To see The Chance boys in London...

 

“Fitness wise I’m not even 50%,” he revealed  to au.fourfourtwo.com  at his plush London hotel. “It’s definitely concerning.”

In just 24 hours time, the unsigned Matic and three other Aussie and New Zealand starlets will begin an exhaustive three-day test at the Nike Chance global trial in London.

Matic joins talented ACT playmaker Tom Rogic, powerful Kiwi defender Tom Doyle from Auckland City and clever midfielder Alon Blumgart from Melbourne (who along with Doyle has been training with Melbourne Heart in preparation for the big day).

The prize on offer is eight full-time contracts at Nike’s Academy in London, where the winners will have access to world class facilities and coaching and be in the shop window for a professional contract in the big leagues.

It’s a massive opportunity for an unknown player to have a chance of becoming a professional footballer – if they’re good enough.

Vying for these valued contracts are 100 unsigned youngsters from 42 countries who have all now arrived in the English capital.

Matic, 18, the youth team keeper at Central Coast picked up the knock last month.After a brief break on the sidelines, aggravated that same knee two weeks ago in the final minutes of the F3 NYL derby.

It was devastating news and it’s been an injury he’s had to manage ever since.

“I came off straight away, I was crying, I thought Nike [The Chance] was over for me,” Matic recalled.

Matic will inform Nike’s Chance goalkeeper coaches of his injury on Thursday – the same day that both Arsene Wenger and Guus Hiddink are set to drop by and pass on their wisdom to the players.

“It’s good there are only four keepers. I’m looking forward to the challenge and seeing where I’m at compared to where the other keepers are at. I think the first session, everyone will forget about nerves," said Matic.

And the tall keeper is remaining positive that his knee holds up. “It’s been an incredible experience and Nike has really looked after us and we feel like we’re professional players here already.

“We’re definitely all looking to training with coaches from the highest level and 96 of the best unsigned talent from 41 other countries.

“It’s been a long build up and we’ve all been working towards this and now it’s finally come. It’s massive.

He added: “We’re at the world stage and we have to perform.”

To see The Chance boys in London...