Melbourne Victory's Isaka Cernak says he is a fan of Football Fives, Victorian Champions League and the Knox Regional Football Centre.

Two lucky Victorian Champions League players were put through their paces on Thursday by Melbourne Victory star Isaka Cernak at the Knox Regional Football Centre.

Nick Gatwech-Chuol, 16, from North East Diamonds and Wade Dekker from Eastern FC completed a series of drills with computer chips in their Adidas boots which kept track of the boys’ speed and movements throughout the session before the data was downloaded and analysed at its conclusion.

Cernak, known for his explosive pace in the Hyundai A-League, said that he was very impressed with Wade and Nick who play football all year round thanks to the Victorian Champions League.

“Nick and Wade are both good guys and they show that young kids have a lot of talent. They are very ambitious; they came out and they tested each other and had a good time,” he said.

“It’s very important [to be playing year round football] especially in Australia where we have so many different codes going on at the same time. 

“The more competitive games you play the better you are going to be especially if the competition is the best versus the best. You couldn’t ask for anything more and the Victorian Champions League is a great opportunity for the kids.”

After experiencing Knox Regional Football Centre for the first time, Cernak heaped praise on the nine synthetic five-a-side pitches as well as the full size FIFA standard synthetic pitch at the newly built facility, the home of Football Fives.

“These pitches and facilities are unbelievable. For young kids to have a field like this to train on is incredible; I’d love to have had something like this when I was growing up,” he said.

“I love five-a-side, I played it throughout my entire childhood so it’s enticing to me and I think more kids should be playing it.”

Both Nick and Wade will return to Victorian Champions League action on 22 January when the season recommences after the summer break.

Football Fives will be in full swing on 3 February with the first Football Fives tournament taking place at the centre.