Simonovic back to his best with Stallions

When Milorad Simonovic found out he needed to have knee surgery only weeks out from the beginning of last season, he was shattered.
“It was probably the worst news I had ever received, I was unexplainably disappointed, heart-broken”, he said.
Simonovic’s anterior cruciate ligament ruptured during a pre-season friendly match against Granville Rage where in an unfortunate tackle he suffered the disastrous injury.
 “Many players give up, but I felt I still had more in me and decide to fight to get back to where I was”, Milorad said.
After a long recovery and difficult pre-season, he has played in every match so far this season for the Marconi Stallions.
“I was preparing for this season since I got out of the operating theatre. The long hours spent at the physio and gym payed off. Pre-season was probably the most gruesome I’ve ever had to face after such a lay off but I feel as fit as ever now”
The 27-year-old midfielder this week found himself on the scoresheet for the first time in almost two years, giving his Stallions the lead against Sydney Olympic.
 ”It was a feeling of great relief and excitement once the ball hit the back of the net”, Simonovic said. “Unfortunately we didn’t win the game but a point is better than nothing”.
Last year’s champions, the Stallions, sit in around mid-table with only one win so far.
 “We’ve got some new players in the squad and others who are injured so once they’re back and the squads gelling we’ll be a real threat”, Simonovic said.
On Saturday night the Stallions take on fierce rival APIA Leichhardt Tigers in what will be Simonovic’s first taste of the ‘Italian derby’.
“I’m excited to take part, I’ve played for Bonnyrigg against Sydney United so this won’t be to foreign for me but a derby is a derby it’s what us players live for”, an excited Simonovic commented.
After spending some time with the Central Coast Mariners in training a few years back he says he’d love another crack to get into the Hyundai A-League.
“It’s every players dream to play at the top level and with the Hyundai A-League and the West Sydney Wanderers on such a high at the moment it would be unbelievable”, said the Fairfield born and bred Simonovic.
-By Nikola Pozder