|22-05-2011|Article and Official Preston Website....

Preston Lions 2 v Altona Magic 0

 Dimitrieski, Kliment 2 (PL )

Preston Lions are the proud holders of the Traianedes - Micevski Cup after winning the Macedonian derby 2-0 over Altona Magic at BT Connor Reserve.

It was the home team who outwitted Altona scoring two second half goals, as Preston continue their great revival. Preston has now secured 10 points from the past 4 games, as the Lions continue to surge up the ladder.

Preston took out bragging rights in this very physical contest that was fairly even in a scoreless first half.

Magic had a couple of good opportunities when Koce Delev was through on goal but was denied by a good save by Hamid Kamali. At the other end Magic’s Tommy Tomich was called into action saving a certain goal. George Papdopoulos also saw his effort thwarted by the Preston keeper.

The home crowd was in full voice 5 minutes into the second half when a quickly taken free kick by John Sapazovski caught the Altona Magic defence napping. Kliment Dimitrieski was found free and he opened the scoring to give Preston the lead. Preston was happy to play on the break relying on the wily skills of John Sapazovski up front.

Sapazovski combined well with Tony Sterjovski allowing Kliment Dimitrieski to get on the end of a cut back to score his second for the afternoon.

Altona tried to get back into the game, but Preston had their measure, with the Magic making little impression in attack.

Preston's John Sapazovski was awarded the Sasa Ognenovski medal.

 |16-05-2011|Article and Foto's By Nome Risteski....

Fawkner 1 v  Preston Lions 3

 Dimitrieski, Kliment (42) (PL )

 Sapazovski, Johnny (54) (PL)

 Sehic, Adis (6) (PL)

 |12-05-2011|Article and Foto's By Nome Risteski....

Preston Lions 3 v W Suburbs 3

Najdovski, Robert (PL )

Neceski, Tony (PL)

Branov, Andrew  (PL)

 |10-05-2011|Article and Foto's By Nome Risteski....

Heidelberg Stars 1 v Preston Lions 7

 |01-05-2011|Article Goalweekly Website....

LIONS ROARING AGAIN

Nth Geelong 1 v Preston Lions 4

Ahmetovic, Edo  2 (PL )

Branov, Andrew 1 (PL)

Igor Kolevski     1 (pl)

The long awaited opening home game of the 2011 season disappointed the North Geelong Warriors faithful, with the home team crashing 4-1 to the rampant Preston Lions. The visitors turned on the style after losing their opening 3 games of the season, as they  bounced back in no uncertain manner.

Two goals in each half secured the Lions first win. The home team felt aggrieved at the decisions that allowed two of Preston’s goals, as appeals for offside fell on deaf ears. North Geelong didn’t do themselves any favours by paying too much respect to Preston.

This was a totally different performance by North Geelong from the week before when the Warriors defeated the Georgies away from home by having a go. They must adopt this attitude in all matches in order to move away from the bottom places. On this performance Preston Lion’s fans can look forward to much better times.
 

 |01-05-2011|Article and Foto's By Nome Risteski....

Southern Stars 2 v Preston Lions 1

Sapazovski, John (PL 37)

Kearney, Alan (SS 41)

Gollogly, Padraig (SS 48)

 |01-05-2011|Article and Foto's By Nome Risteski....

Pasco Vale 6 v Preston Lions 0

Principato, Jason (PV 1)

Micovski, Bale (PV 20, 38)

Santilli, Luca (PV 43)

Youssef, Joseph (PV 67)

Tribuzio, Daniel (PV 92)

 |03-04-2011|Article and Foto's By Nome Risteski....

Preston Lions 1 V Whittlesea Zebras 2

Preston Lions came into this game with great expectations, but a lacklustre first half performance was not what Lions coach Cucalevski was looking for. Apart from 2 first half penalty appeals there wasn't much for either coach to enthusiase  about.

The second half was a stark contrast to the first, both teams pushed bodies forward with the Zebras looking the more dangerous, while their defense kept Sapazovski and Ehmetovic quiet for periods of time.

52 minutes into the contest Preston's favourite son Sapazovski playing his first game for the club since resigning from Bentleigh Greens latched onto a through ball and got the ball before the Zebras keeper Santilli and lobbed him to put Preston in the lead.

Instead of taking advantage of the situation and press for the second killer goal the Lions played a deep defensive game which suited the Zebras, as they ploughed forward looking the equalizer, which duly came in the 62nd minute when Zebra forward Sayeed Hossaini got the ball past Preston keeper Kamali.

