Cacace back and ready to cheer on the Phoenix
Liberato Cacace will feel like he’s 13 again when he attends his first Wellington Phoenix game as a supporter since making his professional football debut.
The former star is back in Wellington after wrapping up a busy season with Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden and confirmed he will be in attendance for the Phoenix’s first home game in 433 days against Western United on Saturday, excited to cheer on his boyhood team.
‘‘It will bring me back to when I was 12 or 13, when I was watching the boys up in the lounge [at the stadium],’’ he said. ‘‘I always came here the last few years as a player not really as a supporter so it will be a different feeling.’’
The 20-year-old defender started at left-back the last time the Phoenix played at Sky Stadium on March 15, 2020, but he has achieved plenty in his promising young career since then after securing a six-figure transfer deal.
Cacace featured in 28 games in his first season in Europe and helped Sint-Truiden stave off relegation following a difficult start to the campaign.
‘‘It was a very up and down season but I look at it as a very positive season for me,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s a lot to improve on for next season and it’s been a long, tough year but I’ve enjoyed most of it and I’m glad to get back next season to see what happens.
‘‘It’s going to be an interesting few months and we’ve also got the Olympics. If we have a really good campaign, not just me but a lot of the boys could really kick on there.’’
Cacace had originally planned on spending his off-season break in Italy, but he decided to come home to New Zealand and be with his family following the recent death of his grandmother.
He said it was just a pure coincide that his brief return coincided with the one-off Wellington game.
‘‘I lost a close family member so it brought me back here pretty quickly, but it’s good to be back and support the family. It’s kind of perfect timing to be here with the family and with the game on as well.
‘‘I’d like to see the boys in action and get to see them, get a coffee with them. It wasn’t planned or anything but I’m just glad to be back.
‘‘Seeing where I was brought up and watching club footy, it’s been a surreal experience to be back and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.’’