The Nomad That Is Alex Duric

While a lot of football followers have their eyes firmly transfixed on the European Championships at the moment, a whole bunch of World Cup qualifiers are taking place throughout the rest of the globe, which are worth taking a closer look at.

Indeed, it is early stages for most confederations in their respective qualification processes, which earns most results just a passing glance from the average pundit.

But one result, which caught more than just the quick fleeting look earlier in the month, was the incredible match between Singapore and Uzbekistan, which ended 7-3 in favour of the Uzbekis.

And while that scoreline itself was quite remarkable, there was another incredible story inside the story here.

Casting your eye through the Singapore team sheet would simply make anyone curious. It seems the island nation has a lot of naturalised players amongst their ranks.

But one name which rings a bell for quite unbelievable reasons is Alex Duric.

Duric is someone who has come a long way to get to this point. Through wars, family crises, immigration issues and even the odd Olympic Games appearance.

Born in Bosnia at the beginning of the 70s, Duric grew up in a village by the Bosna River where he would kayak in the mornings, go to school during the day and play football in the afternoons. It was an active lifestyle for a youngster but as Duric explained later in life “in a communist country, if you are a top sportsman, your future is very bright… you can be a doctor in my country and still not get paid as much”.

And while at such a young age, he probably didn’t see his natural hobbies as future career aspirations, it was obvious sport and the outdoors was something he loved.

At the age of 15, Duric was in the national team for canoeing but he decided to focus on football and in 1990, he traveled to Sweden to try his hand at professional football.

But while he was in Sweden, his homeland fell into civil war as the conflict between Serbs and Bosnians intensified during the early 90s.

Duric attempted to return home to find his family during the war but he was prevented from re-entering the country. It was something which haunts him to this day. During the war his mother died. He never got to say goodbye to her. He too lost contact with his father and brother for 10 years.

This was one of many horrific hardships Duric would have to go through.

In the wake of the war in the early 90s, Duric settled in Hungary where he played professional football for FC Szeged. At the end of his first season with Szeged in 1992, Duric received a random phonecall from the Bosnian Olympic Committee asking him if he would like to represent his country in kayaking at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games.

Duric agreed. Only problem was the Bosnian Olympic Committee couldn’t pay for his passage to Barcelona. Duric was faced with a conundrum but as he explained “it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me and I couldn't give it up”.

At the age of just 21, Duric decided to hitch-hike from Hungary to Spain. He would have to go through four countries to get there and along the way he experienced many people cautious of travelling Bosnians due to the war-ravaged climate of his homeland.

“I was stopped at a few places because all I had was a Bosnian passport and a letter from the Spanish Olympic committee. They thought I was seeking refugee status," Duric recalled. "I would hitch rides and the people would stop and ask me: 'Where are you going?' I would say I'm going to Spain to represent Bosnia in the Olympic Games. Everybody looked strangely at me.”

Eventually though Duric would make it to Barcelona for the games where he managed to reach the quarter-finals of the 500m kayak event. Duric’s highlight though of the Olympics was walking out onto the stadium during the Opening Ceremony in front of 100,000 people with his fellow Bosnian athletes representing their war-ravaged nation. There were only 10 Bosnians participating at the Olympics, but for them just being there and having gone through similar hardships in to get there was a symbolic achievement and the crowd warmly cheered them on.

Duric looks back at his Olympics appearance with glee and laughter. It wasn’t too long after Barcelona he was travelling again and this time it was all the way to Australia.

All the way Down Under, Duric settled for a new life but again he wanted to play professional football and he joined Australian club South Melbourne. Duric enjoyed several good seasons with the Melbourne based side and he was also granted Australian citizenship. Football in Australia though was mostly semi-professional in those days and most players required second jobs. It was a total change of lifestyle.

Despite having somewhat settled down in Australia, Duric still longed for that professional football career he dreams of and in 1997 he had a brief stint in China with Super League club Locomotiv Beijing. He soon returned to Australia but it was a sign of things to come.

