Ask any coach or mentor these days and they’ll agree that aspiring young footballers must dedicate their time to the game from an early age. It is simply what’s required to make it as a professional.
Whether players’ motivation is driven by passion, hunger or finances, football in Australia is becoming increasingly more competitive. Youthful talent is spotted earlier, trains harder and commits to realise what started out as a dream.
When the life of a professional footballer sucks you in, it may be difficult to escape its addictive clutches. But there is still a band of players who have one eye on life after the game. Some don the red and black jersey week-in week-out.
One of those is Wanderer Yianni Perkatis. The 19-year old midfielder is enjoying life amongst the first-team after marking his debut in last season’s Round 27 victory over Newcastle. It was a year full of firsts on more than one front for the Merrylands local with Perkatis also taking up his first year of university studies.
The former Wenty Waratahs and Parramatta Eagles junior is undertaking a Bachelor of Health Science (Sport and Exercise Science) Degree at the University of Western Sydney. Perkatis certainly has promise to be a starter in the future for the Wanderers but future prospects are one thing keeping the foundation player grounded during his early journey as a professional.
“It’s good to have a degree under your belt, so once you finish football you don’t have to worry about the couple of years when you’re not qualified for anything in particular,” says Perkatis.
“It’s great to have a back-up plan in case football doesn’t work out. It also helps with your football development as well.