The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 72

'l V-f -rt: SOCCER DOC'S CORNER The Greeks, as always, have a word for it. In the case of Peter Katholos, it is kala. Katholos, the 20-year-old Sydney Olympians midfielder and- new pin-up boy of Australian Soccer, has every reason to feel kala, or 7., Tomorrow 'morning he will fly to' New Zealand with -Rudi Gutendorf 17-man Socceroo squad for the important World Cup qualifying ihjtch against She Kiwis in Auckland next Saturday. "If you told me two weeks ago I'd be going to New Zealand I wouldn't have believed rthe k-born ypungster with the Aussie i-jaccent said yesterday. Vi "I hope it's 'not that quick a trip out; of the squad.

I'll make sure it isn't." They say that behind every great rjian there is a great woman. If Kath-olos, as his admirers predict, one day achieves, greatness as a Soccer, player, the woman' responsible will be his mum, Tina. "She always looks after my food to see I'm eating the right things, and tells me not to eet tired before a match, and makes sure. I do the right, thing," Katholos said. "And she will have a yell if I do anything wrong." Takes notes Tina and Mike Katholos always to watch their son play, and so does his 18-year-old brother and "bodyguard," Jim.

Jim invariably lets Peter know if he's not playing up to scratch. What's more, Peter always, but always, listens to Jim's advice. Jim, you see, is rather adept at karate a black belt, in fact. "I get Jim to take I wont to give the. youngsters in rriy teamr how do you Australians say it? a "big wrap" for their great effort last week." It was a pity that Sydney Olympians had to turn on their best at the expense of struggling Marconi.

But the 2-0 win against a top side ws no fluke and I'll say it again; Olympians are playing the most attractive Soccer in the PSL. k-1 Marconi were beaten by a better side on the day and it was a tribute to the hard work oZ.a team whose average age is only 201 Marconi are a good side and I think quite a few of their national squad players have half a mind on the international match with New Zealand. This is natural. Tony Henderson, the Marconi central defender, impressed me, very much indeed, At times, Olympians over-ran Marconi and it was Henderson in particular, along with the goalkeeper Allen Maher, who kept them together. We created about eight chances before we finally scored and I thought it was typical Olympians: Doing all the attacking but unable to score.

But then Peter Katholos scored a great goal from a free kick just outside the box, and then Roy Cotton, our new signing from St sealed it with a fantastic shot. We don't have the. stars, but there's plenty of talent and teamwork. Peter Wilson is one to watch for. The young goalkeeper is only 19 and his talent was spotted early when he was selected as a youth international.

THE TEAM VETERAN AT 24 Katholos, 20, has an excellent partner in ePter Rasko-poulos, 18, whom we got from Marconi in a swap for Hussein Husseini. At outside left we have Graham Jennings. Very quick and direct, he crosses a good ball. At 20, we are still going to hear a lot more of him. Mark Koussas is our centre-forward.

He is quick, strong and has average skills. He still has a lot to learn, but then he has the time he's only 17i. Cotton is something of a grand-daddy at 24, providing the perfect foil for Koussas. The Greek connection picks up at centre-half where Jimmy Ziras, 24, is making a name for himself with his strength and skills. Then there's Danny Moulis, 19, bur right fullback.

Not a great defender, he's tremendous coming forward and is improving all the time. To make Sunday's win even more satisfying, nine of the team are Australian-born. The match had a lot of atmosphere. Tmnpine my surprise when I came out to take my place on the bench and found Sir Arthur George sitting there. The president of the Australian Soccer Federation thoroughly enjoyed himself and could not hide his enthusiasm when the Greek players turned it on.

I invariably shout instructions and at one stage the linesman came over and asked me not to coach from the bench. I took great delight in telling him it was Sir Arthur, not me. Tommy Docherty writes a column in The Sydney Morning Herald every Friday. Greek-bom Peter Katholos has everything going for him in Soccer thanks to his mother. By BRIAN CURRAN faces no dilemma about where his heart lies now.

"Australia is the best country for sure," he declared. 'There's no way I'd go back to live in Greece, apart from playing football for a while." "If I went overseas I could do without my family Fm that sort of person," he said. "I will be going eventually. I'd like to stay here. if.

selected for the World Cup team and if Australia qualifies for the finals in Spain next year. But after that I will play overseas, either in Greece or England." Katholos was nine when his parents, seeking a better life, migrated to Australia. Although he kicked a -ball around the streets of Athens, it's true to say that he learned his football in his new land. And, after a three-week holiday in Athens last December, Katholos notes on my play during a match he really knows his Soccer," Katholos said. "And who's going to argue with him?" If Katholos sounds like he enjoys his family, he does.

But he has reached the stage where he khows that, to become truly great player, he must set his sights on joining a club overseas, even if it means interrupting his career, as a trainee technical officer with the Overseas Tele-communications Maybe it is coincidence, but si'nce that December trip back to the city of his birth, theods have been kind to Katholos. He joined Sydney 01-lympians from St George this season to find trim-self playing under Tommy Docherty, one of Britain's outstanding post-war coaches. It is almost as though they were destined to meet. Katholos is Docherty's kind of player supremely skilful under pressure, fast and alert, with good "vision" and an unbridled willingness to learn from those with greater. wisdom and greater experience.

Indeed, Docherty paid his young charge the ultimate compliment one that will surely see him join a British club eventu-tally when he described Katholos recently as the best young player he had worked with. 1 Two years with Canterbury Marrickville in the State League (he was playing first-grade at 16) and two more with St George in the Philips League, gave Katholos a solid grounding in what competitive football is all about. But it took Docherty's astute football brain to carve from the rock of Katholos's ability a gem-stone which, with more polishing, would be worth thousands of dollars o'n the European transfer market. KOSMINA OUT TO MAKE HIS MARK the Sydney City game to report on Kosmina. "Kosmina has made big progress and has the chance to win the centre forward position against New Zealand," Gutendorf said.

Kosmina arrived at Sydney City this year after playing in Adelaide and spending some time in England with Arsenal. "I have been very pleased with the way things have gone in recent weeks," a confident Kosmina said. SYDNEY striker John Kosmina is determined to make a big im-presson against Brisbane Lions at Sydney Athletic Field in today's Philips League clash. National coach Rudi Gutendorf will be at Marconi to check on Heidelberg left-back Jim Tansey and six other members of his 17-man national squad in preparation for next Saturday's World Cup in Auckland. But Gutendorf will have former Australian coach Joe Vlasits at Meanwhile, Marconi coach Raul Blanco has hit back at Gutendorfs claim that he indulged in slow build-ups.

"We build up slowly when we have to, and fast when needed. "I can't see any style in what Gutendorf is trying to do," he retorted. Even with Jim Muir, and possibly Peter Sharne out with injuries and Hussein Housseini suspended, Marconi has the potential to handle Heidelberg. II0MELITE CHAIN SAW NOW IN SYDNEY AT EDROYS 45 STATION ST. TOONGABBIE.

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