Things were not going Preston's way as Branov came off injured in the 69th minute, and to  make matters worse the Lions went down 2-1 in the 72th minute from a strike from Flaherty.

It became apparent it would not be Prestons day when captain Sterjovski limped off the ground in the 74th minute with corked thigh.

Kamali kept Preston in the game in the last 15 minutes or so with a couple of brilliant saves, but all in all a very disappointing day for the Lions and fans.

Foto's From The Game

By Nome Risteski

 |04-02-2011| By Nome Risteski....

Former Preston Captain Sapazovski Returns to BT Connor Reserve for Season 2011

Former favourite son John Sapazovski has returned to BT Connor Reserve for season 2011, giving the club another dimension in its attacking department.

Great to see some of the Preston Greats getting back to the club and helping them get back to where the club belongs.

 |04-02-2011| By Nome Risteski....

Preston Lions FC 3 v St. Albans Saints FC 1

Preston got of to good start in it preseason preparation by downing new VPL outfit St. Albans Saints Fc by 3 goals to 1.

Its early days yet but the Lion's are hoping to do a whole lot better than they did last season when they only survived the drop to the 2nd Division by the skin of their teeth in a playoff with Diamond Valley.

 |15-12-2010| Article From SBS Website....

Ognenovski To Line Up Against Inter Milan

Ognenovski with his 2010 Asian Player Of The Year Award.

Foto By: Kamarul Akhir

And leading the Italian club’s attack will be none other than Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o, who is expected to be named 2010 African footballer of the year - which would be a record fourth award.
 

As Seongnam’s captain and central defender, Ognenovski will have his work cut out to contain the Nerazzurri, particularly Eto’o who is arguably Inter’s most menacing player.

But Ognenovski, fresh from leading his club to AFC Champions League glory, being named 2010 Asian player of the year and making his debut for the Socceroos against Egypt, is undaunted by the prospect.

"The boys are pumped up for Inter and we can’t wait for Wednesday,” Ognenovski told The World Game.

"There obviously is a gap between Asian and European football but in a one-off game anything is possible.

"So we are hoping to cause an upset. The team has a strong self-belief that we can beat Inter because on our day we can beat anyone.

"It’s the same belief we have had all year and if we can transfer that belief onto the park we will give Inter a good run for their money."

Ognenovski declared his team will not be afraid to play its natural game against Rafa Benitez's side.

"We won’t be holding back or playing for penalties. It’s just not our style. We’ll go for it and see what happens," he said.

"I can’t wait to face Eto’o and test myself against the best in the world to see where I’m at.

"I love a challenge and the prospect of marking Eto’o for 90 minutes is a dream for me.”

Seongnam earned the right to face Inter by beating Al Wahda 4-1 in the quarter-finals, Ognenovski on the scoresheet with a thumping header.

"It was not that easy against Al Wahda because we didn’t play our best football,” he said.

"We watched them play (against Hekari United) on Wednesday night and we thought that if we move the ball around fast enough we’d score some goals because their defence did not look too strong.”

So what would Ognenovski give for a goal against Inter?

"Scoring against Inter would be nice," he said in a classic under-statement.

"I’ll be going up for the set-pieces, that’s for sure, but I think if anyone of us scores that would be nice too.”

In the tournament's other semi-final, African champion TP Mazembe of Congo faces South American champion Internacional of Brazil.

Ognenovski, who is playing in his second Club World Cup after being a member of Adelaide United’s side that finished fifth in 2008, hopes his current form will earn him a call-up for the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January.

The Socceroos were on the receiving end of a 3-0 thrashing in their last match in Cairo and Ognenovski hopes the adverse result won’t affect his chances of selection.

"It was not the best game I’ve played in my life but it was not the worst either,” he said.

"The whole team’s performance was not the best so that did not help but personally I think my game was solid and I don’t think I made too many errors."

Coach Holger Osieck will name his squad for Qatar on December 28 with Ognenovski waiting patiently for the call.
 

"Did I do enough to be picked? You’ll have to ask the boss about that," the 31-year-old said.
 

"Maybe I’ve done just enough to scrape into the squad of 23.”

 |25-10-2010| Article From Preston Lions Official Website....

Sasa Ognenovski Named Asain Player Of The Year 2010

Ognenovski in Action For The Lions v Oakleigh's Panapolous  in 2004

The Preston Lions Football Club would like to congratulate former defender Sasa Ognenovski on becoming the first Australian to take out the prestigious Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Player of the Year award.

