Patafta In

[pv4]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/spor...603-2nmho.html

Patafta’s return could run longer
June 4, 2013

Kaz Patafta retired from the A-League ''on a whim'', he says, but the Canberra sportsman hopes playing against Malaysia can help relaunch his professional career.

Patafta was only 23 when he retired from the Newcastle Jets at the end of the 2011-12 after stints with Melbourne Victory and Portuguese giant Benfica. He wanted to get an education, and as his law studies wind up he feels ready to pull back on the boots.

After helping set up the friendly between Canberra FC and Malaysia, Patafta got a call from club president Marko Vrkic asking if he wanted to play in the match.

It could be the start of something bigger, with the midfielder already attracting interest from several clubs in Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

''That's your mid-tier Asian clubs, but that's a good entry point,'' Patafta said. ''You don't know down the track what might happen - the A-League or beyond - but for me it's getting back out there and this is a good start on Thursday.''

Patafta said it could also lead to him playing out the season with FC in the Canberra National Premier League, if the club wanted him.

''Never say never. That might be a possibility. We'll see, maybe after the game, if they're interested,'' he said. ''I'm here at the moment [and] it makes sense to play a couple more games in Canberra and be involved in the premier league.''

Patafta has returned to Canberra to oversee the soccer academy he has set up with Shaun Ontong. Training with a young squad has helped get him in shape and the year out of the game has left him refreshed.

He played three games for Benfica before signing a loan deal to the Victory. Patafta told The Canberra Times if it wasn't for that loan deal, he could have ended up at another Portuguese giant in Porto.

''A couple of days later I was offered a five-year deal with Porto. That's something I never really told anyone,'' he said.

''I don't know if I wanted to believe that I'd missed out on that … which I turned down because I'd made a commitment to Melbourne,'' he said. ''Maybe it would have been a different story for me if I had stayed in Portugal.''

gve out, patafta back in

insert reference to jesse pinto and/or shaun ontong aswell

[q-money]

tongers is a ledge tbh, had a beer with the great man while working down in canberra (y)

[boz-monaut]

"retired"

[q-money]

[plague]

5 star thread already.

Bring him home Tinks.

[russjaybee]

Shaun ontong rofl. One of our best signings.

[militiamon]

Great player, loved to fire up at absolutely nothing. One of our unsung heroes alongside Ange Costanzo.

[joel31]

no

[Rocknerd]

Didn't GVE already destroy his career? what can he possibly do to further ruin him?

[Jeterpool]

Didn't GVE already destroy his career? what can he possibly do to further ruin him?

Become his father in law

[q-money]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SIGNED-A-...item2a2e2cd64a



get amongst it

[q-money]

also available

[Premy]

Get me a pie

[Porett]

Didn't GVE already destroy his career? what can he possibly do to further ruin him?

Destroy his career twice.

[hawk]

^3 times a lady

[hawk]

couple of days later I was offered a five-year deal with Porto. That's something I never really told anyone,'' he said.

''I don't know if I wanted to believe that I'd missed out on that … which I turned down because I'd made a commitment to Melbourne,'' he said. ''Maybe it would have been a different story for me if I had stayed in Portugal.''

yeah, rightio peter pan

[Jeterpool]

You're living in the past, Marge. Quit living in the past!

[The Dunster]

couple of days later I was offered a five-year deal with Oporto . That's something I never really told anyone,'' he said.

''I don't know if I wanted to believe that I'd missed out on that … which I turned down because I'd made a commitment to Mcdonalds,'' he said. ''Maybe it would have been a different story for me if I had stayed ...''

oporto.jpg

Fixed.

[lil_masi]

Pinto's playing the indo premier league and plays for the East Timor national team

[Grimario]

Bump.

http://www.a-league.com.au/article/f...u1nafk2v1disvf