Ben Kantarovski proud of his Macedonian heritage

Ben KantarovskiBen Kantarovski, the so called “whiz-kid”, sure made his mark in the Australian football being the youngest player ever to sign a contract in the league at age of 15 and youngest A-League player ever at age of 16. MacedonianFootball.com made a short interview with him on the day he turns 17.

Ben Kantarovski, the Australian teenage prodigy has definitely made his mark in Australia, but can also eyasily be the next big Macedonian football star. Born in Australia, but with Macedonian heritage, Benny started playing at age of four for the football club of the Macedonian community in Newcastle, the Broadmeadow Magic Newcastle Macedonia FC.  From there he progressed through the ranks to play for a local representative team called Newastle Port Stephens and then to the New South Wales Institute of Sport. And then started the big story about the “whiz-kid”

 – “I just enjoy playing soccer and work hard at trying to improve myself. Every kid has a dream and it’s just how they go about their dream to achieve it. When i was 15 they started scouting for my age for the joeys squad to be ready for the Australian qualifiers. That was the time when I was noticed and brought in to trial for the Newcastle Jets”, said Kantarovski.

In January 2008, Kantarovski was signed to a four year contract by the Newcastle Jets when he was only 15 years of age. This broke the A-League record of the youngest player ever to be signed to a contract in the league. He made his A-League debut in Round 1 of the 2008/09 season against the Central Coast Mariners where he played as a defender. He was only 16 years and 208 days old making him the youngest A-League player ever.

Since 2007, the young midfielder has been member of the Australian U17 and later a member of the Australian U20 national team. But according to the FIFA regulations, Kantarovski can change the country that he represents until he turns 21, as long as he hasn’t played on senior level. Having his parents born in Macedonia, at this stage Ben Kantarovski is eligible to play for Macedonia and a midfielder of his caliber will be more then a good solution for the Macedonian national team in the future. That’s why it was inevitably for us to ask him about his wish to play for Macedonia.

 – “I was born in Australia so I have to say I’m Australian, but I am proud of my heritage at the same time, so either wouldn’t worry me”, said Kantarovski.

MacedonianFootball.com would like to wish Benny a happy birthday. We don’t know what your wish will be when you blow the candles today, but we know that the wish of all Macedonians is to see you wearing the red and yellow Macedonian shirt soon.

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