Ognenovski, 31, fresh from making his Socceroo debut last week against Egypt, was chosen as Asia's best player during a gala awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Wednesday night

"To be named in the initial list of 15 players alongside the likes of Australia's Tim Cahill and Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung was a big honour. To win the award was unbelievable and humbling," Ognenovski said.

The award caps off a stellar month for the former Lion who also captained his South Korean club Seongnam Ilwha Chunma to victory in the Asian Champions League final in Japan and was named that competition's most valuable player following Seongnam's success.

Ognenovski played all his junior football with Preston before being promoted to the senior team in 1997 where he played over 100 Victorian Premier League games for the club over six seasons. His success caught the eye of A-League club Queensland Roar in 2006 where he became one of the competition’s toughest defenders. In 2008 he transferred to fellow A-League club Adelaide United where he participated in their AFC Champions League campaign, before joining his current club Seongnam in 2009.

  |24-10-2010| Article From Preston Lions Official Website....

Preston Lions confirm coaching appointments for 2011

The Preston Lions Football Club is pleased to confirm the re-appointment of both Nick Cuculeski as Senior Coach and Chris Emsovski as Under 21s Coach for the upcoming 2011 season.

Cuculeski, who had been the club's Under 21s coach since 2007, took over the senior position mid way through the 2010 season with the Lions struggling at the foot of the State League Division 1 table and staring at relegation for the second time in two years. However with a fresh approach and some inspired recruiting during the mid-season registration period, Cuculeski was able to turn the club's fortunes around by amassing 18 points from their last nine games and guided the Lions to an unlikely victory against Diamond Valley in a do-or-die play-off to secure the final State League Division 1 spot for 2011. Cuculeski played most of his career with Preston throughout the 90s and early 2000s, and is perhaps best known for his magical golden goal in extra time of the 2002 Victorian Premier League Grand Final when the Lions defeated Fawkner 2-1.

Emsovski, who captained the Lions to that famous Grand Final victory in 2002 and served the club for over 10 years, stepped up to the Under 21s post last season following Cuculeski's promotion to the senior role, himself having coached the club's Under 15s and Under 18s teams for the past two years. Emsovski was also instrumental in the Lions' survival from relegation last season having assumed the senior assistant coaching role on match days.

Significantly, both Cuculeski and Emsovski are themselves products of the Preston Lions junior program having played all of their junior football with the club. These appointments will serve to further reinforce the strong links that exist between the senior and junior structures and the continued investment in the club's development pathways for both players and coaches.

|5-10-2010| Article From Preston Lions Official Website....

Branov awarded Best and Fairest

Branov In Action Against Diamond Valley

The Preston Lions Football Club would like to congratulate Andrew Branov for taking out the club's 2010 Best and Fairest Award

Hamid Kamali and Aleksandar Petrovski were joint winners of the Most Improved Player award.

Nick Bogeski and Andrew Theodore are joint winners of the Best and Fairest award for the Under 21's squad, while Aleksandar Rostankoski was awarded Most Improved Player.

Edin Ahmetovic was awarded the Top Goalscorer award with eight goals for the season, while Aguek Aguek was the winner for the Under 21's squad.

Seniors
Best & Fairest - Andrew Branov
Top Goalscorer - Edin Ahmetovic
Most Improved Player - Hamid Kamali and Aleksandar Petrovski

Under 21s
Best & Fairest - Nick Bogoeski and Andrew Theodore
Top Goalscorer - Aguek Aguek
Most Improved Player - Aleksandar Rostankoski

|30-09-2010| Foto's By MakLion.....

Foto's Preston Lions v Diamond Valley
 

|30-09-2010| Article From Goal Weekly Website....

PRESTON LIONS 1 - 0 DIAMOND VALLEY

It’s all over for the gallant Diamond Valley boys after losing by the only goal of the game.

On a beautiful spring day , the Valley faithful made their way to Keysborough by bus and car to cheer the boys on. We were reminded of the enormity of the task ahead when several coaches transporting the colourful and vocal Macedonian support – no doubt about it, they are a big club with history !!! Conservative estimate would put the crowd at approx 1200, so quite an atmosphere was created.

However, our Valley boys have shown time and again this season that they can mix it with best of them, and their was no reason to think otherwise on this, the biggest day in the Clubs history.

After a bit of a shaky start, the boys weathered an early onslaught for the first 10 – 15 minutes but then settled and looked to be matching the Lions. Valley almost took an early lead when Simon ZAPPIA worked his way towards goal, his shot just off target, but encouraging signs none the less.

The mid field and defence were working hard to repel the Lions forwards but were caught out when Lions went 1-0 up and took that lead into the half time break.

