Melbourne’s newest A-League club is set to create massive opportunities for young soccer players, according to some of the state’s brightest talent.
The team, currently known as Melbourne Heart, was boosted by its recent appointment of former Melbourne Knights midfielder John Didulica as Football Chief, announced last week.
The Victorian club is set to enter the national league infrastructure in the 2010/11 season after confirmation from Football Australia’s CEO Ben Buckley at the A-League’s 2009 launch.
Its inclusion is part of Football Australia’s grand plan to expand the league to more greatly encompass Australian soccer – already evident in this season’s two newest additions: Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury.
Melbourne Heart will only be Victoria’s second team in the A-League and, whilst still deep in its developing stages, has the ability to dynamically transform the state’s youth soccer landscape.
Andre Leao Rodrigues is one young player who has spoken about the opportunities that will be created by the presence of a second national soccer team in Victoria.
“Their (Melbourne Heart’s) inclusion will basically double the amount of chances Victorians will have to play at the highest national level,” Andre said.
“I have personally played with and against many players who probably deserve to play at this level, but because of lack of available spots, they are left to play in the state league.”
“Melbourne Heart means a new senior and junior team. Suddenly these players have a far greater chance to get into the system.”
Born in Campinas, Brazil, Andre ascended through both the town’s junior soccer ranks and the prestigious Sao Paolo youth system.
Arriving in Australia in his adolescence, The 20 year-old now studies a Science major at Monash University whilst continuing his flourishing soccer career.
He said that he hopes to try his hand at turning professional after his studies and, although new opportunities are now present, the system is still not perfect.
“In Brazil there is no shortage of national league teams and while many Brazilians play overseas, the country’s own league has maintained both a good standard of play but also promises a great standard of living for the players,” Andre said.
“In Australia there are a lot of teams in each state’s league but only a few in the A-league. While the A-League players are able to carve out a good living from their sport, the state players so often do not have this privilege.”
“That’s why I think so many young Australians throw the dice and try and make a career overseas.”
The great amount of Australians playing professional soccer overseas may be an indication of the lack of genuine opportunities and financial incentives in their homeland.
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Currently there are 130 Australians playing overseas – in great contrast to the situation 20 years ago, where there were only 23 Australians plying their trade abroad.
But the acquisition of Socceroos Jason Culina and Mile Sterjovski by current A-League teams have buoyed supporters who believe a league with some of the country’s premier players has become an attainable dream.
The opportunities that will blossom from Melbourne Heart’s inception are not solely limited to that of male players, as the club will also participate in the associated national female league.
The W-League has been a great success since its inception in 2008 and is currently in its second season.
Paola Bernini, currently playing for Ashburton soccer club in the Victorian Premier League, understands first-hand how female soccer has already changed in the state.
Paola Bernini evades an opposition defender
The 20 year-old former Victorian representative watched as, during the W-League’s inception, the State Premier League began to lose some of its best players.
“I played with and against quite a few girls that played a bit with Melbourne Victory,” she said.
“Although the majority of players were poached from the powerhouse teams of the league (Box Hill and Heidelberg), we had a few departures.”
“And with this new Melbourne Heart team, there is sure to be more.”
Paola said that, although the W-League is a great step moving forward for woman’s soccer, it still has its limitations.
“The W-League is a bit funny in regards to its timing,” she said, “although it occurs in the off-season of the Victorian Premier League, there are still regulations that prevent players from playing in both leagues – even though they don’t conflict.”
“It basically means that often, you don’t get the best players in the W-League because they want to stay with their old teams.”
-Michael Tarquinio
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