Photo: David Mullins Sports Photography
While the Springvale White Eagles may have headed into their game against second-placed Kingston on the back of consecutive defeats, their spirits were far from dampened.
Staring down the barrel of a third straight defeat at 2-0 down, two goals in quick succession at White Eagles Stadium turned the contest on its head as the hosts drew level, only for Kingston to then pinch a winner at the death in a game that could’ve fallen either way.
It’s marked the latest turn in a strange old season for Springvale, who have seemed to flow in and out of results this season; it took them eight weeks to pick up their first win only to then make it five straight under new coach Nik Kovacevic, then lose the next two.
They then enjoyed another three game winning run, which has preceded this current run of results.
It’s a marked improvement from the season prior, which saw the club languish at the wrong end of the table, without ever looking threatening on the park.
Now, they look a side capable of winning games against any opponent in the league, equipped with young talent and a sense of self-belief, even if results aren’t falling their way.
For goalkeeper Lajos Hun (preferred last name Oliveira), he was always a firm believer that the side would get to where they are, stating that the confidence within the squad had been there from the beginning.
“The confidence has always been there, we always believed in each other but we just needed to pick up a couple of wins. The moral is great, friendship is great, we just have to keep going,” Oliveira said.
“Nik [Kovacevic’s] been a big factor. He’s brought the group together, set some expectations for us to achieve and we all know our expectations and we work as a unit. We’re like a family down here at White Eagles and we fight for each other.”
Despite another loss, results have been a crucial part in aiding the development of a young Springvale outfit, where they’ve developed a more consistent approach on the park and rarely ever looked completely out of a game since the mid-season appointment of Kovacevic.
The 20-year-old revealed some of the expectations laid out by the coach to ensure the players are working cohesively as unit.
“Stick to the basics, never give up, fight for each other and work hard – whether it’s a Monday coming off a win or off a loss, when we train, be effective and put in hard work,” Oliveira said.
“Today we showed great character, started off a little bit slow but in the changing rooms we had a word to each other. We knew our expectations and we really wanted to lift. Unfortunately we copped that late goal but we’ll go back to training and lift.
“After a loss or a win, we’ll react a little bit differently, but at the end of the day our training intensity stays the same. It’s just preparing for the next game.”
For Oliveira, it marks the first time in his blossoming career that he’s been a first-team regular, having made the step down from the NPL, signing from Oakleigh Cannons in the pre-season.
The Springvale shot-stopper remains incredibly grateful for the opportunity presented to him by the White Eagles, where he has made more senior appearances than his last three years combined.
“I’ve welcomed it with open arms, it’s what I’ve wanted since a young age,” he said.
“I’ve always been second keeper at a number of NPL clubs, without ever really breaking through. White Eagles gave me a chance and I appreciate it a lot, so I hope I can just keep performing.
“I feel like I’ve progressed a lot. A couple of changes with the coaching staff has seen some changes to my game and I feel like I’ve adapted well.
Working under John Honos in 2015, Oliveira got his senior chance in the early stages of FFA Cup qualification, where he made three penalty saves in a Round 5 penalty-shootout win over Richmond SC, while also getting his chance in the national stages after the temporary departure of John Honos, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over South Australian side Metrostars SC.
He spent the 2013 season with South Melbourne where he made one league appearance – coming after a red card from Peter Gavalas, in which he then saved the resulting penalty – and also made one appearance for Bentleigh Greens in 2014, after a National Youth League winning season with Melbourne City.
Having worked with some of the best goalkeepers in the VPL/NPL in his senior career, Oliveira has singled out the one that’s helped his progression above all others.
“[I’ve learnt from all of them but] especially John Honos, he taught me how to be calm. When I was younger, I used to always be quite edgy.
“Keepers like Alastair Bray, Honos and Peter Gavalas just to name a few, I’ve taken a bit away from all of their game, their technique, and it’s benefitted me a lot.”