With the all important Western Sydney Wanderers game a whole 28 days away, we spoke to WSW defender Tarek Elrich who gave an insight into what it’s like being a professional footballer and how important a healthy lifestyle is.
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Playing the biggest game in the world, there is no shortage of travel or education.
Elrich begun playing football at the age of three, and 13 years later he started playing professionally and has never looked back.
“My parents put me into football for a social and healthy lifestyle...anything that came after that was a bonus.”
While playing sport professionally definitely has its physical benefits, but what about education? There is no shortage of that either - it’s a real win win situation.
“I learnt a lot of things playing football, especially about people’s religion and cultures.”
“I travel a lot playing soccer, and get the opportunity to go to places I never thought I would get to go to.”
“You get to learn a lot and that is the beauty about it.”
On the topic of travel, Elrich says the league is excited to be coming out to Mudgee, especially since many of the players haven’t been here before.
“We are looking forward to it, it’s great to be doing something different.”
“We are looking forward to coming out there and just connecting with the locals.”
Elrich is a huge advocate for healthy living and says by coming out to different towns, he hopes kids will see what they do and be inspired to be active especially in an age where technology is the favourable choice of entertainment.
“For us it was all about riding our bikes, playing football with friends and just being out on the street all day, and it’s fair to say not many kids are interacting as much as we did when we were growing up.”
“That creativity to think that i can have a good time where I don’t have to be on a screen is where we are losing out a lot.”
“I think sport in general is very important for the lifestyle we want to live.”
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Although becoming pro requires dedication and hard work, Elrich encourages kids to be active.
“Don’t just play soccer because Tarek is saying play soccer, just enjoy being out there on a bit of green grass.”
“If we can go there and show that anything is possible, and it’s all about hard work but you can be anything you want to be.”
The game against the Brisbane Roar is close to a sell out, a comforting welcome for the red and blacks.
“I think it’s very important to reach out to the towns like Mudgee, and see how big football really is around Australia.”
“There’s nothing like playing in front of a decent turn out of a game.”
WSW will take on the Brisbane Roar on November 10 at Glen Willow Stadium.
Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster.