Knezevic loving life with the Villagers

ON May 2, after a two week delay due to the volcanic ash cloud Adam Knezevic of Queensland, Australia arrived in a surprisingly sunny Northern Ireland.

For a first venture away from home, Adam really has gone all out, travelling almost 40 hours and over 10,000 miles, he probably couldn't have gone much further if he'd tried!

At just 24, Adam Knezevic is one of Eglinton Cricket Club's youngest choices of overseas professionals, but one whose talent, in coaching and playing, is in abundance. Growing up in a relatively quiet town near Brisbane – not dissimilar to Eglinton, Adam led a very sports orientated life.

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Heavily involved in cricket and both Rugby Union and Rugby League from a young age, Adam played on teams all over his state and travelled to many other districts regularly, always playing at a very high level. It seemed rugby was going to be the dominant sport at one stage in his life, as Adam was consistently being scouted to play for both Rugby Union and League representative sides. However he recalls that without much reason or explanation, cricket gradually began to take over, soon becoming not just the leading sport in his life, but a leading part of his life.

The break to travel to Northern Ireland to play and coach cricket in Eglinton seemed like the perfect set up at an ideal time. Firstly, it was very much fitting with Knezevic's career path, as he has plans to teach.

Despite only being in his early twenties, Adam already has two prestigious degrees under his belt, from Griffith University, Queensland. The first one is in Sports Management and the second in Education. University was always on the cards for Adam, although like many young free spirited people, the temptation was there to jet off across the water, without receiving a degree. He always had plans to travel, but was keen to obtain an Education before jetting off into the wider world.

The Sports Management course qualified Adam to work as a personal trainer, and he acquired work, instructing nightly fitness classes in pure health clubs and gyms around Brisbane, as well as training numerous clients on a weekly basis. Just as Adam was getting his plans in place for Northern Ireland, the opportunity of a more permanent coaching job arose in Brisbane. However Adam's sights were already set and the job was rejected.

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For a large part of the two years that Adam worked as a personal trainer, he also worked in both primary and secondary schools as a 'supply' or as we call it, substitute teacher. This position, working and interacting with young people, has inspired Adam to teach, and is a career he wishes to pursue. Therefore it appears that his previous employment combined with his willingness and eagerness to travel abroad, makes for the ultimate set up.

Here at Eglinton Cricket Club, as well as playing on the first team, Adam coaches both junior and senior teams, attending most matches, either as a player or spectator. On top of this, he has just completed an eight week programme with the local primary schools, who individually attended sessions at Eglinton Cricket pitch, with Adam and some helpers.

The schools included; Faughanvale, Mullaghbuoy, St Colmcille, Eglinton, Drumahoe and Ballykelly. The programme proved a massive success, as all participants enjoyed gaining new skills, with the luxury of learning from one of the best in the business.

Journeying to such a small town would have been a bit of a comedown one might assume, but Adam is humble as he speaks about his own background, suggesting it was not necessarily all too far removed from that of Eglinton, or on a wider scale, of Londonderry or Limavady. Fair enough, the level and amount of sport in his hometown was on a slightly larger scale, but he notes that the enthusiasm and passion that young and old alike here in Eglinton have for cricket, is the same, if not greater.

So what does September bring for Adam Knezevic?

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With a two year work visa, does he have plans to stay and teach or is there more cricket on the cards?

Both are options he tells me. Right now he has many eggs in his basket, and is willing to explore all possibilities. One thing is for sure and that is he has plans to do some travelling; both around the United Kingdom and further afield in Europe; with a definite stop in Yugoslavia, where he will possibly rediscover his Eastern European roots, delving back into his grandfather's heritage.

With his first venture out of native Australia, seemingly acting as a stepping stone to see more and do more, he will go wherever the wind takes him. And why shouldn't he?

At 24 with already two degrees intact, some financial security under his belt, and plenty of enthusiasm and courage, the world is his oyster!