A couple more seasons in Australia’s top league followed before another brief stint abroad, this time in Singapore with Tanjong Pagar United where he had a fine campaign scoring 11 goals in one season.

Duric again returned to Australia until he finally decided to move to Singapore where he had been a big hit a few years ago. He signed his S.League club Home United in 2000 and officially made the move to the island nation.

The Bosnian-born forward would reclaim that excellent form of a couple of years ago in Singapore as he scored plenty of goals in the S.League leading to a move to Geylang United where he won the league in 2001.

After scoring plenty more goals with Geylang and becoming known as the ‘Goal Machine’, Duric decided to move to rival club Singapore Armed Forces in 2005, for what should have been the twilight years of his career. Instead Duric flourished in what has proved to be his career best form.

In 2007, Duric claimed almost every individual honour available in the S.League including Player of the Year and the Golden Boot after scoring 37 goals during the regular season as his side won the league and cup double. Duric himself also became the all-time leading goalscorer in the S.League having scored well over 200 goals.

Needless to say, he had impressed in Singapore. In fact he had impressed so much, the Singaporean FA desperately tried to get Duric to become a Singapore citizen so he could play for their national team.

The situation in Singapore at the moment is a peculiar one, with several members of their national team not being born or raised in the island nation. Players such as English expats Daniel Bennett and John Wilkinson or Chinese-born Shi Jiayi have become Singapore national team members, which has in turn created much debate about the issue of players swapping international allegiances.

Nonetheless after living in Singapore for over six years, Duric was willing to complete his citizenship. In September 2007, Duric officially became a Singaporean citizen and three days later he was called up to the national team for a World Cup qualifier with Tajikistan.

Incredibly, on his debut for the Singapore national team, Duric scored a brace as the Lions went on to qualify for the third round of the AFC World Cup qualifiers for the first time ever.

Thus a couple of weeks later Singapore were drawn in the World Cup qualifying group with Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.

Such was Duric’s popularity in Singapore, that in the preparation games for the third round World Cup qualifiers he got the opportunity to become the first ever non Singapore-born player to start for the national team wearing the captain’s armband. He also got an opportunity to play against his old nation Australia in March 2008 and he almost scored as his teammates rallied for an unlikely 0-0 friendly draw.

Finally though on the 2nd of June 2008, Singapore would face Uzbekistan in that incredible 7-3 match. As it would happen, Uzbekistan scored first before Duric levelled for Singapore early in the first half. At that stage, no one would have expected what happened next to happen next, but that seems to be the trend with anything Duric touches.

Duric’s story is an amazing one, from war-torn Bosnia, to the glory of the Olympic Games, to life in sunny Australia and onto fame in Singapore. And despite being some 38 years young, perhaps their’s a few more chapters too for Duric.

Glory Beaten In Warm-Up

A-League club Perth Glory have been beaten 3-2 in their pre-season match against the WA State Team at Litis Stadium on Wednesday night.

Glory came from behind twice before a late Andrija Jukic goal won the game for the impressive State Leaguers who dominated periods of the match on a cold night in front of around 2,000 fans.

Perth, who finished the last A-League season in seventh position, started with new signing Eugene Dadi in attack while defender David Tarka returned after a long-term injury.

Trialists Anthony Skorich and Brent Griffiths scored for the Glory but a brace from Scott Bulloch and the eventual winner from Jukic proved too much for the A-League side.

Maroons Reply In Style

Queensland has responded from their opening loss in the State Of Origin series, to record a 30-0 thumping of New South Wales in game two yesterday evening at Suncorp Stadium.

The Maroons proved way too good for the Blues who simply had no answers, in what Queensland coach Mal Meninga described as "near the perfect footy game".

Melbourne Storm centre Greg Inglis was the star for Queensland as he created the opening two tries for the hosts inside the first 20 minutes with debutant Darius Boyd the happy benificiary.

Five-eighth Johnathan Thurston added a trio of penalties before Ben Hannant and Israel Folau each scored a try in the second-half, to equal the Maroons best ever winning-margin over their southern rivals.

