This Saturday, the Adelaide Comets Collegiate team will take to the pitch at SA Athletics Stadium following the Senior Premier League game, with a special addition to their side; Comets Life Member, John Politis.
John started his football journey with the Club in 2003, playing in the Amateur side until 2005 before continuing playing Senior football in the Federation affiliated team in 2006 and 2007.
From 2008 to 2016, John was Player Coach with the Senior Amateur side before hanging up the boots in 2016 to take on the role of MiniRoos Coordinator for the Club in 2017 and coach the Under 10 side – the team he has lead from Under 6 to Under 10’s.
Saturday’s cameo in the Collegiate game is an opportunity to thank the Club legend for all of his work over the years, as he now moves focus solely to the MiniRoos and Under 10’s.
Having won 6 titles at the Club, the send-off is certainly due.
The accolades include:
FFSA State League Seniors title (2007 as a Player), FFSA State League Reserves title (2007 as a Player), Division 1 A Amateur League title (2003 as a Player), promotion from Division 3 Amateurs (2008 as a Player Coach), Division 2 A Amateur title (2012 as Player Coach), Division 5 Amateur title (2015 as a Player) and a FFSA Collegiate Division 2 title (2016 as Player Coach).
John was awarded the Top Goal Scorer for the club a total of 5 times and in Comets’ first year in the Football Federation SA competition, he was awarded the Golden Boot after bagging 10 goals in 15 games – a shortened season due to a trip to Germany for the 2006 World Cup.
When asked what has kept him at the Club for so long, the answer is immediate.
“It would be the passion that the Club has for success that keeps me there. What brought me to the Club and stay at the Club is that everyone involved is very passionate about being successful and have a great winning mentality,” he said.
“The drive for the future is there. The Club is always looking toward the future, not looking back at the past.
“When you play for the Club, there is something special about it. It makes you work hard for them and the drive they have got going forward.”
John will suit up and start with the Collegiate team on Saturday afternoon, how long he remains on the pitch however is another thing.
“If I last until half time, I will be happy. If it is only 30 minutes, then that is ok too,” said the 45 year old who happened to score 2 goals and claim 1 assist last week in a Cup game which he used as a warm up for Saturday’s testimonial.
“I just want to thank the ‘Prez’, Jim Tsouvalas and Peter Thanos (Collegiate Coach), for allowing me to have a testimonial.”
The ‘Prez’ is one of many people John credits to his time with Comets.
“Good people run the club and that is very important. Especially the Prez, he has been a big factor in the success of the Club with how he runs the show,” said John.
“Thank you to Jim, our sponsors and everyone involved with the Club who has supported me, particularly in the past 9 years as Player Coach.
“John Katsabis (main Amateur committee member and representative of our Club), Roy Selenis, Tony Galanopoulos, George Mavrolambados and Chris Kosti – thank you for sticking by me.”
Get to SA Athletics Stadium this Saturday the 20th of May, to support the Club and John!
Adelaide Comets vs Campbelltown City
Under 18’s Kick-Off 11:00am
Reserves Kick-Off 1:00pm
Seniors Kick-Off 3:00pm
Adelaide Comets vs Grads Blue
Collegiate Kick-Off 5:00pm