State Teams (Men's)
1968-1969
As the decade came to a close, West Australia increasingly turned their attention to the playing fields of Asia. The State team produced one of their finest performances to place third at the 1968 Merdeka Tournament. That was followed 12 months later by arguably the greatest controversy in West Australian football history.
7 July 1968
Western Australia 1 (Jim McIntosh)
Cardiff City 6
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Helmut Rademacher (Chris Wissink), Christian Ducasse, Henry Lukoszek, Gerry Pettit, John O’Connell, Richard Kuzimski (Tony Lawlor), Mike Irseon (c), Peter Holt, Nino Segon, Pawel Sobek, Lou Andrioff (Jim McIntosh)
Cardiff City (squad): Fred Davies, Bob Wilson, David Carver, Bob Ferguson, Graham Coldrick, Richie Morgan, Steve Derrett, Leslie Lea, Leighton Phillips, Ronnie Bird, Malcolm Clarke, Don Murray, Brian Harris, Barrie Jones, Brian Clark, Peter King, John Toshack, Leslie Leo, Norman Dean
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee: D.Ferguson
Venue: Perry Lakes Stadium, Floreat
Attendance: 12,000
1968 Merdeka Tournament
West Australia’s football stocks in Asia rose significantly after the State team took third place at the 1968 Merdeka Tournament. A key factor in the teams’ success was the fitness program developed by coach Zyggie Pieda and trainer Tony Adams, under who the players worked twice a week leading up to the 14-day tournament.
The State team stormed through the group stage with three wins and a draw, scoring 15 goals while conceding 11, from five games. A thrilling semi-final was lost by the odd goal in seven to Malaysia, who would go on to lift the trophy. The State team put that disappointment behind them with a spectacular demolition of Indonesia in third place play-off.
John Van Oosten, scorer of eight goals, was named the teams most Outstanding Player of the Tournament with Peter Holt’s effort on the right wing recognised as our Most Serviceable Player. Local referee Ted Bude, who had the whistle for three games and ran the line in the final, was praised by his Malaysian counterparts.
10 August 1968
South Korea 0
Western Australia 3 (John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Jim McIntosh)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
South Korea:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Henry Lukoszek, Jim McIntosh, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, J.Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee: U.Thaung
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance: 18,000
12 August 1968
Indonesia 4
Western Australia 5 (Henry Lukoszek 2, John Van Oosten 2, Jim McIntosh)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
Indonesia:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Henry Lukoszek, Jim McIntosh, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee: K.Mahendran
Venue: Ipoh Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance: 6,000
14 August 1968
Japan ‘B’ 1
Western Australia 0
Status: Merdeka Tournament
Japan ‘B’:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Henry Lukoszek, Jim McIntosh, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee: R.K.Dutta
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance: 27,000
15 August 1968
Taiwan 2
Western Australia 3 (John Van Oosten 2, Jim McIntosh)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
Taiwan:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Henry Lukoszek, Jim McIntosh, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee: S.Awang
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance: 7,000
18 August 1968
Singapore 4
Western Australia 4 (John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Peter Holt, Tony Lawlor)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
Singapore:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Henry Lukoszek, Jim McIntosh, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Ipoh Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance: 7,000
