OPINION: Are Victoria’s Croatian soccer clubs losing too many Croatian players? (Part 2)

In this second article of a two part series, the Vjesnik’s TONCI PRUSAC examines why the Victorian Croatian soccer community needs another Croatian community backed club. In particular, he looks at why it is needed to fill the ever-expanding gap between the higher competitive (elite) level and the lower social (recreational) level….

The Hrvatski Vjesnik last year broke the news that the Gospić Bears were set to enter a team in the State Leagues.

“HNK Gospić Bears are aiming to become the newest Croatian football club competing in the Victorian State Leagues’ competition,” it was stated in a Vjesnik report last October.

That plan ultimately fell through. However, it can’t be discounted that the idea might be resurrected some time in the near future.

Perhaps, however, the answer lies not with another Melbourne club.

Instead, maybe the elusive solution can be found down the Princess Highway in nearby Geelong.

The North Geelong Warriors are currently the only Croatian community backed soccer club in Victoria’s second largest city.

It can be argued, though, the Croatian community in Geelong is not big enough to sustain two football clubs.

Rather than establishing something that competes with North, imagine a complementary senior club – Seniors and Reserves only. The club would be specifically set up to catch the players who otherwise fall through the cracks.

A 16-year-old Warriors’ player – who has been ‘discarded’ as “not good enough’ for the club’s NPL youth program – could spend a season or two playing senior football at this new entity. During that time, he would develop physically and gain confidence. If he was to improve sufficiently, he could then return to the higher-level Warriors. Consequently, he could push for a place in the club’s U20s or U23s team in a years’ time.

The same club could give an older, ‘discarded’ player somewhere to continue playing serious football. This could be done without the commitment of elite NPL/VPL/State League level competition.

The club would likely train only once or twice a week. In which case, play on weekends, keep playing and keep the family connected to the community.

Added to that, Melbourne based (Croatian) players at that level could even be lured to make the trip to Geelong. They could do so for a once-a-week training session.

But there is one non-negotiable: the North Geelong Warriors’ leadership and club community would all have to be an integral part of the concept. And they would have to fully endorse it.

This new club could exist along the lines of the club’s now defunct ‘social arm’ from years back. For example, the Elcho Park Cardinals served that function.

It would however require its own autonomy and own leadership. Eventually becoming a separate entity – financially, logistically and administratively.

The proposed new venture should never evolve into a (Croatian) rival of the Warriors.

Rather, it should become a safety net around the local Croatian football community.

The Warriors would remain an elite football club for the surrounding region that is backed by the Croatian community. They would offer their best young Australian-Croatian players – and those of other nationalities – an elite pathway to the top.

The new club, meanwhile, would have to be unashamedly Croatian community focussed. It should be aimed at accommodating the young (and older) players – especially those of Croatian background – who don’t have a spot within North Geelong’s elite junior or senior pathway program.

This proposed new club’s greatest success wouldn’t be producing one or more elite footballers.

Rather, it would be making sure that the players who aren’t elite don’t disappear from the Croatian football community altogether.

And, instead, remain active members of that aspect of our community (soccer) that is so vitally important to the overall prosperity of our Croatian communities.

In this case, the Victorian – and more specifically, Geelong – Croatian community.

See related article: Are Victoria’s Croatian soccer clubs losing too many (Croatian) players? (Part 1)