The prospect of an independently run A-League, an FFA focused on player talent pathways coupled with huge population growth can be a platform to finally grow football on a mass scale in Australia.
As an example of population growth across Australia, Covic has transitioned into being a football consultant on a major project in Sydney’s booming Greater West.
It’s a venture with Blacktown City Council who are funding a $100m multi-sport elite international centre of training excellence very close to Western Sydney Wanderers’ Blacktown base.
The project hopes to attract top-class Asian club sides for pre-season training where they can be accommodated, train and access top-class medical and recovery facilities.
“The projections are that by 2036, Blacktown will have half a million people. And with a new international airport and the infrastructure around it will be massive,” Covic said.
“I agree we have a bright future. Just seeing the growth there and the nearby Macarthur region who have an A-League team starting 2020 based around huge growth in that south-west corridor.
“Major cities are going to grow and the population will need more sporting choices for young families.
“And look at football right now, with the huge grassroots numbers we have. Football has a stranglehold.”
Covic, though, hasn’t left football after hanging up his gloves officially last year aged 42.
After a stellar career at club level in the NSL and A-League as well as in Scandinavia, the former Socceroo goalkeeper is now keeper coach with NPL side Marconi, his original club in the NSL.
And he’s still very much invested in the game’s future.
With that in mind, he adds the recent board changes at the FFA level were not radical enough.
“Even with the board changing over it still felt a bit same-same," he added.
“So much huff and puff, ‘We’ll make changes’ yet it was the same old agendas without getting some of the real football people with a passion for the game, who desperately want the game to succeed and are selfless for the game.
“They’re the type of people we need to really ignite the game’s potential. It’s on a platter. The demand for football is massive, and with the population growth, we’ve got to harness that.
“And how many chances do you want to wake up this sleeping giant?”
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