Melbourne Victory Captain Mark Milligan says he is feeling fresh and is raring to go, after returning to the club following his FIFA World Cup Campaign.
Victory’s skipper said his body was in great shape and he couldn’t wait to get back on the park for an exciting Hyundai A-League season.
Milligan and teammate Leigh Broxham spent the afternoon in Melbourne’s iconic laneways, playing Street Football with homeless youth.
Press play on the video below to hear what the skipper had to say on his return to Melbourne Victory, the FIFA World Cup, his Street Football experience and much more.
Milligan said he was injury-free and primed for a big season, but wasn’t sure if he would be part of Kevin Muscat’s FFA Cup Round-of-32 squad, given his delayed start to the pre-season.
“I’ve been very lucky with my knee since I had it done,” he said, referring to minor surgery earlier this year.
“I haven’t had any dramas with it. And the hamstring (injury at the World Cup) was just poor timing. If the Spain game was a day or two later, I probably could have played.”
Melbourne Victory today teamed up with Youth Projects to play street football with homeless youth doing it tough.
Milligan said the club was pleased to be able to throw its support behind a worthy cause and football was a great way to bring people together, while also helping raise awareness of the issues at hand.
“For people to be putting in place days like today is very important. The numbers (of homeless)Â are extremely high, especially among youth. So, it’s important for us to be involved in events like this –Â any help that we can give is a benefit.”
The Street Football event, part of Youth Projects’ recreation program, leads into Homeless Person’s Week, which starts on Monday, August 4. There has been a 40% increase in homelessness in one year in Melbourne and Youth Projects is seeing nearly twice as many people in its free homeless medical clinic in Hosier Lane.
