LAMBTON Jaffas coach James Pascoe believes shock recruit Michael Kantarovski can become the best midfielder in the Northern NSW National Premier League and push for a return to the A-League.
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Pascoe and Broadmeadow president Steve Foteff confirmed on Monday that Kantarovski had made the switch from Magic to the Jaffas for the 2017 season.
The 21-year-old was courted by NPL clubs, including the Jaffas, after leaving the Newcastle Jets Youth program in October 2015 but he returned last season to Broadmeadow, where he came to the attention of the A-League club in 2012.
Kantarovski, the younger of brother of Jets games’ record-holder Ben, helped Magic finish third and make the grand final last year.
Pascoe, who coached Kantarovski at the Jets youth, said he was surprised to secure the midfielder, adding there was “no chase on our behalf, but we’re certainly very happy to have Michael”.
“I think he could be the best midfielder in the competition and I’m more than happy to try to help him become that,” Pascoe said.
Pascoe said Kantarovski told him he had “a real desire to try to get back in and around the A-League” and believed working with him again and “playing with Jobe [Wheelhouse] and Joel Griffiths might help that.”
Jets hero Griffiths, who is back from a knee reconstruction, confirmed last month that he would play with the Jaffas in 2017.
Foteff said it was disappointing to lose Kantarovski, whose father, Larry, remains on the Magic committee.
“We certainly wanted to keep him,” Foteff said.
“He had his reasons and there’s no hard feelings. He’s certainly welcome back at the club.”
Foteff also confirmed goalkeeper Nick Hartnett had left Magic.
Pascoe said Kantarovski, who made one A-League appearance in 2015, was keen to get out of his comfort zone and get back to the top level after injuries curtailed his Jets youth career.
“He’s the sort of boy that now he’s grown into his adult body, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he can get himself extremely fit and do it,” Pascoe said. “He needs to be the best player in the competition, though, and it’s still a big jump from NPL to A-League, but his body is in a better situation to have a good go at it now.”
He said Kantarovski was the last major signing for the Jaffas, who finished seventh in 2016. Ridge Mapu (Valentine), Nathan Verity and Liam O’Dell (Central Coast Mariners Academy) are other new faces.
