Baveas impressed with Rams set-up

When the National Soccer League was brought to a close in 2004, the Blacktown Demons junior was entrenched in the first team at Northern Spirit.
Talk of a new competition was exciting but also opened a window of uncertainty for many budding professionals.
After Baveas wasn?t picked up by a club for Version I of the revamped competition three years ago, he found himself plying his trade in the NSW state league wondering what might have been.
Following a frustrating spell with Sutherland in 2006, last year he opted to join the ambitious Macarthur Rams, at the time playing in the second-tier NSW Winter Super League.
It was a big call but the holding midfielder has always backed himself.
?I knew I could do two things – I could sit around and wait for things to happen or I could go for broke,” he said.
?I chose the latter and from the moment I joined the Rams I was impressed by the professionalism at the club.
?They really look after their players and I feel we punched above our weight in the Telechoice Premier League this year given our inexperience and the fact we got promoted.”
Baveas first caught the eye as a teenager when he was drafted into the Demons first grade squad by Brian `Bomber? Brown.
After moving onto Northern Spirit, more plaudits followed most notably selection in the Joeys team in 2001.
?It’s hard to believe that was seven years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday,” he said.
?At the time Northern Spirit was the club every young player wanted to be at, they had a great squad and I learnt so much in my three years with them.”
In was in his time with the northside club that he headed abroad to Scotland for trials with Premier League giants Rangers.
He was offered a contract in Glasgow but returned home following passport complications.
?It was probably a blessing in disguise, at the time I was 18 and wasn?t really ready to live abroad,” he said.
?Back then the NSL was in full swing and I felt a few more years at home would toughen me up and improve my game.
?Things didn’t work out but that?s football, I have some great memories and wouldn?t change anything that has happened.”
As for his future, Baveas revealed a stint in the A League would be fantastic but he isn?t pinning his hopes on it happening this year.
?Seeing blokes I played with in my junior days go on and make a name for themselves of course makes you a little envious,” he said.
?You never know what the future holds, I was happy with how I went with the Rams this year and want to build on that.
?If things go my way great, if not I know myself I have given my all, which really is all you can do.?
-By Andrew Prentice