Bosnich dares not to dream of future

Fallen Australian soccer star Mark Bosnich lives only in the moment. As a recovering drug addict he can’t afford to do anything else but focus on the now.

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But after making a superb return to football in his guest stint at the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League, the 37-year-old goalkeeper is hopeful doors will start opening for a fulltime return to the pitch.

Not that he’s looking that far ahead.

“I have to be very cautious and very conscious of the fact that I don’t want to mess anything up. I am taking it step by step,” said Bosnich.

“I would love to (keep playing). I was out of football for a long period and sometimes you don’t realise you love something until it is gone.

“What I realise was I was a very lucky boy and in some cases a very misguided boy. I just want to make things right.

“I just need to keep working hard, performing well and hopefully those doors open.”

Bosnich has just three weeks remaining on his stint at the Mariners and after a spectacular return to playing, including a stop rated a contender for save of the season last week against Wellington, attention has quickly shifted to his future.

He has told his parents he doesn’t know where, or if, he will end up playing professionally again.

All he does know is that once his stint with the Mariners is over he has a television documentary to complete in Los Angeles from October 24 to November 9 and some business to attend to in London.

He wants to be home for his first Christmas in Australia in almost two decades, but anything else has too many variables to consider.

“I’m not thinking too far ahead. Hopefully it keeps going the way it’s going but it can also go the other way and experience has taught me that,” he said.

“You just have to be humble, which I really am trying to be, and be happy where I am at the moment.

“If you have one foot in the future and one foot in the past then the present suffers. I don’t want that to happen.”

Bosnich’s next focus, besides getting to training on time today, is to ensure he keeps his form strong for Saturday’s crucial A-League clash with ladder leaders Melbourne Victory.

The former Manchester United and Chelsea goalkeeper is aware one poor game against the Victory can ruin the reputation he is slowly rebuilding in Gosford.

“It’s been difficult, the whole experience has been, but it should be,” he said of returning to professional football.

“I have been very, very well protected by a fabulous team that I have got in front of me.

“Even in my worst time I counted myself very lucky, and I count myself even luckier now.”

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