Mike Katz: Former Blue Devils boy in NSWPL

A former Canberra player Michael Katz gets a write up in this weeks NSWPremier League Newsletter.

Here's the word on Michael Katz:

Michael Katz may not be a household name but don’t let that name fool you into thinking he is a shrinking violet, as the header above suggests.



He is, however, hoping for a tremendous campaign with the Sutherland Sharks in the Telechoice Premier League 2008 season.

He admits: “I’ve had an injury free pre-season and found some form in the Johnny Warren Cup. That’s good news for me as I have never really enjoyed a good season when I’ve had niggling injuries prior to the league kick-off.”

Good news for Coach Brian ‘Bomber’ Brown too!.

Katz knew Brown from his days at Belconnen Blue Devils where he spent four seasons before moving on to the now defunct National Soccer League side Gippsland Falcons and spending another three topsy-turvy years but he recalls;

“The staff and fans in Victoria were good to me and it was a great learning experience.”

Newly married and the old NSL heading for extinction, Katz realised his boyhood hankering for travel and found himself in Germany where he enjoyed a year and a half at semi-professional outfit S.G. Blaubach.

“It was a way of seeing Europe and still playing football so I can’t complain about that can I?

“It’s a dream for many youngsters to travel and still play the game and I have been very fortunate in being able to do just that.”

Coming home to Australia and the wanderlust still evident saw Katz leave Victoria for Sydney and a phone call to old boss Brown finally gave the 27-year old the opportunity of signing for the Sutherland Sharks where he readily admits his old mentor showed no favoritism;

“Bomber really hammered us in pre-season and it is clearly showing signs of being the right preparation for us so far.”

The Arsenal supporting Katz will not be drawn on the remainder of the season nor what it holds for the Sharks when he added: “What will be will be for the team this season, no-one can predict the final outcome. I can only hope that I remain fit and injury free so I can play my part in helping the lads out and we’ll see what happens at finals time.”

Modest he may be but it belies the determination and dedication the hard tackling right back has shown throughout his career to date and many youngsters out there could do a lot worse than use this guy as a role model.