HOME-grown soccer prodigy Bae Versace has taken his sport to new heights, having made the Football Federation South Australia Under 13 state team/Skillaroos.
The 12-year-old Mount Gambier talent made the move to Adelaide three years ago to pursue his soccer dreams and after three seasons with the North Eastern MetroStars Soccer Club, has now made the final 24-player state side.
Formerly an International Soccer Club junior, Versace’s parents Mark and Yvette then provided him with the opportunity to play in Adelaide to further his development.
While his parents are still back and forth between Adelaide and the Blue Lake city due to work commitments, Versace has been able to focus on his soccer without the exhausting travel factor faced by many South East sporting families.
After making the initial South Australian training squad, a series of trials and carnivals were held between the Adelaide zones over the last 12 months, which cut numbers back to the final team, with Versace among the players who will represent the state in 2020.
The Under 13 state team will compete up an age level and play against the Under 14 Adelaide teams next year.
Representative games will also be played throughout the year against rival states.
Versace said he is “very excited” to be a part of the team, after coming up against some of the best soccer stars in his age bracket.
“It was a big process,” he said.
“I thought it would be very tight, there are a lot of talented players up here in Adelaide.”
Moving to a new place can often be daunting, but Versace said he was welcomed into the Adelaide program with open arms.
That helped him adapt to the new surroundings.
“I met some great teammates and they made me feel very welcome when I first got to Metro, which made it easier for me to adapt,” he said.
Compared to the Limestone Coast, Versace said the level of competition also took time to adjust to.
“The biggest difference I found was the speed and the skill level up in Adelaide,” he said.
“It is a lot more structured as well.”
However, he said his time at Inter helped prepare him for the change and kick-started his development.
“I really enjoyed my time at Inter,” Versace said.
“The coaches when I first started playing were terrific to me and my teammates and the club as a whole helped develop me as a player.”
Versace’s achievements are made even more impressive due to the fact he only began the sport five years ago.
He started playing at the age of seven because he was too young to play football.
Now aged 12, Versace has delved into many activities, with his parents strong believers in playing multiple sports to prevent the boredom, which could arise from a sole focus on one discipline.
Through his various involvements, Versace has learnt skills and techniques which he has carried into his soccer.
“Mum and dad encouraged me to play basketball, footy and tennis,” he said.
“Basketball especially has helped me with my vision and space awareness (in soccer).”
Versace’s father told The Border Watch this week he was proud of his son’s achievement and dedication to his sport, which now sees him playing at the highest standard possible as a junior in South Australia.
“It has been a big thing and he has had his ups and downs – getting used to a new school and new friends and stuff like that,” Mark Versace said.
“But I am pretty proud of him to be so resilient.”