It was evident that for Valley to get a result, we were going to have to make the best of the opportunities when they came along. In the second half the chances did come, but sadly we lacked quality in front of goal and just could not put the ball in the net.

Big Manni PAPASTAMATIS in goal looked comfortable all day, he was well protected by Glen DAVIE , Adam RAYNES and Jerry LAZARIS in defence. The midfield bust a gut all day, The LAGANA boys, Rossi and Frankie , along with Toni GIULIANO , Mario LADNJAK and Elias TSINTZAS never stopped . Up front Leigh MINOPOULOS was finding it difficult to get a run at goal, Simon ZAPPIA was getting himself into good positions but couldn’t break the deadlock. Nino called the changes with the introduction of Dejan MILEVSKI, Anthony HAMMER and Rob ARDESI but to no avail. Things took a turn for the worse, or so we might have expected, when Jerry LAZARIS was shown a red card …… questionable choice of card with the forward running away from goal. However, even when reduced to 10 men, Valley were still very competitive and Lions resorted to some tactics to wind down the clock.

 

|27-09-2010| From The Official FFV Website....

Preston Lions Retain Division One Status

The Preston Lions have retained their place in the Men's State League One competition after a hard fought 1-0 win over Diamond Valley United in the Men's State League Playoff Final last weekend.

A Robert Najdovski volley after 27 minutes was enough to separate the two teams, after a colossal battle in sunny conditions at White Eagles Stadium.

More than 750 people attended the match, creating an atmosphere built for finals football. Both team's supporters were in full voice trying to get their side over the line to earn that valuable final spot in the 2011 Men’s State League One competition.

Diamond Valley were left to rue their chances, after having several opportunities to get themselves on the scoreboard in a performance that showed they were more than capable of matching it with their higher league opponents. However, in the end the travelling faithful for Preston were left to celebrate a stunning fight back to remain in the competition, after languishing at the bottom of the table for much of the season.

|6-09-2010| Story By Aritro Abedin From Goalweekly Website....

Preston Lions 2 Clifton Hill 2

The match of the round was the relegation six pointer at BT Connor Reserve, with Preston and Clifton Hill facing off in the contest that will all but decide the make up of next year’s division 2.  Both sides  went into the game riding the wave of late revivals, with Clifton Hill being undefeated in four games and Preston having achieved huge wins against Whittlesea Zebras and Western Suburbs respectively.  

   A big crowd was  expected for the contest, and the Macedonian community didn’t let the Lions down as an impressive number of them roared the club on towards victory.  

   They were sent into raptures early in the contest, when a questionable hand-ball decision saw the referee point to the spot, with Ahmetovic, Edin making no mistake with the penalty to send his team 1-0 up.  

  However a determined Clifton Hill muscled their way back into the contest, seizing control of the position for much of the middle period of the game.  Eventually they were rewarded for their endeavour when Frank Drakopolous  got onto the end of a long-ball into the box and headed it in at the far post to silence the expectant Preston crowd.  

   However, the Preston fans were to end the game experiencing the sort of joy and relief that can only be induced by the avoidance of relegation, when a hopeful shot into the box pinballed around a sea of Clifton Hill bodies and was somehow scrambled into the back of the net with Andrew J Branov getting the credit for the goal.  

As BT Connor Reserve exploded into a pandemonium, the despondent Clifton Hill coach  Alex Kiratzoglu was left to lament on a result that slipped away in the most heart breaking of circumstances.   ‘We’re shattered, just shattered.  It was always going to be a tough match with so much riding on the result.  l can’t fault the boys, though I think a bit more composure in defence would have been the order of the day, I think the effort was there and I’m really proud of the performance.’
 

|9-08-2010| Story By Aritro Abedin From Goalweekly Website....

Preston Lions Embark On A Great Escape

North Geelong 1 v Preston Lions 4

North Geelong faced off against cellar-dwellers Preston Lions on Friday night in a match that they probably would have banked on as a relatively trouble-free three points as they mounted a serious challenge for one of the two available promotion spots in this year’s SL1.  
 

However, no one at Elcho Park would have forseen the shambles that was to follow for the home side as a rampant Lions outfit completed a 4-1 drubbing to take themselves off the bottom of the table.

  
   The Lions were gifted an own goal on the way to the shock result, but much credit is due to livewire attacker Edin Ahmetovic who display class, poise and composure as he completed the stunning-hatrick that could keep his side in this division for another season.   
  The Lions now sit in 10th place, two points ahe

ad of both Clifton Hill and Malvern City, and what once looked like a season almost certainly condemned to relegation appears to have been salvaged with four games left to play.   

