Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
There is no excuse anymore to deny freshly crowned Australia Cup champions South Melbourne the ticket to the A-League the former NSL powerhouse has long craved and been denied.
That’s the belief of coach Sinisa Cohadzić and his players after South stunned Melbourne Victory on penalties in a blockbuster final to become the first NPL team to win the trophy.
With a plethora of emotional fans at their back, South took to extra-time, then came back from 1-0 down to go to spot-kicks before prevailing 4-3 on penalties in front of a pumping sellout crowd of 29,911 fans at AAMI Park.
The victory delivers South’s 10th national trophy and delivers a spot in the Asian Champions League 2 competition.
But having been locked out of the top flight since the NSL folded in 2004, South have long craved – and twice missed out – on an A-League licence.
Hellas want to be in the A-Leagues as soon as the 2027-28 season, eyeing the licence left vacant by Western United’s demise.
“What else can I say after this result?” Cohadzić, who is expected to depart South for fellow NPL club Avondale, said.
“I think the football, not just the result in itself, but look at the atmosphere, look at the support of this club behind it.
“We’ve really got to be turning a blind eye if we don’t give an opportunity to clubs that have got a set-up like South Melbourne does.
“I really cannot find any excuse not to see this club play A-League. Support, infrastructure, resources; the people are passionate.
“There are people that have history at this club, and that history makes the passion what you’re seeing tonight.”
The message from co-president Bill Papastergiadis was simple.
“Build it and they will come,” he told Network Ten.
Max Mikkola, who scored the 117th minute goal that sent the game to penalties, believes the club is ready.
“We did our statement out there. I think we don’t have to say much anymore,” Mikkola said.
“The co-presidents Andrew (Mesourouni) and Bill have done a mountain of work, and I think that we have the facilities, we have the fans, as you can see.
“We have the talent, we have the squad. I don’t know what more we can do to put our name forward for the A-League.”
Midfielder Thomas Giannakopoulos added: “There’s nothing that has to be done to get the club there. It’s all there.
“It’s just can we make it work with the A-League and Football Australia?
“So there’s no reason why (not) – you’ve got the fan base, you’ve got the culture, and it’s going to take Australian football to the next level.”
Fans of the proud Greek-Australian club packed out close to half of the capacity crowd at AAMI Park.
“As a Greek boy myself, it was insane,” Giannakopoulos added.
“it felt more like … Greece versus Melbourne Victory instead of South Melbourne.”
It is not lost on the players what the achievement means to Hellas people.
“This is for the people that we wear black armbands for every second week, the old ones,” Mikkola said.
“Jimmy (Lambropoulos, a volunteer) has been here for 60 odd years.
“This is for people who dedicate their lives to South.
“I don’t think they could have imagined this, let alone me or us boys imagining it.”
But these players aren’t done yet.
“This game has greater repercussions, meaning that we’re going to be in Asia next year, and that’s just exciting,” midfielder Seb Pasquali said.
“We can’t really wait for that. We’ve got a big year ahead again. Aus Championship starts next week.
“The show goes on.”
