SOCCER

By TOM HAYES

 

FORTUNA 60 Soccer Club has officially made the move to the Men’s State League (MSL).

The Lions will leave the Latrobe Valley Soccer League, after their application to join the MSL was officially accepted on Friday, December 6.

At this stage, Fortuna is waiting on Football Victoria to provide them with the adjusted structure of the MSL, as well as fixtures for the 2025 season.

Fortuna will be joining the MSL 5 South league, which includes the likes of Rosebud SC (2024 Champions), Bunyip District SC, and Pakenham United.

Of Fortuna’s sides, only the men’s senior and reserves teams will be making the move, with the club’s Division 2 and women’s sides remaining in the local LVSL.

Fortuna President, Giuseppe Deluca plans that the club’s MSL sides can progress to around Division 3 in the next three to five years, providing a better pathway for Gippslanders wanting to play in the metropolitan leagues.

“We commend the work of Gippsland United in providing a top tier pathway for the region’s talented players, but the question we ask is what of those players that many be coming out of the GUFC Junior NPL system that may not receive a State League 1 offer – but still want to play at a stronger level than what is currently available in Gippsland,” Fortuna’s MSL application read.

Currently, Gippsland United compete in the Men’s State League 1 South-East.

Deluca hopes that Fortuna can help bridge the gap between LVSL clubs and Gippsland United and beyond.

“It wasn’t just for Fortuna, I think (it benefits) the area, and kids. We say we want to give them a pathway,” Deluca told the Express.

“In three to five years if we are in State 4, State 3, we’d be that next option, another stepping stone (for players that don’t make it at Gippsland United).

“Some kids want to play in Melbourne. Why not give them that opportunity to get there?”

Despite leaving the LVSL behind, Deluca still believes the league will thrive without them.

“The league (LVSL) is still strong,” he said.

“Pegasus left many, many years ago, everyone said the same thing. Warragul left, everyone said we’re going to struggle.

“We continue doing what we do, that’s what we did as clubs when they all left.”

By removing Fortuna (and points from games against Fortuna) from the last three LVSL seasons, Falcons 2000 would have won the 2024 season by five points, the 2023 season by four points, and the 2022 season by six points.

Deluca admitted that if the project to create the pathway ultimately fails, they would essentially be forced to apply to re-join the LVSL.

With the Fortuna seniors and reserves on the younger side, it also presented a great argument for the club to have two ambitious sides for the foreseeable future.

“That was another big step for us. We put it out there to our playing group… to get their expression of interest first,” Deluca said.

“The response we got from our current playing group was really, really positive.”

Fortuna 60 returns to training from Tuesday, January 7.

The club welcomes anyone interested in playing in the MSL to train with the club.