Andreas Govas
Andreas Govas (born 21 July 1989) is a Greek Australian footballer, who currently plays for National Premier League club Heidelberg United.
 Andreas Govas in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andreas Govas | ||
| Date of birth | 21 July 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Heidelberg United | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Heidelberg United | |||
| Fawkner Blues | |||
| 2006 | VIS | ||
| 2007 | Portsmouth | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008 | Apollon Kalamarias | 7 | (0) |
| 2009 | Kozani | 4 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | AO Kavala | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Kozani (loan) | 27 | (7) |
| 2012 | Troyes | 0 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Kalloni | 25 | (1) |
| 2014 | Oakleigh Cannons | 20 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | Heidelberg United | 43 | (7) |
| 2016 | Bulleen Lions | 8 | (1) |
| 2017 | Port Melbourne | 26 | (9) |
| 2017– | Heidelberg United | 4 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2008 | Greece U19 | 2 | (0) |
| 2008 | Australia U20 | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 September 2018 | |||
Club career
European Adventure
In 2007 Govas signed his first professional contract with Premier League outfit Portsmouth F.C.. Govas was part of Portsmouth's U-18 Youth Academy and Reserves teams under academy director Paul Hart.[1] In 2008, he and Australian Apostolos Giannou played together for Apollon Kalamarias F.C. in the Greek Football League, a year which saw Govas gain 7 appearances before transferring to FS Kozani. In January 2010 Govas signed for Greek Superleague Club AO Kavala where he joined fellow Australians; Zeljko Kalac, Apostolos Giannou, Craig Moore and Robert Stambolziev.[2][3] In January 2012, he signed a six-month contract with French Ligue 2 side Troyes AC who were promoted in the same season to Ligue 1.[4] In September 2012, he signed a two-year contract with Kalloni in the Greek Football League. He played an important role throughout the season helping Kalloni FC gain automatic promotion to the Greek Superleague for the first time in the club's history.
Return to Australia
In February 2014, Govas signed for National Premier League club Oakleigh Cannons FC under coach Miron Bleiberg. The Cannons finished league runners up in Govas' only season with the club. In November 2014, Govas signed for his childhood football club Heidelberg United in the National Premier League. Govas scored an incredible long-range goal in April 2015 as Heidelberg beat Green Gully by a scoreline of 8–2.[5] On 15 June 2016 Govas left the Bergers mid-season for league counterparts FC Bulleen Lions. In 2017 Govas signed for National Premier League club Port Melbourne SC and was one of the best players throughout the 2017 season scoring numerous long bombs along the way. In 2018 Govas signed for National Premier League club Heidelberg United FC.
International career
He was a part of the Australia U-20 team that participated in and won the 2008 ASEAN Youth Championship.[6]
He was also a part of the Australia U-20 team that competed at the AFC U-19 Championship 2008.[7]
In 2008, he had also represented Greece's U-19 squad with Apostolos Giannou and Dean Bouzanis.[8] It had been reported that Govas, Giannou and Bouzanis chose to represent Greece as they had been snubbed by Australian national selectors.
"I represented the Victorian squad at Under 15 and Under 16 levels and I was lucky enough to have been selected for the VIS to be part of a development program aimed at producing players for the national team. As I came towards the end of my time at VIS I was hoping to get an international call-up or an invitation to the AIS. I was invited up to the AIS for a day trial, but unfortunately I was not in the (selected) 18 and was sent home. I thought I was really good while on trial there and was surprised not to have been picked. I was also then told that I would not be in the mix for AIS selection, so I looked overseas." – Govas speaking with Melbourne's Greek newspaper Neos Kosmos[8]
Honours
NPL Victoria Team of the Week Round 2 2017[9]
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- AFF U19 Youth Championship 2008
References
- "Academy keeper Jordan fails to win Pompey contract - Pompey Past - Portsmouth News". Portsmouth.co.uk. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- "Greece - AO Kavala - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news". Soccerway. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- "Australia - A. Govas - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- "ESTAC - Site Officiel - Archives des fils info". Estac.fr. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- Forage, Toby. "Andreas Govas nets NPL goal worthy of global praise". The World Game. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- "Lujic scores twice for Young Socceroo's". Melbournevictory.net. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- "Joeys Defeat Uzbekistan - Australia News - Australian FourFourTwo - The Ultimate Football Website". Au.fourfourtwo.com. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- "City Journal Online". Cityjournal.dsc.rmit.edu.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- "NPL Victoria Team of the Week: Round 2 - The Corner Flag". The Corner Flag. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.