Manis Lamond

NSL Career: Canberra City, Sydney Croatia/United, Wollongong City, Marconi 269 (51) / 1984 - 1997/98

Papua New Guinea Career: 2 (0) A Internationals

From it's beginnings in 1977, the NSL provided a platform for talented footballers from the tiny island nations of Oceania. Keni Kawaleva came to Australia from Fiji in the 1970s and was the first to play in the league before Tony Brennan, who was born in Papua New Guinea, played his junior football in Queensland and became a talented player in the league.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Manis Lamond was one of the best footballers in the league and became the best player from Oceania (outside of New Zealand) to play in the NSL. The winger, who was blessed with explosive pace and brilliant ball control, terrorised defences with his ability to run in-behind opposition defences and create a plethora of chances.

Born in Papua New Guinea, Lamond moved to Cairns (Queensland) where began his junior career. While representing ACT in the Australian Schoolboys team in 1984, Lamond was noticed by NSL club Canberra City who quickly signed the exciting winger and made his NSL debut in round 17 at the age of 17.

Lamond became a key attacking player for Canberra in 1985, linking up with Hilton Phillips on the opposite wing and was the club's joint top scorer with Tommy English. Following Canberra's one-nil loss to Blacktown in the first round of 1986 season, Sydney Croatia broke the NSL inter-club transfer record ($32,000) to sign Lamond after player-coach Vedran Rožić, who had captained Hajduk Split only two years prior, struggled to contain the young forward in their previous encounters.

The speedy Lamond became a key component of Croatia's attacking play which was usually started by sweeper Rožić. Lamond and star import Željko Jurin would get on to brilliant long passes out of defence with Socceroos full-backs Graham Jennings and Wally Savor playing behind them and create chances for hardworking centre-forward Graham Arnold, who went on to win the NSL Golden Boot and player-voted Player of the Year award.

Croatia finished minor premiers of the Northern Conference and reached the preliminary final where Lamond's blistering pace helped him round Sydney Olympic keeper Gary Meier before missing the chance to put Croatia four-two in front as Marshall Soper and Stuart Johnston scored the equaliser and winner respectively.

During the season, Lamond received an invitation to trial with Brazilian giants Flamengo - becoming the first NSL player to be offered a chance in that part of the world. Lamond spent three months in Brazil during the NSL off-season before returning to Croatia where he formed part of a dangerous attacking trio with Arnold and energetic winger Robbie Slater.

The talented Croatia side failed to reach the heights of their 1986 season, finishing fifth and losing their elimination final in the final edition of the Play-Off Series, but claimed their first piece of silverware in the NSL by defeating South Melbourne two-nil on aggregate to win the NSL Cup in which Lamond was a standout in the first leg.

Lamond had his best season in front of goals in 1988, scoring nine goals in 19 league games, and helped Croatia reach the grand final. In the championship-deciding match, the winger crossed the ball in from the left flank to find Alan Hunter, who scored a brilliant equalising volley before scoring a header in the second half of extra time to give Croatia a temporary lead in the grand final. Marconi equalised with a late penalty and went on to win the game in a penalty shoot-out.

During the 1989 season, Rožić left the club and was replaced by former Croatia keeper Ron Corry as the club failed to qualify for the finals series for the first time since 1984. Prior to the start of the 1989/90 season, Robbie Slater left for Europe before the club went through several coaching changes during the season, including a short period with Graham Arnold as player-coach and failed to qualify for the final series for the second consecutive season.

During the off-season, Croatia lost Arnold to Europe as Lamond had to find an understanding with new attacking partners Pedro Ricoy and John Gibson during the 1990/91 season. Croatia struggled to score goals before the club signed St. George star Tony Krslovic during the season, who made an immediate impact by scoring two goals on debut and formed an understanding with Lamond who helped the new striker score 12 goals in 16 league games.

Croatia failed to qualify for the finals series again before bringing in former Yugoslav First League and Croatian First Football League coach Mladen Vranković for the 1991/92 season. Vranković failed to inspire the team as they achieved their lowest-ever finish in the NSL (12th) and were the second-lowest scoring team in the league, with Lamond and Krslovic scoring just eight goals together.

Experienced NSL coach Manfred Schaefer replaced Vranković for the 1992/93 season and improved the team, with Lamond and Krslovic combining with 14 goals as Croatia finished seventh. The 27 year old Lamond helped United (formerly Croatia) return to the top during the 1993/94 season as young forwards Ante Milicic and David Zdrilic established themselves in the team and United reached the finals series for the first time since 1988.

During the 1994/95 season, Lamond formed part of Croatia's best attacking trio (with Milicic and Zdrilic) since the Arnold-Slater era. The trio combined for 20 goals and helped the club reach the minor semi-final, losing three-one to South Melbourne. United finished sixth in the 1995/96 season and reached the finals series for the third season in a row where Lamond scored in the second leg of United's elimination semi-final against Brisbane before they were knocked out by Adelaide City in the minor semi-final.

Following the 1995/96 season, Lamond was set to sign his first overseas contract with Sembawang Rangers as Singapore formed it's first fully professional league (S.League), but didn't make an appearance for the club before making his international debut for Papua New Guinea. Australia had never taken a chance on Lamond and the winger decided to represent the country of his birth during their first ever World Cup qualifying campaign.

As Lamond entered his thirties, his career was curtailed by injury and failed to recapture the form that had made him one of the best players in the NSL. The winger made just three appearances for Wollongong during the 1996/97 season before playing six of the first eight games of the 1997/98 season for Marconi when he hung up his boots at the age of 31. Lamond was selected in Sydney United's 50th Anniversary All Stars Team.