South turns back clock

 

By Teo Pellizzeri

December 3 2008

Shepparton News

Shepparton South is going back to the future with the appointment of former coach Paul Amadei to its men's division one team for next season.

Amadei guided South to a hat-trick of North Eastern Soccer League premierships from 1999 to 2001 before leaving the club mid-season in 2002.

The 52-year-old succeeds Serkan Aktas as coach of South, Aktas took the Southerners to the elimination final this year where they were knocked out on penalties by Shepparton United.

"I've missed coaching and that's why I'm coming back," Amadei said.

"I feel like there is unfinished business and I didn't do the right thing leaving the club in mid-season."

South has an almost completely different playing list to when Amadei last coached the club. Vince Mammone will be his new assistant coach.

"Coming back into the club after being away Vinnie will be there to make the transition a quick process," Amadei said.

"He knows the game well and we have the same philosophies.

"I'm a bit more relaxed now,it was one of the reasons I gave coaching away last time."

Aside from his stint at South, a one-year term as Cobram coach and time refereeing in Melbourne has been Amadei's involvement in the game since finishing his playing career with South and Tatura.

Buying in players from Melbourne will be unlikely with Amadei as head coach given he will set the team rule that players must train in order to play.

South's core of players will remain the graduates of its under-17 team that won three straight premierships from 2005 to 2007.

Amadei has coached some of the players with the North Eastern league's representative under-16 and under-18 boys' sides.

A regular spectator at league matches this season, Amadei said toppling backto-back premier Shepparton would be a difficult task.

"We barely had three or four changes at South in our three premiership years and the same thing is happening at Shepparton now," he said.