Kantarovski set to break Jets A-L record
Nov 25, 2016 - 5:14 AM Newcastle utility Ben Kantarovski says it's an honour to stand on the brink of history with his hometown A-League club.Still just 24 years of age, Kantarovski will equal Tarek Elrich's record of 134 A-League appearances for the Jets if he features in Saturday night's clash with Melbourne Victory.
The record will become his alone if he's involved in Sunday week's home encounter with Sydney FC - and, with so much football still ahead of him, it's a record that will likely stand the test of time.
A born and bred Novocastrian, Kantarovski said the milestone had crept up on him.
"To be fair, I didn't know too much about it. I knew I'd be close to those appearances but it's something you don't really think of - you just want to play every game and you take it week by week," he said on Friday.
"That's what I've been doing for the past few years.
"To reach this milestone, it's a massive honour and to do it for my home club is even bigger.
"It makes you appreciate who you're playing for."
Kantarovski is in his ninth A-League season, having made his debut in the opening round of the 2008-09 campaign in a F3 Derby against Central Coast.
He was just 16 years and 208 days old, which made him the youngest A-League player at the time.
"It's probably one of the only games I remember playing. They tend to all blend together, but that one really sticks out," he said.
"It wasn't so much a nervous thing; it was just a matter of being able to do a job because I was so young, playing centre-half.
"I had a solid support network behind me and, in the players out on the field, you had some experience - (Ante Covic) was behind me in goals, Adam Griffiths, (Adam) D'Apuzzo.
"The players around me also helped me in a great respect."
Source: AAP
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