THE big city bug has caught another young soccer star, with Albury City’s Chris Nikitas the latest Border talent set to leave the Albury- Wodonga Football Association.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nikitas is looking for work in Canberra and has all but confirmed he is leaving City in a big blow to the club’s midfield stocks.
He joins a host of stars, including Zac Walker, Liam Carey, Paul Fleming (Twin City), Andrew Grove (Boomers FC) and Luke Drummond (Albury Hotspurs) as confirmed departures from the association.
Central midfielder Nikitas ably stepped into the big shoes left by the departure of former City captain Miron Andronicos to Melbourne in a rebuilding year for the club.
“I’m moving away and I’m hopefully going to Canberra,” the 20-year-old said yesterday.
“I want to experience living out of Albury where there are heaps of opportunities.”
But the talented midfielder, whose brother Nick scored for Rivers FC in the Victorian Champions League last weekend, has not ruled out a return to the Border in the future.
“I would like to,” Nikitas said.
“I’ve been playing at Albury City since I was five. It’s almost like a family to me.
“If I was living in Albury I’d never play for another club.”
Albury City coach Anthony Maw said Nikitas’s departure was a blow.
“He really stepped up last year with our huge loses in playing personnel,” Maw said.
“Miron held the midfield together and Chris stepped up and did the job very well.”
Maw, who is preparing for the second season of his three-year deal, said losses at City were likely to be minimal.
City, which won six games in 2010 and finished 10th of 11 teams, will soon announce its coaching structure for next season.
“We’ve had a bit of interest from players but it’s very early days,” Maw said.
“We’ve potentially got a couple of players who are interested in joining us.
“Last year was the start of the rebuild.
“As it appears at the moment Chris appears our only loss from the starting 11.
“Stability is the key. It paid off for (grand finalist) Lavington Panthers last year.”
Maw said a play for former striker Joel Bartholomew was not in the club’s plans.
Bartholomew, 30, declared last week he was over his injuries and on the lookout for a club, although ruled out joining City.
“I wish Joel all the best,” Maw said.
“He’s had a lot of knee troubles ... he tried pre-season with us last year and the knees couldn’t handle it.
“I think it’s going to be a hard ask for Joel’s body to handle the rigours of senior football.”
