By the time South Melbourne hung on to claim a 2-1 win over Werribee City, surviving a late effort by Steven Cudrig that rattled the crossbar, midfielder Andy Kecojevic was heavily panting and struggling with cramp.
He was called upon in just the fourth minute following an injury to Tim Mala, with another injury to Kristian Konstantinidis preventing late substitutes, forcing the 16-year-old to play out the remainder of the contest on an empty tank.
The youngster played a role in both goals, letting an Iqi Jawadi strike through his legs into the net for the first, but more pertinently assisting Nick Epifano with a piercing pass through midfield for the second.
The story of Kecojevic’s pre-season has been just as turbulent, with South Melbourne locked in lengthy negotiations with A-League side Melbourne City over the player’s signature for the 2015 NPL season.
Kecojevic was at Melbourne City for the National Youth League season when it was announced in November 2014 that both Melbourne’s A-League youth sides would participate in NPL’s second division in 2015.
However, South had already tied him to a professional contract before the announcement and were hesitant to release their player.
It led to protracted discussions between both clubs, rumoured to have been heated at times, with neither willing to relinquish the top prospect and both believing they provided the better environment for his development.
South Melbourne coach Chris Taylor stressed that Kecojevic featured in his first team plans in Victoria’s top flight, telling the Corner Flag in pre-season, “there’s a certain player I really want back here, and for their progress I really think it’s better they come back to South Melbourne.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne City youth coach Joe Palatsides was adamant the club would keep the core of their National Youth League squad – including Kecojevic – into the NPL season.
“Kecojevic is a Melbourne City player, we’ve registered him, there’s no issue there,” he said.
The transfer landscape in Australia is complex, with training compensation capped at $10,000 for transferred players under 23-years-old and FFA regulations not permitting transfer fees or loans “between National League clubs”, while the incentive for NPL clubs with squad members that end up at A-League youth sides is a discount to their player points cap.
Melbourne City eventually allowed Kecojevic to stay at Lakeside, however, delighting Taylor.
“Andy Kejocevic has come back from Melbourne City. He’s a good one for us to get back. We rate him very highly and we feel he’ll do well for us this year, he’s a quality player,” he said after South Melbourne’s opening round win over Oakleigh Cannons.
If Kecojevic’s impact against Werribee City was any indication, South Melbourne’s campaign to keep the 16-year-old may be justified.
“Andy Kecojevic came on and gave us a new dimension and created things, he was great. It shows that we’ve got good depth in the squad,” Taylor said.
The transfer saga didn’t seem to affect the unassuming 16-year-old, who performed his role with aplomb last weekend and staked his claim for more first-team opportunities as the season progresses.
“Chris [Taylor] was calling down “Andy” and both me and [Andy] Brennan were warming up, I thought it was Brennan but surprisingly it was me and Chris just told me to have fun and enjoy it, and I think I did alright,” Kecojevic told South Melbourne TV.
Image credit: Kevin Juggins