EXCLUSIVE: Imagine trying to coach 109 young offenders with just two footballs? In a prison? In Madagascar? And you don’t speak the local lingo.
What did you learn from this trip?
I learnt that a soccer ball does not understand religion.
I learnt that the soccer ball does not understand about passports.
I learnt that a soccer ball doesn't understand about races.
I learnt that coaches' greater responsibility beyond just coaching football. I was teaching languages with the sessions in that prison, teaching them English and Spanish for example.
I learnt so much.

It was such a worthwhile thing to do that investment of traveling for four months and the adventure of being on a motorbike for 2500 km with another guy going through national parks in Africa.
I never thought I would be in a prison asking the guards to throw a ball to the prisoners. I never thought I would do that.
I was speaking in English and they were translating into Madagascar's language and French. And we were able to do the session.
If you believe in something, with passion and enthusiasm, you can do it. You can put on a session for 109 players with just a couple of footballs.
So will this footage be seen in the future?
I don't know when it will be released, I have the footage and the guy who traveled with me is in Shanghai.
I need somebody who can translate things into English…
I want to make it clear that this is not something that I want to do to become famous for. That's not my motivation; I don't want it to be something on Netflix!
I just really wanted to have it to show coaches at conferences and where people need a motivational speaker; I want to have footage to show the parents.
So the motivation is not necessarily to put it in cinemas or on Netflix.
I just wanted to share and inspire others. To create a new way of seeing things. My style is to genuinely help the game of football in any way I can.
Back to your time in the A-League, your move to Melbourne Victory. How do you reflect on that five years later?
Their facilities are world-class and I did not have any injury there during that season. I embraced their professionalism.
Let me tell you, Melbourne Victory is as professional as some of the clubs in Europe. It is world class.
Melbourne Victory for me was an experience at being at a big club.

(However) I was not played at Melbourne Victory in the right position, everyone knew this.
I was never a false 9. It was the only year Melbourne Victory try to play with a false 9, and it was not my position.
And it was not a system that fits Melbourne Victory. I was unlucky to be in that formation.
But I scored the goal of the year for 2012, which was a nice combination with Gui Finkler. It was unlucky that Finkler got injured because together we were creating some opportunities for Marco Rojas and Archie Thompson.
I lost the perfect fit to play Tiki Taka when Finkler got injured.
I was told when they signed me that we were going to have a number 9, but when Danny Allsopp retired Ange had a 4-2-2-2 formation with two number tens and two wingers.
So for me, it was frustrating because I couldn't enjoy playing football that's why I decided to go to Central Coast Mariners - everyone takes this move as a failure at Victory, though in four games I scored as many goals at Central Coast as I did at Melbourne Victory.
Actually I was more ready to perform at Victory than I was at Adelaide because of my age, I was 26 years old at Melbourne Victory and you can say I was in my prime then.
But after five games at Central Coast, coach Arnie moved to Japan and ever since then the club has been struggling.
Newcastle Jets signed you as an injured player in your last stint in the A-League…
I will never forget the club because when I did my ACL and Central Coast Mariners decided to not extend my contract; the Jets sign me with four to five months ahead of rehab.
You cannot add any more, that says it all. I will be forever thankful to the club, sadly there were a lot of problems at the club with the squad and the ownership situation during this time.
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