Ocassionally in the course of this odyssey, thanks mainly to the lack of information in the soccer press, I get truly surprised. One such surprise came courtesy of the widow of David Zeman, Socceroo #209.
Zeman was born in what is now Slovakia in central Europe. Emigrating here in 1950 as a 7-year old with no English but as a natural athlete, he succeeded in whatever sport he took up. Luckily at Castle Hill Primary School in Sydney's Hills district, soccer was on the menu and the club that he found himself improving his football skills was Pennant Hills FC.
A short walk from Campbell Park in West Pennant Hills meant that David could while away as many hours as he wished honing his game. Zeeman graduated through West Ryde Rovers, Blacktown Spartans and eventually finding himself at the mighty Prague, home to so many of Sydney's finest footballing emigres.
Zeeman won 3 caps in all, the first from the bench in the 1969 World Cup qualifier against Japan. Sadly he passed away in 2015, far too early a much loved figure who gave back to the game he loved coaching for many years at both Blacktown & returning also to Nth. Ryde. To find out that he learned his football here in Sydney's north west and not in Europe was a surprise worth waiting for.
Zeman was born in what is now Slovakia in central Europe. Emigrating here in 1950 as a 7-year old with no English but as a natural athlete, he succeeded in whatever sport he took up. Luckily at Castle Hill Primary School in Sydney's Hills district, soccer was on the menu and the club that he found himself improving his football skills was Pennant Hills FC.
A short walk from Campbell Park in West Pennant Hills meant that David could while away as many hours as he wished honing his game. Zeeman graduated through West Ryde Rovers, Blacktown Spartans and eventually finding himself at the mighty Prague, home to so many of Sydney's finest footballing emigres.
Zeeman won 3 caps in all, the first from the bench in the 1969 World Cup qualifier against Japan. Sadly he passed away in 2015, far too early a much loved figure who gave back to the game he loved coaching for many years at both Blacktown & returning also to Nth. Ryde. To find out that he learned his football here in Sydney's north west and not in Europe was a surprise worth waiting for.
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