A-League expansion: More opportunities for Canberrans?

A-League Expansion: More opportunities for Canberra’s players?

With two new A-League teams (Townsville and Gold Coast) and eight new Youth teams expected in the A-League in 2008, the next generation of Canberra’s professional players shouldn’t have to travel so far, so early in life.




Canberra has a rich history of football. The Federation Cup is in its 45th season. In both men and women’s codes we have had many national representatives. Steve Hogg, Walter Valeri, George Kulscar, Sebastian Giampaolo are just a few who have worn the Socceroos Green and Gold.

And with former Tuggeranong United junior Nikolai Topor-Stanley expected to join his junior club mate Carl Valeri in a Socceroos side in the coming years, Canberra’s reputation for producing top class footballers remains in tact.

Local football trailblazers Ned Zelic, Joe Simunic and Carl Valeri are a few Canberrans who have become professionals the hard way. They left their Canberra suburbs as young men and headed overseas to learn the game. Valeri was just 17 when he moved to Italian giants Inter Milan.

But where should the next aspiring professional start?

It’s well known across Australia that Aussie players are late developers. And heading overseas at a young age is a high risk strategy. Living in a foreign country, competing against local and foreign players desperate to make the grade is no easy route to professional football. Canberra’s Shaun Ontong despite captaining Australia at Under 20 level is testamount to that.

And over 80% of Aussies who head overseas remain at the same level of club they start with.

Socceroo Michael Thwaites has recently moved from Poland to Norway. Second or even third class European leagues. Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill are two, of a small group, who have been able to move up the grade, after starting life in England’s lower leagues with English club sides Millwall and Queens Park Rangers.

Currently Canberra has no A-League side therefore we will have no National Youth team. Not yet. We have no New South Wales Premier League side. Not yet.
So where can our young aspiring footballers and internationals go to pursue their careers?

Belconnen United’s Ben Cheney and Paul Connell headed to Scotland recently. Ivan Pavlak and Stephen Lustica trialled in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb, Dom Giampaolo had a taste of things with Fulham last year. These are just a few of a growing list who are heading overseas to test themselves.

Others such as former Belconnen Blue Devils star Robbie Cattanach is with Manly United in the New South Wales State League, just as Nikolai Topor-Stanley was before Sydney FC signed him up. Kaz Patafta signed by Benfica is currently with Melbourne Victory, AIS trained Adam Casey is with Sydney FC. Former Canberra FC Matthew Grbesa is with Melbourne Knights in the Victorian Premier League.

With A-League expansion, and the youth league expected to start this year, the number of professional football contracts on offer in Australia has never been so high. And this should only increase as Melbourne, Canberra or Sydney is expected to provide further A-League sides in coming years.

Central Coast Mariners Coach Lawrie McKinna spoke recently of how a 20 or 21 year old playing Canberra Premier League could still make the A-League.

This years Grand Finalists the Mariners have locals Nigel Boogaard, Bradley Porter, Matt Simon and Matthew Trott in their squad. All played for local State league side Central Coast Lightning in recent years.

And presumably a large number of local Coast boys will fill the ranks of a Youth team.

Capital Football’s links with the Central Coast Mariners will provide opportunities for many local boys. But with so many youth spots up for grabs across the country, Canberrans can perhaps look to other clubs for opportunities as well.

There is no easy path into professional football. There never has been.

But for Canberra’s footballers while we may not have an A-League, Youth or State League team yet, the opportunity to earn a professional football contract in Australia has never been so good.

Canberra’s players may still have to travel but maybe this time it won’t be so far so young.