Genc promoting junior football at St George

St George Football Association junior football players are under the perfect hands with Aytek Genc working wonders as Technical Director.

Genc had a distinguished playing career including stints with Parramatta Eagles where he won the National Soccer League, Sydney United and Malyasian club Johor FC.

At the height of his career he made three appearances for the Socceroos scoring one goal.

Experienced gained as a professional footballer for 13 years transformed Genc into an ideal coach.

After becoming Sydney United 58 FC’s Technical Director for Youth Football in 2002, he moved into the coaching ranks as an assistant coach with St George two years later.

But it was his stint as head coach of the Blacktown City Demons winning the NSW Premier League in his debut coaching year in 2006 that has Genc in fantastic stead in footballing circles.

Genc now focuses his energy on evolving footballers out of St George Football Association but admits he misses the days he would lace the boots.

“I do enjoy it – I would rather be playing and I think if I could play I would just keep playing forever,” Genc said.

“But I do enjoy my job away from the playing arena.

“Really my job is more about creating pathways into senior football for our young kids and so on.

“So I got a big, big job that spans across a lot of things from coach education to SAP, regional league, girls programs and everything.

“It is important for us also that St George Football Club is successful but also Rockdale City Suns who operate in our area.”

The former midfielder made a return to coaching on the weekend when he led St George in their 3-0 loss to the Sutherland Sharks in the IGA National Premier League NSW men’s 1 competition with regular coach Manny Spanoudakis tied up with work commitments.

He has been impressed by a number of players coming through the ranks in the St George Football Association, and has reminded players to continue working hard to achieve their dreams.

“You have to work hard but you go to work hard on your technique,” he said.

“I think the technical players are the ones that go far. So everything revolves around technique really.

“Just keep working hard, believing in yourself and always do more than everyone else.”

-By Chris Georges