Current or Potential Successful Canberran footballers... Will they come back?

This thread is just about the players who have learnt all their skills here in Canberra and who were born in the Nations Capital. What are your thoughts on them and could they possibly come back to Canberra, should we get a team?

Josip Simunic: Born and grew up in Canberra. A star centre back for Hertha Berlin and of Australia-Croatain heritage. Ideal for a marquee player and will be a rock at the back.

Carl Valeri: Well what can you say about him. A current Socceroo and is destined for a World Cup birth in South Africa. Grew up in Tuggeranong, Canberra and would be a star in the CM position. Even said himself would like to come back to Canberra. He is only 24, so that will be in quite a while.

Nikolai Topor-Stanley: Born in Canberra and played for Belconnen before being found by Sydney FC. Then moved to Perth but now at Newcastle. Already played for Socceroos and trialled in Europe. Can maybe come back.

Kofi Danning: Definately a future Socceroo. Was born in Ghana but moved to Canberra when little. Now plays with Sydney FC but rumour has it that he might be going overseas. By the time we have a team he could be in Europe. Can tell he will be loved by the fans.

Kaz Patafta: Heaps of potential but is wasting it at the Jets. Born and raised in Canberra, he then moved straight to Europe playing with Benfica. Show some great signs there before get loaned out to Melbourne. Showed also great signs at the end of his stint before heading off to the Hunter, where he has been played out of position and been very disappointing. Europe might be his next move to kick sart his career again.

Shaun Ontong: I don't have high hopes of him anymore.

Sam Munro: Currently playing for Sydney FC. A future Socceroo.

There are probably more players so if I have missed any just post it.

Simunic and Patafta are the only ones I see joining the team for its first season, but maybe we can grab some AIS graduates and save them from moving again.

Valeri, Patafta and Danning would be great acquisitions to Canberra.

arinceo wrote:Simunic and Patafta are the only ones I see joining the team for its first season, but maybe we can grab some AIS graduates and save them from moving again.

agree. That is the great benifit of the AIS.Right next door we have this great program that is producing future Socceroos. Surely that could come into consideration for the bid.

We certainly don't need Ontong. An Injury prone, club changing, pretty much useless player.

Admin_Capital Punishment wrote:

arinceo wrote:Simunic and Patafta are the only ones I see joining the team for its first season, but maybe we can grab some AIS graduates and save them from moving again.

agree. That is the great benifit of the AIS.Right next door we have this great program that is producing future Socceroos. Surely that could come into consideration for the bid.

Quite possibly, but after talking with someone involved with the bid it looks like the FFA is only worried about cash, the bid ticks all the other boxes. Where's a billionare when you need one?

Add in Matty Kemp from Victory, Topor-Stanley from the Jets

Stephen Lustica, Andrew Baresic have both been signed in Gold Coast first team squad this year...and note the number of Canberrans in the Australian Under 17 team (4)...maybe one of them could do a Kofi in a year or so.

Cody Larkin is with Adelaide United..with Mark Birighetti about to go he could get first team gig at some point.

stephen domenici is in the U-17 australia team and he is a gun, possibly could be one of the first signed for the team.

Yea he has got loads of potential and will break into the Australian team one day.

Josip Simunic
Nikolai Topor-Stanley
Shaun Ontong and Kofi Danning
might come back definantly not valeri hes got a carrer in italy and probs soon one in UK thats every mans dream

It seems the players we get will be youngins. From u/17's and AIS.

I think the success for A-league teams is getting about 5 real top young guns (we have enough at the AIS and look into the NSW State League and Victorian League). Then having a crop of about 5-7 26-29 year olds who are more committed to the club and dont have huge ambitions to move on (hernandez, lopez, milton, cassio, diego) etc that will provide the quality for many years, not just a season. Top it off with two top 30-32 year olds..

Patafta, i feel sorry for that guy he's career is going nowhere after so much promise. maybe we should matt giteau him and entice him back?????