Ahmad Elrich back on track with Rydalmere

If you were out watching Rydalmere Lions FC kick-off their PlayStation 4® National Premier Leagues 3 New South Wales Men’s campaign with a 7-4 win over St. George City FA, you would have been treated to more than just goals.

You would have also seen a 17-game Caltex Socceroos veteran running rampant.

For the first time in eight years, Ahmad Elrich was back playing competitive football and for the 35-year-old veteran it was well worth the wait.

"It was fun, I really enjoyed being back out there," Elrich said of his return.

"It was a crazy game.

“We went 1-0 up then it was 1-1 and before we knew it we were 4-2 down at half-time.

"But we always knew we’d get back into the game. We knew if we just stared pressing higher up the pitch and winning the ball further forward, we’d get the goals and we’d get the win. Our coach Tony [Basha] was always saying we’d get the win."

Elrich played over 70 minutes on his return and while playing in New South Wales’ third tier is presenting its own challenges, he said it was a nice change of pace from the rigours of top-flight Australian and European football.

"I’m playing with some decent players, so it’s fun," the former Fulham winger said.

"I played park football with my cousins at Auburn District last season, so I’ve been around, but you know it can be tough on the legs.

"They’re getting better week by week and I’m just working hard at training to get fitter.

"It’s obviously different to what I have played before. There’s a lot more pressure at the top because if you make one mistake that’s it, you could be out of the team.

"I want to play well for Rydalmere but you can enjoy it a bit more at this level, too."

After so long out of the game, Elrich said it was his determination to give back to the game and to his local community – as well as some careful coaxing by coach Basha – that prompted him to make a return to the sport.

"Tony came and watched a couple of games when I was at Auburn and he started talking to me," Elrich said.

"Tony kept saying, ‘I always wanted to play with you, so maybe the next best thing is for me to coach you,’ so I thought why not give it a go and give something back to the young guys in the team.

"I think I can offer a lot of guidance not just from a football perspective but also in life in general. Maybe some of these kids don’t have someone outside of football that they can talk to about life and I like to think that I’m here for them in that respect."

And it is that very camaraderie that Elrich is enjoying the most about his return to football, even if he cannot celebrate the wins with the boys like he used to.

"It’s a bit different these days, I’m married so I can’t go out," Elrich said through laughter.

"I’m more of a family man now, but the banter and the stories from the boys at training are great so it’s like I was there anyway.

"As much fun as we have at training, it’s taken very seriously too. We have big ambitions for promotion this season and even though I think you can enjoy football more at this level, it’s still good to have goals and objectives.

"We know what the standards we want to set are and we want the club to have a very strong season."

Ahmad Elrich and co will be in action this Saturday night as Rydalmere Lions FC face a tricky away match to Sydney University at the Sydney University Football Ground with kick off scheduled for 7pm.

-By Matt Galea