  The legion of Preston fans who remember their club’s halcyon days in the National Soccer League must be breathing a huge sigh of relief at the prospect of avoiding the ignominy of seeing their club battling it out in SL2 next season.

 

|24-06-2010| From Preston Lions Official Website.....

Ins and Outs At Preston Lions FC

ARRIVALS:
Tony Neceski
Edin Ahmetovic (Hume United)
Adis Sehic (Maribyrnong Greens)
Zeljko Popovic (Preston Lions FC (2009))
Lupce Koceski (Preston Lions FC (2009))
Matthew Vrbec (Melbourne Knights) (GK)
Teo Kohonen (Melbourne University Soccer Club)
Giordano Caputo (St Kevin’s Old Boys SC (2009))
Zarko Tomovski (Lalor United Seniors SC)
Israel Carter (St Albans Saints SC)

DEPARTURES:
Bale Micovski (Pascoe Vale)
Damir Salcin (Bentleigh Greens)
Martin Hana (St Albans Saints SC)
Mirzet Skenderovic

|1-06-2010| Article From Preston Lions Official Website....

Cuculeski Takes The Reigns

The Preston Lions Football Club has appointed former championship player, Nick Cuculeski, as its senior coach for the remainder of the 2010 season.

Cuculeski, who has been the club’s Under 21s coach since 2007, took charge of his first senior game two weeks ago against Whittlesea and followed it up with a hard fought nil-all draw last weekend away to Western Suburbs, earning the Lions their first points of the year.

That effort was all the more encouraging considering the team was missing many first team regulars through injury including captain Tony Sterjovski, Bale Micovski, and former goalkeeper Damir Salcin who has transferred to VPL club Bentleigh Greens.

With the mid-season registration period opening next week, Cuculeski will be looking to bolster his playing stocks and guide the team away from the relegation zone.

|02-02-2010| Article From Macedonian Cup Comp Website....

On December 22 2009 & January 8 2010 the Macedonian Clubs of Victoria met and agreed to resurrect the annual tournament of Macedonian Clubs.
The tournament aims to bring together all the Macedonian Clubs to build a better cohesion between our clubs, so we can continue to work collectively towards building and uniting our community and the continued success and support of our clubs.

The motto for this year’s cup will be “Bringing the Macedonian Community together”

For More Infomation Click On Image Above.....

|01-01-2010| Article From Official Preston Lions FC Website....

Former club captain and championship winning player, Tony ‘British’ Sterjovski, will once again pull on the Preston Lions jersey this season to spearhead the club’s Victorian State League One campaign.

The 32-year old returns to BT Connor Reserve after spending a year with Victorian Premier League outfit, Hume City, where he was instrumental in helping them to reach a preliminary final last season.

According to Sterjovski, the aim of achieving promotion back into the Victorian Premier League was one of his main motivations for returning to the club.

“Preston is unarguably one of the biggest and most successful clubs in Victoria and I am absolutely committed to making sure we reclaim our rightful position in the highest possible level of competition in this state.”

“My achievements at Preston so far include a Victorian Premier League championship, club Best and Fairest award, club captaincy and Bill Fleming Medal as player of the year as voted by the media. Having followed Preston as a kid during the National League days and spent all of my junior years at the club, I have always considered Preston to be my home as playing for the club has always brought out the best in my football ability.

“So I consider this coming season in State League One to be another special challenge of what I can hopefully achieve at Preston.”

Coach Zeljko Gagula said he is thrilled with Sterjovski’s signing.

“One of my major aims during this pre-season was to recruit a senior player capable of injecting some much needed leadership, experience and firepower to our young up and coming squad. And we’ve certainly been able to achieve that with British who in my opinion is one of the most gifted and dedicated footballers

For More Images Click Here.....

|01-01-2010| Article From Official Preston Lions FC Website....

Foto: By Igor Pavlovski

On Monday 26th October Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd officially welcomed Nikola Gruevski, the Prime Minister of Macedonia to Australia.

On 27th October Prime Minister Gruevski meet with the Macedonian community of Melbourne, where officials of the Preston Lions Football Club had the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for his visit to Australia and for meeting with the community.

The club then proudly presented the Macedonian Prime Minister a Preston Lions FC 50th Anniversary jersey with his name and favourite number.

For More Images Click Here.....

If you have any news on Preston Lions Makedonia Football Club you wish to pass on just drop an e-mail to the following address.
[  nrenee@optushome.com.au ]

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