Short seasons a problem, says Italian veteran
FOOTBALL: Italian star Massimo Maccarone has noticed one glaring fault which he says Australian soccer must rectify if the game wants kids to be among the world’s best.
While the Brisbane Roar striker will face Adelaide United for the first time in his career at Suncorp Stadium tonight, he cannot get over the very short seasons – six to seven months in Australia compared to 10 months in Italy from kids to seniors.
“I got to know an Australian man that has a nine-year-old boy, he finished his season in mid September and he told me, ‘now we start other sports until March’,” Maccarone said. “That’s a problem. “Because now the child will go to the pool to swim, play cricket and that’s a difference.
“I don’t know if this is good or bad but it can be a major distraction.
“In Italy children will have just six weeks off from soccer a year and that’s a huge difference to the six months played over here.
“Australians do have a good possibility to evolve and perhaps that can also help children in Australia with better coaches as well.”
But it was the regular connections with Australians who became teammates in his illustrious career that drew him to the A-League.
The 38-year-old former Italian international has had a who’s who of Socceroos legends playing alongside him at clubs such as Parma, Middlesbrough and Empoli.
“I came to Australia because throughout my career I got to play and to know many Australians,” Maccarone said.
“Mark Bresciano, Vincenzo Grella, Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer, Tony Vidmar, Luke Wilkshire and Josh Brillante (Sydney FC) at Empoli with me two years ago.
“I saw Grella a lot and we talked two years ago and he said come and play in Australia because soccer is in evolution, it’s growing.”
Maccarone revealed he signed a Roar contract without visiting the country first.
He said Grella’s word about how good the lifestyle and the new football adventure would be for him and his young family, was all he needed.