Academy seeks second Kewell

By Glen Atwell
DOVETON Soccer Club striker Leon Buhic is searching the southeast suburbs of Melbourne for the next Harry Kewell.
Buhic, who has scored seven goals this season in Football Federation Victoria’s State League Three competition, runs the Lions Private Soccer Academy at Waratah Reserve in Doveton on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Along with his brother, Toni, Buhic trains and mentors about 60 kids, all under 15, in a strict program of technique and skill.
The junior prospects, some as young as seven, all have one thing in common: an absolute passion for the game of soccer.
Buhic said this was a prerequisite of being invited to join the academy.
“When I was child at school in Bosnia, I used to take a soccer ball to class. It’s this sort of passion for the game you need to have, you have to love it like a girlfriend,” he said.
“It’s not something that your mum or dad can push you into, the children must love the game, and it shows when they do.”
Buhic has a long and celebrated history in domestic soccer, both in Australia and abroad.
The 33-year-old played in the Croatian, German and Austrian national soccer leagues, before being recruited to Australia by former National Soccer League club, Melbourne Knights in 2002.
Members of the Lions Private Soccer Academy have access to state-of-the-art training equipment and aren’t trained into the ground through physical exhaustion.
“It’s not about running laps or doing push-ups, the academy is about technique and skill,” Buhic said.
“There’s also no pushy parents getting involved with the training, it’s a great environment to fine tune soccer skills.”
To inquire about the Lions Private Soccer Academy, call Leon on 0423 774 221 or Toni on 0414 540 848.