Football friends United again

JOSH Brillante and Koh Satake tore up the turf together as ATW football juniors for five years.

Their careers blossomed as club players into representative players and, more recently, into the Queensland Academy of Sport and the QAS Hyundai State League team.

However, the incredible quirkiness of their parallel careers continued with their recent signings to the Gold Coast United's Youth Team.

“To see us both as youngsters, training and playing in club teams, then rep teams and now we are another step closer to the top is almost too hard to believe,” Josh said.

“It's incredible.”

For Brillante, this contract is another stepping stone to the realisation of a dream.

“It's what I've always wanted to do, what I've trained for,” he said.

“I can look ahead to the future now and keep training hard.”

Brillante moved to Brisbane at the end of last year for the 2009 season with QAS.

He will now relocate to the Gold Coast, where he will train with Gold Coast United during the week in preparation for the fledgling club's maiden season in the A League.

The move also includes a change of schools.

However, he will return to Brisbane on weekends to complete this season's commitments with the QAS team.

Asked whether the signing of Brillante and Satake was planned because of their boyhood association, Gold Coast United Youth team coach and assistant first grade coach Mike Mulvey said he was not aware that Satake had lived in Bundaberg.

“I wasn't aware Koh had lived in Bundaberg,” Mulvey said.

“I became aware of them both when I was coaching at QAS.”

Mulvey endorsed the duo as players who had the right stuff to go all the way to the top.

“To make it at this level, they have to have the right attitude and dedication and be prepared to make some sacrifices,” he said.

“Both these young men have all the necessary attributes and athletic talent required.”