Timpano saving the best for last?

The rise of South Coast Wolves’ central defender and captain Jacob Timpano is well documented since making his debut as a mere 16 year old for the now defunct Wollongong Wolves in the old and equally defunct National Soccer League some eleven years ago but it’s worth briefly recapping a few of his  achievements since that time.
Quite apart from his NSL debut there has been four years at Sydney FC, a season with North Queensland Fury followed by a short spell at Sydney United 58 under David Zdrilic before re-joining South Coast.
Internationally speaking it’s just as impressive; Captain of the U/17 Joeys at the 2003 World Cup, Young Socceroo in 2005 and selected for the 2008 Olyroos squad but unable to make the team due to injury.
Many would be satisfied with that list as an entire career but at 27-years of age he still harbours ambitions of playing at the higher A-League level once more.
“I realise it’s an old football cliché but obviously I would like to think I can get back into the A-league again and play at the highest level of Australian domestic competition and I feel I have what it takes but it is something you take game by game and then look to see where it takes you.
“It would be fantastic to get back up there and so long as I am enjoying my football and can maintain the standards I set for myself then I will look toward that end.”
With many career highlights already there must be one that stands out more than any other.
“Playing under Zdrila (David Zdrilic) at Sydney United 58 was fantastic for me I have to say. He is a fantastic guy and I hopefully learnt a lot from him however winning the Grand Final in my first season with Sydney FC in the A-League will obviously always be very special to me.
“Being captain of the South Coast Wolves is also very humbling,” he continued.
“I feel extremely honoured to captain a side of local Wollongong guys and hopefully to lead them to success on the field.
“If I can give any of the younger players the benefit of my experiences in the game I am happy to do so and should they get the breaks to go further in the sport I would find that very satisfying as we all owe the Illawarra something for the passion they have infused within us over the years when we started out as juniors (he played with co-central defender Michael Robinson in the U/10 side) and repay a little to the unsung heroes down here.”
If that wasn’t enough in promoting the code he is also completing his FFA/AFC C Coaching Licence and spends a lot of time coaching the junior sides in the Illawarra in addition to running a small business with his brother called ‘Soccerman’ where they go to Childcare Centres and Primary schools in the region and hold fun soccer camps for the kids and spreading the football word but of course, he will be missing against Blacktown Spartans in their Round 5 home fixture after being bizarrely sent off versus Marconi Stallions in the last round when pushing the ball over the bar.
“When I came in to training after that game the lads brought me some gloves so I could give playing in goal a decent chance,” he chuckled before adding: “I didn’t really have time to pre-empt that save (it’s shown in the highlights package) as it was point blank and just an instinctive reaction but I don’t think the lads are going to let me forget it for some time.”
It is said that as a player ‘matures’ he slowly moves back in the field but as a central defender he only has the ‘keeper behind him so is it something he has considered?
“I suppose I’ve always had a bit of the shot stopper in me and would be a position I may consider trying when I get older,” he states rather tongue in cheek.
“And if that save doesn’t make the end of season highlights reel I will be very disappointed I can tell you!”
In the previous match Chris Price went down in what seemed an innocuous fall when challenging Yuchi Yamuchi that caused him to be substituted against Sydney United 58 after an awkward slip.
 “Can I just wish Pricey (Chris Price) all the best as he saw the surgeon yesterday and needs a complete knee reconstruction so will miss the remainder of the season which is a terrible shame as he came back to us from Sutherland Sharks this year.
“It was thought he wouldn’t be able to have the operation for a few weeks as there were no slots available but after a cancellation went in for it today (Thursday 11/4/13).”
After a fun chat with Timpano, where he revealed his lighter side, he still has time to think of his team mates and their feelings and is most certainly a sentiment echoed by us all as we wish Price a speedy recovery also.
A top player, top leader and top lad who plays hard but thinks of others before himself, just what a captain should be.
-By Micky Brock