New South Wales simply had no answers as they were shut-out for just the second time in Origin history.

The Blues' halves Peter Wallace and Greg Bird proved ineffective while their pack was well beaten by the Maroons who were lead by returning front-rower Steve Price.

It was a stunning turnaround from Queensland after game one, as the Maroons played with increased purpose, enthusiasm and intensity.

Their were some post-match claims that referee Tony Archer favoured the hosts but New South Wales coach Craig Bellamy confirmed "Queensland were too good on the night".

The Maroons victory sends the series into a decider, as Queensland chase a rare Origin treble.

Swans Snatch Thriller

The incredible rivalry between West Coast and Sydney has continued, with the Swans winning a thriller by five points at Subiaco Oval last night.

Sydney came back from a six-goal half-time deficit to kick ten of the last thirteen goals of the match to win 12.11(83) to 11.12(78).

Jude Bolton kicked a goal which put the Swans ahead for the first time in the match with under two minutes remaining, after he won a free-kick from a high Adam Hunter tackle.

The Eagles didn't have enough time to recover and Sydney celebrated an unlikely comeback victory in front of almost 39,000 fans at Subiaco Oval.

All this after the hosts had a six goal to none first quarter with on-ballers Daniel Kerr and Dean Cox starting brightly for the Eagles, with the former booting two early goals.

Sydney fought back in the second term to stem the flow but failed to narrow the margin which had grown to 36 points at the main break.

But a goalless third quarter for the Eagles concerned the local fans and with good reason as the Swans rallied. Sydney booted four third-term goals to get themselves within striking distance of an unlikely victory, with the man with the most-famous knee in AFL, Nick Malceski, particularly impressive.

The Swans had narrowed the margin to just 14 points at the final break, but the Eagles struck first in the last term through David Wirrpanda.

Sydney midfielders Jarrad McVeigh and Adam Goodes were stand-outs as they again worked hard to close the gap between the sides as both teams traded goals.

The Swans finally broke the trend of goal-for-goal in the last, to get a run-on and when Goodes set up Malceski for a major, the visitors were within a kick.

The final moments of the match were incredibly tense highlighted by an edgy piece of play by the Eagles close to Sydney's goal as they tried desperately not to rush a point. It was typical of the rivalry which has built up between these clubs over the last few years.

In the end though, it would be the Swans today who would be victorious after Hunter's indiscretion and Bolton's calmness under pressure.

Sydney now maintain their press for a top four berth this season while for the Eagles, despite an improved performance this week, it seems this may be a dismal season for their fans.

Sydney 0.4 2.7 6.9 12.11.83
West Coast 6.1 8.7 8.11 11.12.78
Sydney goals; Kirk 2, McVeigh 2, Bevan 2, Malceski 2, Bolton 2
best; Malceski, Goodes, Kirk, McVeigh, Kennelly
West Coast goals; Staker 2, Kerr 2, Wirrpanda 2
best; Lynch, Kerr, Embley, Butler
Crowd; 38,802 at Subiaco Oval

Cats Back On Top

Geelong have returned to the top of the AFL ladder after a hard fought 13 point victory over the Kangaroos at Docklands tonight.

The Cats held off North Melbourne 19.13 (127) to 17.12 (114) in front over 38,000 fans.

The premiers maintained a two-to-three goal advantage for much of the evening and proved too good for the spirited Kangaroos, with Cameron Mooney booting 7 goals and Gary Ablett collecting a career-best 39 possessions.

Despite the heroics of the Cats' stars, North Melbourne didn't go down without a fight and began the game with two of the first three goals, in an entertaining opening quarter.

Geelong soon swung the momentum back in the first term with Ablett racking up over a dozen touches in the opening stanza as the Cats went to the break ahead by 22 points.

The Kangaroos though fought back in the second term with opportunistic goals coming from Leigh Harding along with North's livewire forwards Lindsay Thomas and Matt Campbell who proved difficult for the Cats' defence, as Geelong saw key defender Matthew Scarlett go down injured with a worrying hamstring strain.

