How long have you been living in Brimbank?
My whole life. I was in Sunshine before moving to Cairnlea.
Where did you go to school?
Sunshine Primary School and then, when I moved to Cairnlea, I went to Deer Park Primary School (now known as Cairnlea Park Primary School). I graduated high school from Sunshine Secondary College.
What’s your favourite thing about growing up here?
I love the multiculturalism. I have friends from all different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Where is your favourite place in Brimbank to hang out with friends, and why?
My favourite place to hang out is the YMCA in Derrimut where I meet my friends to play indoor soccer and basketball about twice a week. They also live in the area so we hang out at each other’s place and at local parks to play sport.
What are you studying?
I’m studying for a bachelor of sports science and human movement at Victoria University.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to keep up with my favourite sports teams and watch sports like professional wrestling, soccer and basketball. I also like to go to the gym, play Playstation and watch anime [Japanese film and television animation].
What’s your favourite sport?
My favourite sport is soccer by far. I grew up with soccer and it’s a big part of my family life – we’re all massive Melbourne Victory supporters. My grandfather was also a professional soccer player in north Cyprus.
How long did you play for Cairnlea FC and what was your position?
I played soccer at Cairnlea FC from the age of five, at right back or centre back in defence. I took a break in VCE year to focus on studies and now I play indoor soccer.
You’ve become a coach at Cairnlea FC. How long have you been coaching?
This is my first year. I coach two teams, the under-9s and under-12s.
What made you want to coach?
The passion I have for the sport. I feel like I have a lot of knowledge to share with the next generation of soccer stars. I enjoy teaching and it’s something I want to pursue professionally. I also love working with the kids because I’m a big kid myself.
What’s your favourite thing about coaching?
Seeing the young players improve over
time. Seeing them implement what
I’ve taught them into their game is a great feeling.
What is your favourite thing about soccer?
The passion the fans have for the game is amazing. It’s the only sport in the world that can bring so many people together, from all different backgrounds. Every country has a soccer team. It’s called the world game
for a reason. I feel like when the soccer World Cup is on, for one month the whole world stops.
Why do you think being involved in sport is important for youth?
It allows youth to interact with other people. It builds friendships, keeps people active and gives them a sense of confidence. I have friendships that I’ve made for life because of my involvement with soccer.
