Tara Murray
Keilor Wolves undefeated record in Football Victoria’s state league 5 west competition now counts for nothing.
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, FV announced all its metro seasons had been cancelled with there to be no promotion or relegation, while no premiers would be awarded.
For the Wolves it’s a bitter pill to swallow, having clearly been the best team in their division.
They had 12 wins and two draws from their 14 games, sitting nine points clear of second.
If they maintained that position and the season was completed, they would have earned promotion, which was their pre-season aim
Wolves coach Sofiane Soufi said his side feels like their efforts this year are now for nothing.
He said he was hoping there would be a league restructure before next season, which would result in them going up a division.
“We are devastated,” he said.
“The league hasn’t learnt anything from last season. They didn’t have plans for this year.
“We would have thought 11 games [half a season] the season would have been valid and promotion and relegation would have been in play.
“The coaches, president, committee and players have put so much in to get this season going and we played for nothing.”
Soufi said he was proud of the group that they had put together the results that had come despite the adversity of the season.
Four players suffered ACL injuries ruling them out for 12 months, with the stop-start nature of the season possibly playing a role in that.
Soufi said they would use the disappointment of how this season ended as motivation for next year.
“In our eyes we deserve to be recognised,” he said.
“We have built something strong at the club. A good culture and we can only go up.
“We will do it again next year. We will go again and be even better.”
