By ADEM SARICAOGLU
HILLSIDE soccer star Tyler James didn’t have the accolades of most kids who come through Maribyrnong College’s soccer program.
And his journey through to Year 12 in the past three years hasn’t quite been smooth sailing, either.
But the pint-sized centre midfielder and full back has been turning heads in all the right places since making a vital move 18 months ago.
James was struggling with the pressures of juggling his academic and sporting commitments and contemplated leaving the program.
That was when the program’s technical director Arthur Papas stepped in, hoping to save a promising career.
“We had a chat at the time and it was a really open chat just about what I think he can do with his football,” Papas explained.“He was a bit low about his game at the time because maybe you haven’t been in a state team or something like that and some young kids take that to heart.
“But he’s a very intelligent player, a good thinker of the game (and) technically good.”
Papas’ words of wisdom paid off and James eventually found himself at State League One club Werribee City, where he made four senior appearances in 2012.
Under the guidance of coach Nino Ragusa, James flourished and managed to work his way into Melbourne Heart’s youth setup over the summer.
He grew from a kid who took his lack of progress to heart into one of Heart’s most promising up-and-comers, and it’s a journey that’s given the 17-year-old a brand new lease on life – and soccer.
“It was an amazing experience, I loved it,” James said.“Travelling away with the team and just playing games at different intensity and the different skill level of players was just an amazing experience.”
The accomplished midfielder was moved to full back at Heart, but making the step up from State League One required more than just a positional adjustment.
“At the start I thought I struggled coming from the intensity of training,” James said.“The fitness requirement for the youth league is much different to club level.”
However James rose to the challenge and finished the summer an established member of Heart’s youth squad.
Now he’s a regular starter at Werribee City, prompting Papas to declare James one of Maribyrnong College’s great successes.
“He’s really important for the program because he wasn’t brought in as a Victorian state team player or as a National Training Centre player,” Papas explained.“He was just playing local football, but we saw something in him and he’s the one who has given everything.
“We’re just buzzing for him.”
