A con-Vince-ing asset

March 15 2014

Shepparton News

Wellington Phoenix midfielder Vince Lia played a part in Goulburn Valley Suns luring ex-A-League player Naum Sekulovski and Kristian Sarkies to Shepparton.

The region’s most successful soccer export put Suns staff in touch with his manager, whose contacts included the star recruits.

The duo is expected to line up in the club’s National Premier Leagues Victoria season opener against Oakleigh Cannons at McEwen Reserve tonight.

Speaking to The News this week, Lia said he had not been in direct contact with either player, but would likely touch base with Sarkies in the near future.

‘‘I’ll tell him if he wants a good feed he can go around to my mum’s and she’ll look after him,’’ Lia said.

‘‘They (the Suns) did speak to my agent about players that would potentially come down and play for the Suns, so he’s done a good job getting Sarkies and Naum down there. It’s good to speak to people like that that have have a wide range of players they either know or look after.

‘‘Naum played more than 100 games in the A-League and I played with Sarkies at the Victory and he’s only 27, so to get a player like him with his ability at that age is great, they’ll learn a lot off those two.’’

Lia, 29 next week, knows a thing or two about the challenges of building a team from the ground up.

A foundation member at the Phoenix, Lia signed a new two-year deal this week, tying him to the club for an eighth and ninth season.

However, he said just having a team was an achievement for the region.

‘‘It’s fantastic for Shepparton to have a team in the NPL, it gives the little kids a pathway and a better chance of being seen.

‘‘There’s a lot of talented kids there and even when I was growing up there was a lot and a lot have fallen away because there was no real pathway to get to where you wanted to be.

‘‘My parents probably would have been happier than me not having to drive all the way to Melbourne three or four times a week (if the Suns existed when Lia was going through the ranks), but it will keep young talented kids in the region longer.

‘‘I understand there’s relegation (in NPL) as well, so you need to stay up for the next few years and do well to attract some players and get the young kids used to playing at that level.’’

Lia will be in Melbourne this weekend for the Phoenix’s clash with Melbourne Heart on Sunday, but is unable to make the Suns game.