On Tuesday night Stars and Suns align for a cosmic battle in honour of one of Shepparton’s greatest soccer stalwarts.
Shepparton All Stars and Goulburn Valley Suns will take to McEwen Reserve for the fourth instalment of the Mimmo Lia Cup, eponymously named after the Tatura Soccer Club legend.
Suns general manager Jacqui Stojanovski praised the occasion, labelling it a uniting act for the world game in Shepparton.
“The Mimmo Lia Cup, locked in the calendar for this Tuesday night, is a fantastic event where the Suns and our local community clubs come together to foster collaboration and unite football enthusiasts in the region,” she said.
“This event not only showcases the competitive spirit of the teams, but also highlights the importance of community involvement in our sport.
“By bringing together local clubs and fans, the match helps us to promote a strong connection between all of our clubs and the people of our area, in a true celebration of the game.”
There’s been a theme constant with the three previous editions — the Suns haven’t lost.
And in 2024, the best of the rest from the Goulburn Valley-based Bendigo Amateur Soccer League have a point to prove.
Shepparton All Stars squad
Joel Aitken, Hassan Alhilfi, Ryan Brooks, Rohan Byrne, Lewis Coyle, Jamie De Smit, Liam Nash, Nathan Radevski (Shepparton South), Willie Sauilima, Joseph Sepe (Shepparton United), Daniel Coombs, Gerald Corbo, Thomas Corso, Fraser Gosstray, Thomas Leech, Tristan Zito (Tatura)
In this year’s All Stars squad, 13 of the 16 selected players have previously worn Suns orange at one point in their career, with Nathan Radevski, Joel Aitken (Shepparton South) and Daniel Coombs (Tatura) the only outliers.
The former Orangemen will seek to hoist the Mimmo Lia Cup for the first time, while the Suns are out to make it four on the spin.
Tuesday’s exhibition also doubles as another pre-season hit out for the Suns, with less than a month until the Victorian Premier League Two season opener against Essendon Royals on March 9.
Shepparton All Stars versus Goulburn Valley Suns will kick off at 7.45pm on February 20 at McEwen Reserve.