Attending today’s closed-door match at Macquarie University between Sydney FC and cross town rivals Western Sydney Wanderers, Branko spoke of the dark days on his son’s long road back.

But he never doubted the courage and determination of the 32-year-old who played his first match for the Sky Blues after sustaining a serious knee injury almost two years ago in the 2011 Asian Cup.

The hit-out that gave the harboursiders an opportunity to bounce back from a 7-2 drubbing by the Central Coast Mariners on Saturday could also lay some ghosts to rest for the former PSV and Gold Coast United star.

“Jason sent me a message last night saying, Dad are you coming to watch?” Branko told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Even though I’m a keen punter and I’d hate to miss the Melbourne Cup, there was no way in the world I wasn’t going to be there for him.”

It was the first time Branko had been back at a Sydney FC training ground since being released as coach in 2007 but he felt no animosity towards his old club, just an enormous sense of relief and pride.

“Jason tells me they’ve treated him superbly,” Branko said. “People ask me have I got any hard feelings about Sydney and I don’t.

“When I was there it was five years ago, different people were involved. So when Jason tells me they’re looking after him, I am just delighted and happy because deep down Sydney is part of me as well.

“I was there during the Asians Champions League and I loved every minute of it. I loved being involved in Sydney and I love seeing Jason involved in Sydney.

"The fact that they’re looking after him as well as they are makes me very proud that he is there.”

Branko never doubted his son’s mental toughness but there were times when it looked as if the injury would win out. Two operations later and a longer than expected rehabilitation however, and he is back on the park at last.

If he is honest it always seemed a long shot, especially during a protracted wrangle with the Branko-coached Jets who signed the Socceroo as a marquee from Gold Coast United.

News that the player’s knee injury would rule him out of the entire season saw the Hunter outfit part ways with both Culinas.

Branko has no doubt about the professional cost for both. Recently he was appointed coach and football director for NSW Premier League side Rockdale City Suns but an opportunity to return to the A-League has not eventuated. For Jason, the on-field cost threatened to be even greater.

“Just the way everything was handled after his second operation in August (last year) and because we were both released at the beginning of October, meant that Jason had very little if any rehab until he started working with Sydney FC,” Branko said.

“He had missed a good six months and the more time went by, the more frustrated he was getting. The injury was only part of the problem, the other part of the problem was the mental side of things.

“He was really cast aside by everyone – no one wanted to know him. [But for] the rehab...he would have possibly been back several months ago.”

The road to recovery began in earnest when he started working with Sydney FC physio Stan Ivancic and last month he signed with the club. Branko describes his son as a “tough bugger”.

“He’s a competitive individual and to his credit, he’s had some difficult times,” Branko said. “I remember when he first went to Ajax – it wasn’t easy for him. After the first or second year they pretty much wanted him to move him on.

“He was about 21 training with 17-year-olds because Ajax basically said even though you’ve got a five year contract we don’t see you as being first team regular, therefore you can go.”

Yet by the time he left the Netherlands, he was an integral part of the Socceroos set up and a key player for PSV Eindhoven, picking up three Eredivisie championships with the Dutch club.

“That determination when he was told he was not required, that he would only be played when no other players were available - that showed his character,” Branko said.

“And I knew to play in two World Cups, to play 60 odd times for Australia, to play 30 odd games in the Champions League, to be written off by Ajax after year one basically and then bounce back and achieve all that – I knew he had that toughness.”

Branko isn’t putting any limitations on his son and what the future holds for either of them.

“I miss the game a lot which is maybe why Jason’s return means so much - not only will it help him immensely I think it will give me a huge boost as wellt,” Branko said.

“People say he has a lot to prove to everyone – he doesn’t. Throughout his career, people always told him you’ve got to prove you have what it takes but at the end of the day the only person you have to prove anything to is yourself and the rest takes care of itself.

“Jason will probably tell you that all he wants to do is play at A-League level again but deep down, and we’ve touched on it a few times, I’d be surprised if he didn’t say well I’ve got a bit of a point to prove to myself about (the national team) as well.

“One thing at a time but if he makes a sound comeback with Sydney don’t be surprised if he also has the desire and ambition to be back with the Socceroos.”