Don’t settle for the average, says Srhoj
FUNDS directed to sustain the Far North’s place in a state wide league would be better spent in local development and improving club football, according to a former national soccer champion.
Mareeba player Wayne Srhoj, who won championships with Sydney Olympic and Perth Glory in the now defunct NSL, said he could no longer sit silent on the demise of the Cairns FC and the inadequacy of the NPL.
“To spend more than $100,000 to send 22- to 35year-olds around Queensland is money wasted; sorry guys the ship has sailed,” Srhoj, who also won a silver medal at the 1999 Under 17 World Cup, said.
“If this was the right path for juniors to take, then the national team and the A-League should have players from FNQ.”
However, he pointed out there are no Far North players in the Socceroos squad or ALeague.
He also quashed suggestions that the NPL could provide a pathway without having youngsters leave the region.
“The fact is, if you want to further your career as a footballer, you will have to leave this area,” he said.
Srhoj speaks from experience. He left the region as a teenager to be part of the QAS and AIS, which led to a 15-year professional career that included a stint in Europe and ended in the A-League.
He is not the only one who left the region as a teenager, with former professionals Michael Thwaite, Zenon Caravella and Shane Stefanutto all doing the same.
“Why should the so-called correct pathway be only eligible to those who can afford it, is that not segregation?” Srhoj stated.
It was the strength of club football, Srhoj said, that the NPL was ultimately undermining. “It’s short sighted,” he said. “If you take 15-20 of the socalled best players out of a competition, what does that leave you with?
“An average competition which will produce average players, right from under 8s to seniors.
“Players need to be challenged and only playing against better players you can improve.
“Put these 15-20 players back into local club competition, not only will the standard increase, the average players are now challenged.
“It’s not rocket science, they need to stop looking two years ahead, look 15 years.”
He also called for juniors to follow seniors in playing home and away, as well as pressing Football Queensland to appoint a director of coaching for the area.
“Do you not think it will benefit our region by having one? Of course it will, wake up, not only coaching kids and identifying them, but showing coaches how to coach.
“Only this will improve our game.”
He insists he got his grounding and development through a strong local football competition, where he played for Mareeba, making his debut as a 14-year-old.
“Age didn’t matter, if you were good enough you were old enough,” he said
“The seven premier clubs need to get off their backside and band together and control FNQ football.
“The pathway is through you seven premier clubs.
“The best opportunity for those who have that desire will come from a strong competition, not an average one.
“But if you’re happy with this competition, then you’re happy with average.”