Former Newcastle Jets and Newcastle Knights owner Nathan Tinkler

The recent departure of Newcastle Jets owner Nathan Tinkler has been received positively by all who care for the Hunter region club. But the exit has opened the door for some rethinking on the identity of the team representing Newcastle.

Last week A-League chief Damien de Bohun announced plans for the club to hold two fan forums (18th June & 24th June) and a business leaders forum (10th June) this month. The moves to reconnect with the local community are a great initiative as Newcastle folk definitely feel detached and ignored, in terms of the club's direction.

FFA SENDING MIXED MESSAGES

De Bohun was also quoted at the ABC Australia online site hinting at a possible change of playing strip. Interviewed on 28th May, he said, ". . . in terms of the strip design, without giving anything away yet, there's a couple of things there that will give people a sense of where we're going."

This comes in contrast to the initial message to Jets fans by FFA CEO David Gallop on 21st May. In a mail-out issued to Newcastle Jets members Gallop said, "Next season (2015/16) the Club will retain the same name, colour and logos as existed in the past. The Club will play at Hunter Stadium."

David Gallop in his message to Jets fans.

In the space of seven days there's been a change of plans. What information is de Bohun privy to that FFA boss Gallop didn't have a week earlier?

Suddenly the team that sports the same blue & red as the Newcastle Knights side that competes in the NRL, needs a change.

It would seem a bizarre step from the FFA as the club has had 10,000 plus memberships for the last three seasons, despite the on field failings. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IN NEWCASTLE

But the subject of colours and playing strip is a touchy topic in Newcastle. There are some influential types championing a revival of the gold playing strip, and others that crave for a return of the traditional green, brown and white strip of Newcastle's initial NSL existence.

However, some close investigation of Newcastle's early existence in the NSL uncovers a very short 'tradition'. The famed Newcastle KB United often waxed lyrical about by FoxSports' Andy Harper, lasted only 6 and a half seasons before financial difficulties meant the team changed name to Newcastle Rosebud United (playing in green & black).

Newcastle KB United kit 1979

KB United were the team that sported the original green, brown and white strip, though the unique colours didn't equate to on field success. The club were at best mid table all through their existence to 1986 as Newcastle Rosebud United, and even the early record crowds dwindled to averages as low as 1500 in their final years, when the embattled NSL was divided into conferences.

Newcastle's next foray into the national soccer spotlight came under the guise of the Newcastle Breakers in 1991/1992. The Breakers with their blue & red strip lasted 8 seasons (absent in 94/95), up until 1999/2000. Once again the club could barely achieve a final placing above mid table, finishing 7th of sixteen teams the highlight.

Newcastle Breakers kit 1991/92

For the final 4 seasons of the poorly administered NSL, Newcastle was represented by Newcastle United. Once again the club sported blue & red; colours that were becoming synonymous with the industrial city. The latter years of the NSL saw Newcastle finally experience some success, finishing 2nd on the ladder in 2001/2002, and 4th on the ladder in 2002/2003.

When the A-League was born in 2005/06, Newcastle was present again. The Newcastle United Jets wore a predominantly gold strip with blue & red reserved for trim and shorts. Known as the Jets (a nod to the nearby RAAF Airbase), Newcastle won the A-League Championship of 2007/08.

But financial strife reared its head again. During the 2010/2011 season the club came under the ownership of Nathan Tinkler. By the next season Tinkler revived the familiar blue & red playing strip, ending the 6 seasons of gold with blue & red trim.

THE HATERS

As stated earlier the FFA is now in control of the club and they've promised to listen to the fans. While there are some who voice concern at the current blue & red playing strip, the majority are happy for the club to remain as they are. Even online fan forums where many hard-core Jets supporters congregate, have a less than overwhelming focus placed on changing the strip. Those that do argue for change, often accompany their comments with petty grievances about the city's NRL side the Newcastle Knights. 

The upcoming fan forums on 18th June and 24th June will offer a chance for the whole community to have a voice, that includes the hardcore, the families, and Novacastrians that just want a team they can be proud of.

END OF DAYS

So the story of professional soccer in Newcastle has a couple of strong themes: Financial woes and instability. As for the halcyon days of Newcastle KB United, well you can only recall them days gloriously if looking through rose coloured glasses.

The A-League is just ten years old and still building a history, a league that we may one day say possesses some traditions. Therefore any further fiddling or tinkering with of playing strips will only serve to disrupt what foundations the competition has already laid.

LEWDUB RETWEETS!

This week East Asian Soccer and Lew Dub unveil: LewDub Retweets. In what is planned to be a weekly installment, the East Asian Soccer website in conjunction with Lew Dub's Twitter, account will trawl through what was retweet worthy over the last week. From there we will snatch the five most noteworthy re-tweets or favourites from the Lew Dub account and discuss their noteworthiness.

Without further ado, lets get stuck into LewDub Retweets Volume 1.

Number 1, comes from a favourite account of ours. It's the JSoccer Magazine Twitter account and the tweet that made us stand up and applaud gave reference to the painful Urawa Reds, and their ACL plight.

Truly tough times for Urawa fans who deserve more than they get from their beloved Reds. But who knows maybe 2015 will be their year 'domestically'.

Number 2 comes from Sebastian Hassett's account. The Sydney Morning Herald scribe paid tribute to Japan's Kashima Antlers after stealing victory in a second half schooling of Western Sydney Wanderers. It seems everyone wants to stick the boot into the Wanderers at the moment, but there is still some breath in the lungs of their Asian Champions League campaign.

WSW will need to defeat the already qualified Guangzhou Evergrande in China, and pray for a draw between Kashima Antlers and FC Seoul.




Number 3 comes from Peter Davis's account. News from the Chinese Super League. As the tweet says, Swedish international Tobias Hysen tops the CSL scorers list. But of just as much tweet-

worthiness is the fact Hysen's Shanghai East Asia (SIPG) - managed by Sven Goran Eriksson - are undefeated and top of the CSL table.




Number 4 via Seongnam's unofficial English twitter account, was a bit of lighthearted banter. The K-League team is faring better than any of their Korean counterparts currently, but the tweet could

backfire as Seongnam aren't assured of qualification for the knockout phase of the ACL while all other K-League teams are still in with a fighting chance.



Finally at Number 5 is Dean Heffernan's polite call for Wanderers' new recruit Kerem Bulut to lighten up on the gesticulation. The 'call out' came during the Asian Champions League tie with Kashima

Antlers, when the raw talent could be seen gesturing frustratedly whenever the ball didn't come to him.



No more here. That's a wrap!