:: Football Federation Tasmania ::

MEDIA REPORTS

Juventus’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations

By Walter Pless

The Hobart Juventus Soccer Club celebrated its 50th anniversary at Laetare Gardens in Moonah on Saturday, 26 August 2006 and some 300 former players, officials and supporters were in attendance at Laetare Gardens.

Domenic Longo and Luciano Fabrizio were two famous former players who returned to Tasmania for the occasion.

Longo, 36, finished his career with Marconi in the National Soccer League and now lives in Sydney but is not involved in soccer.

He represented the Socceroos 13 times, played for the Olyroos at the Barcelona Olympics, and represented Australia at the under-20 World Cup in Portugal in 1989 and at the under-16 World Youth Championships in Canada in 1987.

Longo was in the senior Juventus team when he was only 15 and went on to play professionally in Belgium with Cercle Brugge.

Fabrizio, 42, played for Australia at under-23 level in 1983 and appeared in the old NSL with Brisbane City and Footscray JUST.

Also present were Phillip Owen, who represented Australia’s under-16s in 1964 and scored the only goal in the 1-0 win over New Zealand.

John Genovesi, who was selected for the Australian under-23 tour of Indonesia in 1974 was there, as was Domenic Fraraccio, another Australian schoolboy representative.

Jonathon Carter was the last Juventus player to attain national honours, playing for the Australia Joeys (under-17s) in 1993 and for the Young Socceroos (under-20s) in 1995.

Juventus has had several name changes over the years, including Juventus Pioneer, Hobart Zebras and Tilford Zebras.

The club has been State champion eight times (1969, 1971-73, 1983-85 and 1993), southern champion 10 times (the last time was 2004), Statewide Cup winners 8 times (2003 the most recent), pre-season cup winner 10 times, end-of-season cup winner 7 times, charity cup winner once and southern division one cup winner once.

The club’s first-ever president, Tony Murrell attended the celebrations, which were hosted by the ABC’s Peter Gee.

The club has had 24 presidents and has 17 life members.

Current president, Michael Pace, paid tribute to the late Lou Genovesi, a fervent supporter and official over many years.

Other former players in attendance included Luciano Longo, Remo Carnevale, Tommy Watson, Domenic Rizzolo, Joe Hanna, Karl Schwesinger, Mario Falzon, Bruno Di Tomasso, Colin West, Ron De Felice, Nick Di Martino, Frank Genovesi, Steve Craven, Sergio Pace, Steven Kannegiesser and Bruno Cengia.

Notable players unable to attend included Peter Wood, Romeo Fabrizio, Peter Brine, Erik Owen, Eric Young, Michael Scavone, Carl Jaegar, John Howlin, Carlo Ambrosino, Angelo Ambrosino, John Charlton, Leon Darko and Bruce Ward.

Doug Parkinson MLC represented the Premier, while the anniversary cake was cut by Michael Pace, current president, and Ernie Schiro, one of the most successful presidents over a 10-year period, including the early 1980s.

Mr Steve Gasparinatos, the chairman of Football Federation Tasmania, also made a congratulatory speech.

Rocky Schiro and Sav Meale, two members of the organising committee, said they were delighted with the success of the function, which had involved a lot of hard work by many people.

List of Club Presidents: Mr A Murrell, Dr J Clemente, Mr Aureli, Mr G Garlington, Mr R Clamp, Mr T Abate, Mr V Di Felice, Mr M Saracino, Mr N Martelli, Mr F De Marte, Mr R Dovadola, Mr T Ottavi, Mr R Caccavo, Mr E Schiro,Mr F Cortese, Mr J Bigham, Mr D Di Giovanni, Mr J Francesconi, Mr P Scavone, Mr K Pears, Mr J Genovesi, Mr G Marino, Mr P Sward, Mr M Pace.

List of Life Members: Mr L Genovesi, Mrs E Genovesi, Mr C West, Mr N Di Martino, Mr K Pears, Mrs T Schiro, Mrs R Candon, Mrs M D-Amico, Mr D D’Amico, Mrs L Mazzulli, Mrs A Marino, Mr G Pignolosa, Mr G Garlington, Ms M Absolom, Mr J Genovesi, Mr M Falzon, Mr S Pace.

Sergio Pace