Image: Mark Avellino
It’s Goran Lozanovski’s Altona Magic that is putting a stamp on the Zagame’s Mens State League One division with his early bunch of signings. In the lead-up towards Christmas, Lozanovski has secured five new signatures to date.
Joseph Franjic (Hume City), Greg Lombardo (Northcote City), Amadu Koroma (South Melbourne), Michael Stark (Port Melbourne Sharks) and Johnny Stojcevski (Adelphi University, USA) have all made the move across to the 2016 State One Champions.
With a range of experience in the National Premier League, Magic’s new signings are all excited about the challenge coming up in the chase for promotion – the first time for such an opportunity since the implementation of the NPL system.
“I suppose winning the league in a division I have never coached in [is a motivator]. Also, having the pleasure of coaching my club where my father and I started our journey,” Lozanovski said.
Alongside the five new signatures, Magic boast six re-signings from their championship winning squad. Nikola Markovski, Ben Clarke, Joseph Sieh, Johnny MacRae, Steven Thompson and Jon McShane have all chosen to stay at Paisley Park.
Magic’s first new signing was Joseph Franjic – the 25-year old box-to-box midfielder spent the last two seasons in a talented Hume City squad, where a tough injury run impaired his run of form.
“My main goal for this season is to be fit and injury-free all year round, and I think if I can achieve that, it will play a big role in achieving the club’s goal, which is to win the league and gain promotion to the NPL,” Franjic said.
The last time Franjic experienced triumph at Paisley Park was the fourth round of the 2013 Statewide Knockout Cup (now Dockerty Cup). Wearing Sunshine George Cross colours, Franjic’s side defeated Magic with a 119th minute winner.
Franjic will hope for more success like this, only this time boasting Magic’s famous red and black colours.
Experienced defender Greg Lombardo joined Altona Magic from Northcote City after spending the last three seasons at John Cain Memorial Reserve in top-flight Victorian football. After captaining the club last season, he makes the transition to State League football.
“We are the current state champions, we have big ambitions and expectations, so to be a part of something like that is exciting and the reason why I joined,” he said.
Lombardo is a familiar face to his manager Lozanovski, having played against Lozanovski’s championship-winning Preston Lions side in the 2007 VPL Grand Final. Seven years later, he played under the experienced manager for two seasons at Northcote City.
After playing at the highest level in Victorian football, Lombardo looks to bring all his experience to what’s shaping up to be a talented 2017 Altona Magic squad.
South Melbourne’s full-back Amadu Koroma also joined Altona Magic after making the switch across to the State League after spells with Melbourne Knights, Port Melbourne Sharks and Green Gully.
“I’m looking forward to enjoying my football with a bit more freedom and winning silverware. Playing the full season is my aim,” Koroma said.
Koroma joins Magic with former Port Melbourne Sharks teammate Michael Stark. The pair, whom both established themselves as senior footballers under Eric Vassiliadis, join forces again to strengthen Magic’s defence.
Stark comes across to Magic with the hope of cementing his place as first-choice goalkeeper. Battling with Stjepan Gal at Port Melbourne Sharks over the last two seasons helped Stark mature as a goalkeeper.
“I’m looking forward to a new experience, in a new club under an experienced coach in Goran Lozanovski. Hopefully it will be a successful year in a push for promotion,” Stark said.
“My aim is to get promoted into the NPL and compete at the top level of Victorian football again.”
The fifth signing in Goran Lozanovski’s Magic side comes from Adelphi University in the United States. Johnny Stojcevski is a familiar face to Magic fans, having made his debut for the club in 2011 aged 16 under Zoran Trajceski.
In 2014, he was signed by Hume City under Loui Acevski and is remembered for his 30-yard stunner on debut which was a contender for Goal of the Year.
Goran Lozanovski’s side are shaping up to be the real deal come the new season, with the experienced manager excited about the challenges he’s about to face.