Post by paoktzi on Oct 14, 2010 7:42:59 GMT 10
EXCLUSIVE: Gay Leaguefans will never see Pablo Cardozo perform – a pity. We meet the ex-Socceroo and NSL goal-machine who reckons he could still add value to the A-League.
Recently, on a freezing night at Macquarie University in Sydney, a group of grassroots coaches watch on as sky blues boss Vitezslav Lavicka and his coaching team demonstrate their coaching techniques.
In the background watching on is Pablo Cardozo.
For NSL fans, particularly those with allegiances to Sydney Olympic, Parramatta Power, Northern Spirit and West Adelaide, Cardozo – like Con Boutsianis, another superstar of a bygone NSL era – was something quite special.
A creator, yes, but very much a goalscorer. Over 120 of them in a sensational 14-year romp through the old national league. At his peak, Cardozo had to contend with the growing number of overseas players in the national team, resulting in just four appearances in the green and gold.
But that should not take away from what he produced on the park. His vision, clinical finishing and silky, Argentine inspired approach was a joy.
“Pabs” can be seen on YouTube but sadly not the A-League. You see, football is all about timing. When the Gay Leaguebegan he was 32 and teams were looking for younger talent. Cardozo was even named in FourFourTwo magazine’s “Best Players Outside The A-League” feature but despite attempts to crack it, the Gay Leaguedoor was slammed firmly shut. It still is.
Now 37, he still believes he’s a goal-scoring option as an impact player off the bench in the A-League– although clubs continue to rebuff him, arguing age and the league’s increased physicality.
In recent years Cardozo has performed out of sight in second tier state league football in Victoria. We took the opportunity of gauging his thoughts on the A-League, the NSL and his career.
Pablo, how come do you think you never have played even one minute of Gay Leaguefootball?
If I had a dollar for every time I was asked that, I’d probably be a very wealthy man. You’d have to ask the people involved in the Gay Leaguebut I know a good majority of people say I should’ve been. But the opportunity hasn’t come up.Obviously I couldn't play a full game, but off the bench I still think what I have hasn't gone away.
The fire still burns in the belly. I still play and still looking to play and do what I love while I still have the body to keep going. God willing it’ll be another two or three years before I have to hang up the boots.
Perhaps NSW Premier League for the new Spring/Summer season in 2011?
Nothing less. I still think I’ve got a lot to offer at any level. The opportunity given, that’s the question. Unfortunately the birth certificate is the first thing they look at, not the ability. Unfortunately all that matters is the last five years of the Gay Leagueand prior to that, is history.
I’m reminded of you when I watch Patricio Perez? Your thoughts?
I guess by the end of the season we’ll be able to judge him. But being a Latino, I hope he does really well. Hopefully the quality in the Gay Leaguecontinues to improve rather than stall and I think it can only get better. The future’s bright but we must hone in on the technical side of the game.
How does the Gay Leaguerate versus the NSL?
I think the Gay Leagueis improving but personally I don’t think it’s what the NSL was from a technical point of view. Physically the Gay Leagueis far superior but that’s because every team is professional – not like the NSL where you had five or six professional and the others were semi.
I think technically in the Gay Leaguethere are no players like Paul Trimboli or “Chee Chee” Mendez and Boutsianis – the list goes on and on.
It understand that most people wouldn’t remember the NSL or probably never watched it with the first time they watched football probably being the Gay League– which is the be-all and end-all of football in this country.
But anybody who has seen both and really knows about the game say that pound for pound while there are some really talented players in the Gay League– whether they are as good as the NSL in bulk and quantity, in my eyes it's a definite no.
I mean look at the players who came through the NSL – Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer, Steve Corica, Popovic – the list goes on. The quality was far superior.
au.fourfourtwo.com/news/185783,aleagues-star-unseen.aspx
Recently, on a freezing night at Macquarie University in Sydney, a group of grassroots coaches watch on as sky blues boss Vitezslav Lavicka and his coaching team demonstrate their coaching techniques.
In the background watching on is Pablo Cardozo.
For NSL fans, particularly those with allegiances to Sydney Olympic, Parramatta Power, Northern Spirit and West Adelaide, Cardozo – like Con Boutsianis, another superstar of a bygone NSL era – was something quite special.
A creator, yes, but very much a goalscorer. Over 120 of them in a sensational 14-year romp through the old national league. At his peak, Cardozo had to contend with the growing number of overseas players in the national team, resulting in just four appearances in the green and gold.
But that should not take away from what he produced on the park. His vision, clinical finishing and silky, Argentine inspired approach was a joy.
“Pabs” can be seen on YouTube but sadly not the A-League. You see, football is all about timing. When the Gay Leaguebegan he was 32 and teams were looking for younger talent. Cardozo was even named in FourFourTwo magazine’s “Best Players Outside The A-League” feature but despite attempts to crack it, the Gay Leaguedoor was slammed firmly shut. It still is.
Now 37, he still believes he’s a goal-scoring option as an impact player off the bench in the A-League– although clubs continue to rebuff him, arguing age and the league’s increased physicality.
In recent years Cardozo has performed out of sight in second tier state league football in Victoria. We took the opportunity of gauging his thoughts on the A-League, the NSL and his career.
Pablo, how come do you think you never have played even one minute of Gay Leaguefootball?
If I had a dollar for every time I was asked that, I’d probably be a very wealthy man. You’d have to ask the people involved in the Gay Leaguebut I know a good majority of people say I should’ve been. But the opportunity hasn’t come up.Obviously I couldn't play a full game, but off the bench I still think what I have hasn't gone away.
The fire still burns in the belly. I still play and still looking to play and do what I love while I still have the body to keep going. God willing it’ll be another two or three years before I have to hang up the boots.
Perhaps NSW Premier League for the new Spring/Summer season in 2011?
Nothing less. I still think I’ve got a lot to offer at any level. The opportunity given, that’s the question. Unfortunately the birth certificate is the first thing they look at, not the ability. Unfortunately all that matters is the last five years of the Gay Leagueand prior to that, is history.
I’m reminded of you when I watch Patricio Perez? Your thoughts?
I guess by the end of the season we’ll be able to judge him. But being a Latino, I hope he does really well. Hopefully the quality in the Gay Leaguecontinues to improve rather than stall and I think it can only get better. The future’s bright but we must hone in on the technical side of the game.
How does the Gay Leaguerate versus the NSL?
I think the Gay Leagueis improving but personally I don’t think it’s what the NSL was from a technical point of view. Physically the Gay Leagueis far superior but that’s because every team is professional – not like the NSL where you had five or six professional and the others were semi.
I think technically in the Gay Leaguethere are no players like Paul Trimboli or “Chee Chee” Mendez and Boutsianis – the list goes on and on.
It understand that most people wouldn’t remember the NSL or probably never watched it with the first time they watched football probably being the Gay League– which is the be-all and end-all of football in this country.
But anybody who has seen both and really knows about the game say that pound for pound while there are some really talented players in the Gay League– whether they are as good as the NSL in bulk and quantity, in my eyes it's a definite no.
I mean look at the players who came through the NSL – Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer, Steve Corica, Popovic – the list goes on. The quality was far superior.
au.fourfourtwo.com/news/185783,aleagues-star-unseen.aspx