22 August 1968
Malaysia 4
Western Australia 3 (John Van Oosten 2, Jim McIntosh)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
Malaysia:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Henry Lukoszek, Jim McIntosh, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance: 35,000
24 August 1968
Indonesia 1
Western Australia 3 (Richard Kuzimski, Nino Segon, Mike Ireson)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
Indonesia:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Henry Lukoszek, Jim McIntosh, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance:
26 August 1968
George Town 5
Western Australia 3
Status: Friendly
George Town:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Malaysia
Attendance:
27 August 1968
Alor Setar 3
Western Australia 3
Status: Friendly
Alor Setar:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Malaysia
Attendance:
29 August 1968
Tregganu 6
Western Australia 5
Status: Friendly
Tregganu:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Malaysia
Attendance:
31 August 1968
Khota Baru 10
Western Australia 6
Status: Friendly
George Town:
Western Australia (squad): Chris Wissink, Pipo Crifo, Vlada Knezevich, Alan Lind, Tony Lawlor, John O’Connell, Peter Holt, Mike Ireson, John Van Oosten, Nino Segon, Gerry Pettit, Richard Kuzimski, John Kosmonopoulos, Lou Andrioff, Zyggie Pieda
Coaches: Zyggie Pieda (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Malaysia
Attendance:
20 October 1968
Western Australia 1 (Jim McIntosh)
South Australia 3
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Milan Milanovich, Alan Lind, Bruno Marocchi, Henry Marchant, Tony Lawlor, Vlada Knezevich, Peter Holt, Jim McIntosh, John O’Connell, Geoff Williams, Gerry Pettit
South Australia:
Coaches: A.Monks (Western Australia)
Referee: Barry Harwood
Venue: Lake Monger Velodrome, Mount Hawthorn
Attendance: 1,700
23 March 1969
South Australia 4 (Tony Batchelor 22, 29, 63, Billy Birch 82)
Western Australia 2 (Michael Hallam 53, 73)
Status: Friendly
South Australia: Roger Romanowicz, Bugsy Nyskohus, Kouzapa, Cattenach, John Perin, Billy Birch, Terry Wetton, Tony Batchelor, Henry Kolecki (Rosetto), Marusic (McKenzie), Colin Murray
Western Australia: Chris Wissink, Alan Lind, Bruno Marocchi, Geoff Calhoun (Alex Senjuschenko), Gus Formato, John O’Connell (c), Gerry Pettit, John Sparks (John Stark), Bobby Hynd, Michael Hallam, Peter Holt
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Attendance:
13 August 1969
Western Australia 1 (John Stark)
Greece 2 (Athanasius Intzoglou, Kostas Aidiniou)
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Peter Mitchell, John Miller, John Sparks, McInley, Alex Senjuschenko, Dick Hobson, Peter Holt, Gil Nobbs, Michael Hallam, John Stark, Robert Lee — John O’Connell, Bruno Marocchi,Theo Paap, George Holzman, M.Katris, B.Perich
Greece (squad): Kostas Saraliotis, Babas Intzoglou, Ntounias, Kostas Kambas, Athanasius Intzoglou, Giorgos Karafeskos, Stavros Sarafis, Neotakos Hatzionnoglou, Mihalis Kritikopoulos, Dimitris Papaioannou, Kostas Aidiniou — Nikos Hristidis, Apostolos Toskas, Efstathios Haitas, Kostas Davourlis
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia), Dan Georgiadis (Greece)
Referee: Barry Harwood
Venue: Lake Monger Velodrome, Mount Hawthorn
Attendance: 8,000
1969 Merdeka Tournament
A series of flat performances highlighted West Australia’s third successive ‘Pestabola Merdeka’ campaign in which the State team placed eight out of eight. The tournament had originally been scheduled for August, however, political unrest in Malaysia forced is delay until late October.
Coach Jim McDowall would have high hopes after defeating India in game one, however, losses to Singapore and Burma tumbled the State team to the bottom of Group 2. A minor place semi-final loss to South Korea set-up a re-match with India, who took out the play-off for seventh and eighth.
