Import finds feet in Nerang colours
NERANG midfielder Eric Leonard is using his Australian odyssey to kick-start his quest for a professional contract.
Overlooked by US Major League Soccer teams following a successful college stint in Indiana, the 22-year-old from Chicago arrived in Australia two months ago on the advice of good friend and former Nerang player Drew Jetsky.
He has since become an integral figure in the Eagles’ run to sixth on the Gold Coast Premier League ladder, with Sam Saif’s side just one win adrift of the top four ahead of tonight’s trip to Palm Beach.
While Leonard is desperate to steer the Eagles into the competition’s upper echelons, he admits he has one eye on his professional dream.
“When the season is done, I’m going to trial for the NPL and other teams in Australia. That’s the main goal,” Leonard said.
“If things don’t work out here, I’d love to go back and play in the USL (United Soccer League) or even the MLS. If that doesn’t work out I’ll see my other options.
“I think one of the things
coming over here, it was important for me to get better technically. The competition might not be as high as the ALeague or a professional league back in the US, but I think technically I’ve gotten a lot better.
“I have learned a lot. Sam Saif is a fantastic coach. As a centre mid, it’s important to also learn about your spatial awareness and just playing on the grass fields in Australia has been fantastic and definitely helped improve my technical ability, so I can’t complain with that.”
Leonard said he had been “impressed” with the standard of the league, adamant the Eagles could mount a successful charge to the top four.
“Overall the competition has been pretty good. As a team we’ve had to work through a lot of challenges together to play against some of the top teams like your Burleigh Heads, your Broadbeach and Gold Coast Knights.
“I think we got unlucky in a few games but as a collective group there’s a lot of talent. With the young guys getting mentoring from the older guys I think we can have a good run.
“One of our goals is to get top four and I think we can achieve that and maybe even more, so I’m really excited.”
Kick-off in tonight’s Round 10 clash is at 8.30pm at Duncan McKenna Field.