Grade 20s Feature: Nikola Todoroski shooting for the top

Nikola Todoroski’s score his fourth goal of the season on the weekend, but this is only part of the story.
Big, strong and with an unmatched eye for goal, the sharp shooting forward is the son of former Rockdale City coach and 2008 Super League Coach of the Year Mile Todoroski.
"I want to get into the first grade team and be a regular starter, hopefully by the end of the season," Todoroski said.
The young forward was speaking at Ilinden Sports Centre, where he had just scored the winner in Bonnyrigg’s remarkable 2-1 win over Rockdale City.
Having lost both goalkeepers to an injury and a red card, substitute defender Thomas Howell played a heroic role, saving shot after shot to bank the points.
Todoroski said, "That’s going to help our season for sure. Two goalkeepers down and playig with a player in goal, it’s a very good win."
Todoroski is still two months away from his 17th birthday, yet is part of the first grade squad at Bonnyrigg and is a regular in Paul De Lucca’s Grade 20s side.
"It’s a good experience," he said.
"I’m only 16; I should have been playing 18s this year and always stepping up keeps me motivated. I want to keep stepping up and getting better."
De Lucca has no doubts that Todoroski has the ability to get to the very top. "He has the ability to go all the way," De Lucca said.
"I’m lucky to have him come down to the 20s to play every week. The thing about Nikola, is that you give him instructions and he follows them to a tee.
"Sometimes I forget he’s just 16 and it’s scary to think about how good he could become in the next few years."
– By Matthew Connellan