By Lachlan Roberts 

It was the diagnosis that Robbie Cattanach dreaded.

Having suffered several serious knee injuries over the course of his career, including completely tearing the tendons off his bone twice, the doctor's advice was simple: time to hang up the boots.

"I wanted to play for a couple more years but I have been told that I can't play anymore, not even social league," Cattanach said. "They have tried stapling the cartilage back on the bone twice but it keeps tearing off.

"I could get pain free and play again but I would need a new knee in five years, which isn't ideal for a 35-year-old." 

Not content with retirement, Cattanach turned to Canberra Olympic and asked to be considered as a coach for one of their teams.

Little did he expect to be offered the position of head coach of NPL1's side, stepping into a role left vacant by the departure of his former coach Frank Cachia.

"I wanted to coach my own team and I would have satisfied with any team with the club, junior development, or even my kid's team," Cattanach said.

"Realistically, there were others at the club who were more qualified but they didn't take the role so the opening came to me. It is a big step for a coach in his first year, which isn't lost on me." 

The young coach leads a youthful and inexperienced side in 2020, but Cattanach has earmarked his side as one for the future. 

"It is a young team but they are still going to be held to the same level as everyone else is held to," he said. "Having a young team is good as long as we can keep them together long term. 

"We don't want to put effort into these young kids for them to leave in a year or two. I think that the core of this squad is one we will keep together for a while."

Cattanach's message to his troops ahead of a mouthwatering clash against Belconnen United on Saturday afternoon shows how much he misses being in the thick of the action.

"I don't think I need to say too much because everyone should be itching to go," Cattanach said with a chuckle. "It has been one hell of a year. If you haven't missed it, you probably shouldn't be playing. 

"We definitely don't need motivation. It felt like the temporary suspension of football dragged on and on so we are itching to go." 

2020 NPL1 Season | Round 1
Canberra Olympic vs Belconnen United
O'Connor Enclosed
3pm, 18 July 2020