Croydon Kings has again become a footy talent factory after previously producing abundance of key Socceroos players

Polonia Adelaide, known as Croydon Kings, has over the years produced Socceroos talent John Kosmina, Vic Bozanic and Roger Romanowicz. Now, technical director Mark Brazzale says there’s a new crop of stars emerging from the local club. Now, the club is again embracing its youth under technical director Mark Brazzale and National Premier League (NPL) coach Angelo Costanzo. The Kings are producing stars of the future, with more sure to be on show when they host Adelaide United in an NPL clash at Jack Smith Park on Friday night. They have nurtured three of Adelaide United’s upcoming stars – Olyroo Al Hassan Toure and his younger brother Mohamed, and Yared Abetew – Melbourne City’s underage international Kerrin Stokes and Hosine Bility, who last year signed a lucrative five-year deal with Awer Mabil’s Danish club FC Midtjylland. Younger brother Musa Toure, 14, was also a Kings junior. “Mohamed and Musa were with us since Under 7s, they started in 2011 until 2018,’’ Brazzale said. “Al Hassan started with us from under 11s and left in 2018. “With little resources we have produced players who have gone on to become professionals, they have come through our system, our club culture, they have become greater players from the environments they were in. “We have an abundance of kids coming through, we don’t pay a lot of money for top end NPL players – we believe in producing our kids. “I brought Ange (Costanzo) in to follow on the work I had been doing with the young players.” Brazzale – a former Adelaide City and West Adelaide National Soccer League (NSL) midfielder – coached the Kings’ first team from 2012 until 2018, claimed a premiership and two championships and produced two Sergio Melta medallists Rocco Visconte (2014) and Alemayo Kabede (2012). He also introduced teenagers to every NPL season before Costanzo. The former Adelaide United and Adelaide City defender, 1994 Sergio Melta medallist got his break as a 16-year-old under the late Salisbury United coach Chris Manolev. Former Adelaide United football director, Adelaide City legend John Perin gave Costanzo an NSL debut when he was 18 where he played alongside Socceroos defenders Alex Tobin and Milan Ivanovic. Costanzo said he had also played a part in the development of Mabil, Adelaide United’s Riley McGree and Jordan Elsey, Central Coast’s Ruon Tongyik and Western Sydney’s Bruce Kamau during his time as a Reds youth team coach. “You can see these boys have something, you don’t look at their age, but their ability,’’ Costanzo said. “The attitude is what counts the most. “You can’t coach that, but you can mould a player if he they have a great attitude.” Former Marconi midfielder Buddy Farah – a teammate of Costanzo at one stage of his career – has looked after the interests of Mabil, Bility, Tongyik and Kamau as an agent. “I got to know the players and the talents coming through many travels interstate and scouting games after obvious recommendations from my network to assist kids who they wanted to help get to the next level,’’ he said.