ONE of Stefan Nigro’s former coaches has spoken about the talent he possessed as a young player with the Ballarat Red Devils.
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Josh Romein has reflected on his time mentoring and playing alongside the skillful youngster during his journey to the A-League.
Romein coached Nigro in an under-14 academy team and played a number of state league senior games alongside him at the Red Devils before his move to Melbourne.
He said Nigro had an ability to read and understand the game and was blessed with great composure on the ball from a young age.
“Not only that, his attitude was fantastic and his work ethic would match that as well,” Romein said.
“He would bring other players around him up with him, so he had plenty of good attributes.
“He was always talented.”
He would bring other players around him up with him, so he had plenty of good attributes."
- Nigro's former junior coach Josh Romein
Romein said he could always see the potential in Nigro.
“Out of a lot of kids that I’ve been involved with, he’s one of the best kids that has come out of this region and obviously he has got an opportunity now, but to say would I have ever thought this kid is going to play A-League? I’m not sure if that thought went through my head,” he said.
“He worked very hard. He deserves what he has got.”
Romein said it was good to see Nigro wasn’t overawed by the situation on Friday night and believed his debut was also a good thing for soccer throughout the Ballarat region.
“I think it just shows that if we can get the pathway right, the juniors that are in the town are capable of making it all the way to the top,” he said.
Nigro, who completed almost all of his schooling at Ballarat Clarendon College, certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots.
The 19-year-old said he had received plenty of support from the Ballarat people following his A-League debut for Melbourne Victory.
“My phone was going off (on Friday night),” Nigro said.
Nigro said he spent most of his junior years playing in Ballarat and was thankful for those that had helped him along the journey.
“My earliest years were all in Ballarat, so I owe it to all the coaches that have had me along the way,” he said.
Nigro, who sat on the bench twice with Victory before starting on the ground on Friday night against Brisbane Roar, is Ballarat’s first A-League player.