North Melbourne's 7 goal second quarter brought the game to life and the Roos kept pressing in the third term to get within a goal but never headed the Cats.

Ablett proved to be elusive though despite the best efforts of Roos' coach Dean Laidley applying tags in Daniel Harris, Ed Lower and Brady Rawlings, as the Geelong 2007 Best and Fairest winner kicked a crucial late goal in the third quarter to give the Cats a two-goal lead at the final break.

The Kangaroos would never fully recover as Mooney went on to kick a career-best 7 goals while Steve Johnson was continually a handful for North.

In the end, the Cats ran out 13 point victors, which sends them back to top of the league ladder ahead of Hawthorn, who can return to the summit with a win over Essendon tomorrow night.

Nonetheless, the Cats can savour a hard fought four points whilst North Melbourne's finals aspirations remain dodgy despite a decent performance.

Geelong 7.0 11.6 17.7 19.13.127
North Melbourne 3.2 10.4 15.7 17.12.114
Geelong goals; Mooney 7, Johnson 3, Lonergan 2, Ablett 2, Varcoe 2
best; Ablett, Bartel, Mooney, Johnson, Prismall, Kelly
North Melbourne goals; Hale 4, Campbell 3, Harvey 2, Petrie 2, Thomas 2
best; Harris, Petrie, Hale, Harvey
Crowd; 38,373 at Telstra Dome

Kewell The Difference For Roos

Australia has extended its lead atop Group 1 in the World Cup qualifiers, thanks to a Harry Kewell goal, which saw the Socceroos defeat Iraq 1-0 in Brisbane on Sunday.

Kewell struck just moments after half-time when he headed an inswinging Brett Emerton cross past Iraq keeper Noor Sabri, for what turned out to be the winner.

Australia though rode their luck on their way to the three points with goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer having plenty to do.

Early in the game, Iraq almost stunned the Suncorp Stadium crowd when the Socceroos’ defence failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Emad Mohammed whose quick strike cannoned into the crossbar.

Australia did soon settle into the game and a neat passing move almost resulted in Mark Bresciano scoring for the hosts but Sabri saved the Palermo midfielder’s shot.

After 27 minutes, Emad again had a chance to put Iraq ahead in the first-half when he found space in the box but his shot was thwarted by Schwarzer’s legs.

Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud was then the next player to be guilty of missing a good opportunity, when he put a free header wide of the goals.

Iraq’s lack of composure in front of goal would cost them.

Just two minutes into the second-half, Kewell, who had caused the Iraqis some aerial trouble in the first-half, scored with his head to send the sold out Suncorp Stadium into raptures.

Kewell was time and time again at the centre of Australia’s attacking moves as he seemed the most creative outlet for the Socceroos, while forward partner Scott McDonald was disappointing as he proved ineffective.

When Kewell was substituted with quarter of an hour to go, Iraq began to dictate terms and on 82 minutes Iraq forward Hawar Mohammed had a great chance to level the match but Schwarzer was again too good.

Australia held on until the final whistle to move to seven points in the group, while Qatar and China drew in the other match, leaving the Socceroos three points clear of Qatar with the Chinese a further point behind and Asian Cup winners Iraq languishing at the bottom of the table with just one point.

The Socceroos travel to Dubai to play Iraq this Saturday with talk big Karlsruhe forward Josh Kennedy may come into the side. The Iraqi defence clearly struggled with Kewell’s aerial presence, so the inclusion of the 192 centimetre Kennedy could be a shrewd move.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has also spoken of the need to improve his defence after a less-than-impressive display in Brisbane. As Kewell admitted at Suncorp “again we rode our luck”.

Nonetheless, Australia do have the chance to secure their passage into the next phase of the World Cup qualifiers with three points in Dubai.

Australia 1 (Kewell 47)
Iraq 0
Suncorp Stadium; 48678