Bankstown City Lions crowned 2012 Maso Cup Champions

The tournament was scheduled for last weekend but the treacherous rainy conditions in Wollongong put a stop to the fourth Maso Cup ? the tournament was given the all clear however over the weekend as the Cup proceeded.
Due to the one week delay of the tournament, ten teams competed in the Cup with all Newcastle and Melbourne based sides pulling out.
Illawarra Premier League clubs Wollongong United, Cringila Lions, Coniston Lions and Shell Cove along with NSW Premier League club Rockdale City Suns, NSW Super League side Bankstown City Lions, NSW Association sides Yagoona Lions and Arncliffe Scots as well as Canberra?s Queanbeyan City Lions all took part in the tournament.
In what was a good pre-season hit-out for all clubs involved it was a new slick look Bankstown City Lions side coached by player manager George Nohra that took all the honours in the Final.
Played over three days at both JJ Kelly Park and the final at John Crehan Park in front of a healthy crowd, Nohra?s men reigned supreme.
The Suns took the early lead via new recruit Takuya Murayama but it was to be the Sama show as both Gosue and Nick scored a minute after each other in the second half to gift the club its first Maso Cup in the team?s history.
The club has been busy making a number of off-season signings with former Sydney Olympic skipper Richard Luksic, crafty midfielder Anthony Doumanis and star striker Robbie Mileski returning to their former club.
Both Sama brothers, ex-Rockdale City Suns player Domenic Hudap, former St George FC players Peter Vassilis and Ruben Lagos as well as Matthew Pressello and Chris Godoy Bascur are just some of the names Jensen Park will be seeing in 2012.
Previous Maso Cup Winners
2008 – Altona Magic
2009 – Arncliffe Scots
2010 – Tournament did not occur
2011 – Rockdale City Suns
2012 – Bankstown City Lions
-By Mark Stavroulakis