Until next time, Captain!

Earlier this week the club announced the departure of captain and life long supporter of the club Tomislav Uskok to the NSW NPL. While a NSW NPL club is yet to claim him, you can bet your bottom dollar it won't be going anywhere other than Edensor Park.

Putting South in their place

In the face of Mark Rudan rubbishing the game in Victoria after his sides exit from the FFA Cup at the hands of Heidelberg last week, he will be rubbing his hands with glee with the arrival of Uskok. But who wouldn't be? Although South fans cry foul when it comes to Uskoks 'aggression' (I like to call it passion) whenever our two sides meet, they (and any other club for that matter) would kill for that type of player in their line-up. 

Rarely do you see someone bleed for a club like that. And like many players in recent times at the Knights, Uskok grow up with the club. Like plenty before him, he dreamed of one day playing for the club he had a deep passion for. Had he not made the cut he would be on the terraces every week supporting the club, something he even did while playing for another club in the same league! 

As unfortunate as it is that he felt the need to leave the club to further himself (as many young players do at the club), it was probably justified considering where our club was at the point in time. Staying put would have seen him in the Knights first team perhaps a year earlier than his return, but no one was to know the turn of events that were about to take place at the club. 

I don't really have a problem with players leaving the club at the age Uskok left, I actually think it's good for a players development. The gap between U20 football and first team football is just too big. What I do have a problem with is players leaving the club and forever holding a grudge. Either because they simply weren't good enough, or they were good enough but felt that they should have been in the starting line-up by the age of 15, or the U20s by 14. Thankfully for us Uskok had his heart in the right place and came full circle.

His return came at a time when he needed us and we needed him. After a transitional season the club found it's feet and saw Uskok become a vital piece to the puzzle. Perhaps with a bit more luck we would have seen Uskok lifting more than just the Dockerty Cup, or finally landing that A-league contract that has been dangled in front of him time and time again.

While his departure makes things a little more difficult for us in 2016 not only needing to replace a key player but also a captain, I wish him nothing but the best up North and look forward to his return in 2017. Until next time, Captain!