Winning Edge Presentations NPL Player of the Month, Rounds 5-8 – Michael Ferrante (Pascoe Vale)

Michael Ferrante may be nine years older than the average player age in the NPL, but the former Melbourne Victory championship player is clearly a man on a mission.

Despite his side’s lowly position, the Pascoe Vale midfielder polled nine votes from Rounds 5-8 to be named the NPL’s best player for that period.

FFV’s Julian Trantino caught up with the 33-year-old and found out just how passionate he is about his club and being a positive role model to his younger teammates.

JT: Congratulations Michael on being voted the best player in the NPL for Rounds 5-8. Did you give yourself a big chance to win the award?

MF: Not really. The way results have been going, I haven’t been expecting much to be honest. I’m pretty happy with how I’m going personally and it’s always a great honour to get acknowledged for being a good performer, so I’m quite happy with that but I’d much rather team results than personal accolades.

With this kind of form you’re in, have there been some A-League clubs knocking on your door?

It’s a journey that I’ve taken and it’s beyond me now. I’m 33 years old so no longer a baby, just enjoying being a part of a good club in Pascoe Vale and it’s a club that my family’s heavily involved in. They’re a great club with great people, and I’m just enjoying being a part of that and helping the club move forward.

Speaking of family ties, you’re coached by your older brother Vitale. Does he go easy on you?

Probably the opposite. He expects a lot from me because I’m probably the most senior player at the club, not just performance-wise but also with how I behave around the younger boys. It’s a very respectful relationship.

You played in the old Victorian Premier League (VPL) for four years with Richmond and Pascoe Vale. Have you noticed big differences with the VPL and NPL?

To be honest, not huge differences. The clubs in the NPL are very similar to what was in the VPL. It’s (NPL) a process that is going to take time to really achieve what they’ve (FFV) set out to achieve and I’m happy to be a part of it now, and hope that myself and Pascoe Vale can be a part of it for a very long time.

Do you relish being the most experienced player at Pascoe Vale and being a role model for the younger players?

I do enjoy it. I hold dear to my heart any little thing that I can pass on to a young boy that’s trying to achieve bigger and better things. I had a career that was probably cut short. I thought I still had a lot more to offer and it didn’t work out exactly how I’d planned, and if I can help a young boy who’s very eager and yet to learn, I’ll be doing my utmost to pass on any experience and information on to him.

Pascoe Vale has had some narrow losses so far this season and finds itself in the relegation zone. Are you confident you can turn those losses into positive results?

I am quietly confident. Performance-wise not many teams would walk away and say they outplayed us. It is unfortunate but we’ve got a good group of people, more importantly than anything. We’re going to stick by each other and we’re really going to turn this around. If we keep doing the right things and putting in 100 per cent, things can turn around pretty quickly.

The NPL Player of the Month is voted by FFV's match reporters in a 3-2-1 voting system for each match.

NPL 1 Player of the Month - Joey Katebian (FC Bulleen Lions)

Coach of the Month - Anthony Barbieri (Avondale Heights)

Rising Star of the Month - Vojo Milojevic (Springvale White Eagles)