Brett Holman has taken the next step in his football career and last month launched his football nursery, Brett Holman Football Academy. 

Based out at St Andrews Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast, Holman - soon to have his FFA B coaching licence - wants to focus on blooding the love of the game in the younger generation. 

Who better to teach you your basic skills than a man that scored against Ghana and the winner against Serbia at the 2010 World Cup, Australia's last victory at the tournament. 

"At this moment my ambition is really only to work with youth," Holman told The Mixer. "I don't have a goal of stepping into men's football.

"I like the idea of working with kids during the week and spending time with families on the weekend."

Holman last played for Brisbane Roar in the A-League

Holman has a handful of kids signed up ranging from the boys U7s to U10s age range at the school. He is eager to expand his operations to the wider community and to female players as well. The academy unfortunately didn't get enough registrations to set up a girls team. 

"When you do your license you get what the FFA is trying to bring to coaches in general, I think the C licence is great to get started in a youth set-up," he said.

"In this sort of age category it's not about formations, it's basically that I want the kids to be comfortable with the ball. 

"Once we get that then we can start working on the finer techniques and progressing to becoming a better player."

Holman comes from a generation of players that was simply infatuated with the game. He believes there's a significant decline in the love of the ball at your feet at youth level. 

"For the meantime, it's about getting an extra training session and more touches on the ball," Holman said. 

"When we were younger we only had one session a week, but we were outside in the backyard and we kicked a ball against the wall for hours every day." 

Holman isn't the only golden generation Socceroo to focus on youth development. Jason Culina spent time coaching first teams at schools in Sydney and in NPL 2 at Fraser Park but prefers to work with the youngsters at his hometown club Sydney United.

Leo Mazis

MAZIS JETS OUT OF ITALY 

Only 19 days after Triestina took a chance on Belconnen United product Leo Mazis, the 19-year old has had his contract at the Serie C club mutually terminated. 

The club released a statement citing personal reasons for his departure after he switched the bright lights at Celtic for the Italian club. 

"To the young midfielder we wish him good luck for his career hereinafter and his life off the field is rich in satisfaction." 

It's an unfortunate development for Mazis as the talented midfielder looked set to work his way into a men's first team in Trieste. 

FTBL sought comment from the players' representatives. 

Jackson Irvine

IRVINE ON THE OUTER? 

A lot can happen in a week. Jackson Irvine was given the captain's armband in February. But only a few weeks after being awarded the honours, it looks like the armband might be snatched off him as the Tigers inch closer towards relegation. 

Irvine was an unused sub last week for Hull in a 4-0 loss to Leeds, seemingly dropped for poor form according to the English press.

The words of Manager Grant McCann won't instill much confidence in him either, who thought goalkeeper George Long could be a long-term fit for captain. 

"One hundred pre cent," said McCann. "George is a top, top keeper, a top boy and a top pro.

"He does everything right, leads his life right and it was no problem to give George the armband." 

McILLHATTON HITS THE STATES 

Those who keep tabs on the NPL in New South Wales would have seen APIA Leichhardt's Sam McIllhatton pictured at the international departures in Sydney this week. 

The Mixer has been informed that the player - who was an integral part of APIA's championship winning season last year  has joined The Villages SC in USL League Two on a one-year deal. 

It is essentially the fourth division in the United States and is the youngster's first time playing overseas. McIllhatton told The Mixer he has a US passport, thanks to his mother's allegiance, making the transition a lot smoother. 

The youngster holds high ambitions to make it big in the MLS.

IT'S TIME FOR THE MATILDAS

The Matildas had a fan meet and greet session at their open training session in Newcastle yesterday (check out FTBL later today for pics) ahead of the crucial first leg of their Olympics qualifier clash with Vietnam.

And in among the usual smiles, hairbands and ribbons was a more unusual accessory on the training field - a surprising number of Apple Watches being worn.

Normally players have little more than a GPS tracker at training, but yesterday almost the entire squad were sporting one of Apple's gems.

Notable exceptions were Sam Kerr, Emily van Egmond and Alanna Kennedy who went bare-wristed while Aivi Luik stuck with a rival brand.

Unfortunately it's not part of a new FFA sponsorship deal with the tech giant but part of their training monitoring which sees them wearing them back at their clubs too so Matildas coaching staff can keep an eye on their workload and conditioning from afar.