Former soccer pro puts players through paces
IN ALMOST two decades as a professional footballer in Europe, retired Socceroo Luke Wilkshire played under an array of experienced coaches at clubs like Middlesbrough, FC Twente, Dynamo Moscow and Feyenoord.
And the 37-year-old was quick to commend the coaching ability of Cairns’ Zenon Caravella during his trip to the Far North.
Wilkshire is hosting a threeday focus workshop with the Caravella Football Academy, which started yesterday and runs until tomorrow.
“You can see how the kids react and work with him and really appreciate him,” Wilkshire said. “It is great to come up and see what Zenon is doing. It is a great thing and the interaction with the kids is fantastic.”
Wilkshire, who is now the Wollongong Wolves coach in the NPL after retiring from playing, is enjoying the clinics in Cairns.
“There are worse ways to spend a day than being up here in Cairns enjoying football with these kids,” Wilkshire said.
“We have varied age groups with different abilities. It is about getting out here, enjoying your football and learning a few things. It is a beautiful game we have and these kids are showing lots of competitiveness, even at such a young age.”
A veteran of 80 caps for Australia, the right back said he was hoping the Socceroos bounced back overnight against Palestine at the Asian Cup after their first-up defeat.