31 October 1969
India 0
Western Australia 1 (Theo Paap)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
India:
Western Australia (squad): Peter Mitchell, Terry Eikhoudt, John O’Connell (c), Pawel Sobek, Theo Paap, Peter Holt, Bobby Varlow, Dick Hobson, John Stark, Robert Lee, Alex Senjuschenko, Bruno Marocchi, Segio Alfieri, Sesto Riberi, John Miller, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance:
3 November 1969
Singapore 4
Western Australia 2 (Peter Holt, John O’Connell)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
Singapore:
Western Australia (squad): Peter Mitchell, Terry Eikhoudt, John O’Connell (c), Pawel Sobek, Theo Paap, Peter Holt, Bobby Varlow, Dick Hobson, John Stark, Robert Lee, Alex Senjuschenko, Bruno Marocchi, Segio Alfieri, Sesto Riberi, John Miller, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance:
5 November 1969
Burma 5 (Han Thein 14, Ye Nyunt 18, Win Nyunt 31, Aye Maung 69, own goal 83)
Western Australia 2 (John O’Connell 53, Dave Brady)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
Burma: Tin Win, Maung Myint, Maung Tin, Tin Sein, Kyaw Kyaw Win, Ayne Maung, Myo Win Nynut, Pan Sit, Ye Nyunt, Han Thein, Tin Aung Moe
Western Australia (squad): Peter Mitchell, John Miller, Sergio Alfieri, Sesto Riberi, Alex Senjuschenko, Dick Hobson, Peter Holt, Pawel Sobek, John Stark, John O’Connell (c), Theo Paap, Bobby Varlow — Terry Eikhoudt, Robert Lee, Bruno Marocchi, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee: K.Mahendran
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance:
7 November 1969
South Korea 3
Western Australia 2 (Dave Brady, Sergio Alfieri)
Status: Merdeka Tournament
South Korea:
Western Australia (squad): Peter Mitchell, Terry Eikhoudt, John O’Connell (c), Pawel Sobek, Theo Paap, Peter Holt, Bobby Varlow, Dick Hobson, John Stark, Robert Lee, Alex Senjuschenko, Bruno Marocchi, Sergio Alfieri, Sesto Riberi, John Miller, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance:
8 November 1969
India 2
Western Australia 1
Status: Merdeka Tournament
India:
Western Australia (squad): Peter Mitchell, Terry Eikhoudt, John O’Connell (c), Pawel Sobek, Theo Paap, Peter Holt, Bobby Varlow, Dick Hobson, John Stark, Robert Lee, Alex Senjuschenko, Bruno Marocchi, Segio Alfieri, Sesto Riberi, John Miller, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Merdeka Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance:
11 November 1969
Penang 4
Western Australia 5 (Pawel Sobek, Bobby Varlow, Dave Brady, John O’Connell 2)
Status: Friendly
Penang:
Western Australia (squad): Peter Mitchell, Terry Eikhoudt, John O’Connell (c), Pawel Sobek, Theo Paap, Peter Holt, Bobby Varlow, Dick Hobson, John Stark, Robert Lee, Alex Senjuschenko, Bruno Marocchi, Sergio Alfieri, Sesto Riberi, John Miller, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: City Stadium, Malaysia
Attendance:
1969 Kings Cup
The sensational decision to send team captain John O’Connell home from the Kings Cup overshadowed West Australia’s visit to Thailand. O’Connell, who had clashed with coach Jim McDowall and manager Julius Re only weeks earlier while at the Merdeka Tournament, was ordered to return to Perth early for disciplinary reasons.
On the field of play, the State team failed to ignite, their only success being a 3-1 win over Singapore sandwiched in between losses to South Vietnam and Indonesia. Having finished bottom of Group B, West Australia headed back home and would have to wait until 1983 for a second Kings Cup appearance.
19 November 1969
South Vietnam 3
Western Australia 1 (Sergio Alfieri)
Status: Kings Cup
South Vietnam:
Western Australia (squad): Terry Eikhoudt, Pawel Sobek (c), Peter Holt, Bobby Varlow, Dick Hobson, John Stark, Alex Senjuschenko, Bruno Marocchi, Sergio Alfieri, Robert Lee, Sesto Riberi, John Miller, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay, John O’Connell, Peter Mitchell
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Bangkok National Stadium, Thailand
Attendance: 10,000
21 November 1969
Singapore 1
Western Australia 3 (Robert Lee, Pawel Sobek, Sergio Alfieri)
Status: Kings Cup
Singapore:
Western Australia (squad): Terry Eikhoudt, Pawel Sobek (c), Peter Holt, Bobby Varlow, Dick Hobson, John Stark, Alex Senjuschenko, Bruno Marocchi, Sergio Alfieri, Robert Lee, Sesto Riberi, John Miller, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay, Peter Mitchell
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Bangkok National Stadium, Thailand
Attendance:
23 November 1969
Indonesia 3
Western Australia 1 (Sergio Alfieri)
Status: Kings Cup
Indonesia:
Western Australia (squad): Terry Eikhoudt, Pawel Sobek (c), Peter Holt, Bobby Varlow, Dick Hobson, John Stark, Alex Senjuschenko, Bruno Marocchi, Sergio Alfieri, Robert Lee, Sesto Riberi, John Miller, Dave Brady, Mike McKinlay, Peter Mitchell
Coaches: Jim McDowall (Western Australia)
Referee:
Venue: Bangkok National Stadium, Thailand
Attendance: 10,000
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