Nejc
While his older brother is in the infancy of promising coaching career, Nejc still has plenty of scores to settle on the playing field. After working his way into the Heidelberg first team, Nejc has been in fine form for George Katsakis’ men, who sit in third on the NPL ladder behind Bentleigh Greens and traditional rivals South Melbourne.
Like Saša, football was thrust onto Nejc at an early age, beginning playing the round ball game as a six year-old on pitches overlooking the picturesque mountain setting. Unlike his brother, Nejc preferred the red of Manchester United over the black and white stripes of Juventus. He spent his youth career at local club Tolmin and regional heavyweights Gorica, idolising his brother’s exploits as the older Kolman embarked on his professional senior career.
After spending a season in the seniors at Tolmin, he signed his first professional contract with first division club Nafta Lendeva, where his brother had also previously played. During his time in the First Division, Nejc rubbed shoulders with some of Slovenian football’s biggest names.
“I was at Gorica at the same time that Valter Birsa (ex-Milan and current Chievo Verona winger) was there, as was Tim Matavz, who has done well at PSV and now plays in the Bundesliga, and many others players who have gone onto having good European careers,” Nejc says.
The youngster’s next few years were spent between different Slovenian First Division clubs, while also playing abroad in Spain’s third division with Racing de Ferrol and Compostela, and Bulgarian second division club Shumen. Upon the conclusion of his overseas spells, Nejc returned to Slovenia, and following stints at NK Celje and Tolmin, a complete change of scenery also beckoned for the younger Kolman.
With the current economic future of Europe uncertain, and his brother coaching abroad in Australia, Nejc decided to follow Saša down under. “I came here mainly because of my brother as he insisted on me doing so, with the current situation in Europe – both financially and in football – not being the best,” he says.
Due to his brother’s position at South, Nejc was able to secure a trial at the club, donning the club’s blue and white colours in a number of pre-season friendlies.
“I started off at South Melbourne where I was on trial but sadly I was not offered a position on their roster with injuries during the pre-season affecting me to some extent,” he says.
Not all was lost, as Nejc immediately received an invitation from officials at Olympic Village, with Heidelberg determined to add some midfield quality into an already competitive squad.
“I was invited to play a pre-season friendly for Heidelberg and George [Katsakis] was very impressed with me and wanted me to come on board which I gladly accepted.
“I am very happy here as it’s a good club with a proud history which is doing well at the moment.”
Things weren’t so easy at the beginning of his tenure, with the midfielder struggling to adjust to Australian football as his teammates got off to a great early-season start.
“The type of football played in Australia is different to the one I’m used to back in Europe, so naturally it took a bit of time for me to adapt and that is why at the start I struggled to gain a lot of game time,” he says.
An impressive 10-minute cameo away to Port Melbourne was followed by his first start in a comprehensive 8-2 thrashing of Green Gully, where Kolman netted his first goal on Australian shores. The 26-year-old has continued on with that impressive form and maintained his place in the starting 11 ever since, notching up 14 league appearances with the 1980 NSL Champions, and playing part in the club’s current FFA Cup run.
“Now that I have adapted to the style of play here, I can hopefully keep on progressing and maintain my position as a key player for the club,” he says.
Outside the football pitch, the former Slovenian youth international admits it was also initially difficult adjusting to life in Australia, and living in “such a big city as Melbourne”.
“I am here living with my brother and life has changed completely as it’s a different lifestyle here with Melbourne being a lovely city, maybe sometimes too big for someone like me coming from a small-town in Slovenia.”
On the field however, Nejc is determined to play his part in helping Heidelberg conquer all before them in the league this season.
“We have a lot of quality players and that’s why I believe this year we have the potential to do something special here and we are taking this game-by-game and hopefully come the end of the season, we will emerge as overall champions.”
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Despite plying their trades at rival clubs, the bond between the Kolman brothers remains as strong as ever. Growing up in the mountainous backdrop of Slovenia, they may never have imagined both calling Australia home at the same time, but they couldn’t be happier with the path their footballing journeys have taken.