It goes to show once again that there’s so much more in sports that we never hear or see. When the players roll out on a Sunday arvo, or whenever, we’re there. Watching from the stands, from the pub or on the couch at home. But we’re not there to see the dude who gets a needle in the sheds just to be able to play that week. We’re not there in the gym to see which players are putting in that extra bit of effort, no matter how much we wanna criticise their effort levels in games. And we’re damn sure not there at home as they try sort out new schools for the kids because dad’s been transferred to a new club in a new city.

Kosta Barbarouses returned to the Wellington Phoenix as a marquee player but he’s left after only one season. A mutual decision after Kosta requested an early release. It definitely wasn’t the season we hoped for from him, scoring five goals in 25 games and only really finding anything close to his best form after he was dropped by the All Whites in March, but he’s a quality player and he’ll be a big loss.

Kosta’s statement in full: “Wellington Phoenix gave me my first start in professional football. There are so many people at this club that I am especially grateful to, and I guess that’s something that’s made this decision a lot harder. People forget sometimes that there are more factors involved than just football. Behind every player are a lot of people making sacrifices – I’ve been fortunate to enjoy tremendous support, so sometimes you have to think about others and consider their needs. I came home wanting to win a championship for Wellington and New Zealand but obviously that hasn’t happened. It’s frustrating it hasn’t all come together for me at this time, but you never know what’s round the corner in football – maybe under better circumstances we still can.”

It sounds like a homesick missus was the reason and that’s fair enough. Too often fans treat players’ wives like obstacles without considering what a bitch of a life it must be being married to a footy player. Granted, we tend to treat players like androids too, assuming they leave the field to be powered down until next week rather than having a shower, getting in the car and driving home to be a regular member of society again as is actually the case.

So while it’s fair to criticise Kosta for his performances over most of the season this does put that in a little different context. Off-field unhappiness doesn’t excuse on-field average-ness, not really, but it does perhaps help explain it. And if he’s gonna be a happier person back in Australia then mate, that’s where he should be.

You can't do your job at 100% if you're not happy in your outside life. Simple as that. It's only a game. Best wishes Kosta.
— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) June 4, 2017

Trust Piney to sum it all up perfectly.

We also maybe shouldn’t overlook the state of the Phoenix too, however. Not saying that without other things going on that Kosta might still have wanted to leave but remember he signed that marquee deal to play for Ernie Merrick. Then spent most of the season playing for Chris Greenacre and Des Buckingham, and woulda spent the next one playing for a different boss entirely. He was coming back to his hometown team where he started his career but ooh baby, things are changin’. It’s a very different club these days to what it was when he left.

Add in that Ernie has gotten a new gig with the Newcastle Jets and several prominent players have left the Nix this offseason (Glen Moss, Roly Bonevacia, Shane Smeltz, presumably Vince Lia as well), as well as the ongoing wait for a new manager. It’s not been a stable time at work and it’s not been a stable time at home… sounds like it’s time for a change. Kosta’s gotta do what’s best for him and the Nix have done the human thing in allowing him to leave, as reluctant as they might have been to part with him.

Although it might’ve been an easier call than they’d imagined. Barbarouses was named Club Player of the Season for the last term. That was stupid. The reality was that he struggled and when you’re paying big bucks for a player you want to see more from him. There’s every reason to think he’d have been better in his second season, most players are, but this way they still free up heaps of cash and a marquee roster spot to help replace some of the guys that have gone. Let’s be honest, Kosta was a bit of a luxury – we have others that can do his job… although Gui Finkler and Roly Bonevacia also underperformed last season. No doubt that trying to fit these talented but kinda incompatible dudes into a formation together didn’t help things. Oh well, won’t be a problem next time what with two of that trio (plus Smeltzy) having since exited stage right.

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One more thing from the club’s point of view, the great sports franchises around the world are the ones who trust themselves enough to treat players with dignity. It’s the strugglers that dig their heels in over a situation like this and force Kosta to play out the last year of his deal. You obviously can’t be setting a precedent where anyone can walk whenever they want but when things are serious you listen to the players and make the call not based on money or performance but based on human decency. Players respect that. Fans respect that. Players want to play for a compassionate club and fans want to support one. Fair play to all involved.

Right now Kosta Barbarouses is away with the All Whites trying to build for that Confederations Cup. Meanwhile the Welly Nix chose last week curiously to announce that, with the new boss’ approval, they’d re-signed Ryan Lowry and Hamish Watson as well as giving Sarpreet Singh his first professional deal. The latter two come as no surprise while the former one even less because he actually announced it himself on his Instagram back in late-April. Singh was also with the NZ Under 20s at the time and had been for a few weeks so obviously they were sitting on this announcement until… whatever they were waiting for happened. Possibly until they could get the thumbs up from the new boss.

As for that new gaffer, we already know that it’s probably Darije Kalezic. However his unveiling is now pretty much imminent. The next time you jump on twitter, the next time you turn on the radio, the next time you hit refresh… he might just be there staring back at you, probably with a yellow scarf and a smiling director next to him.

Unless… unless it’s someone else… in which case it’ll be someone else.

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