Richard Porta: The forgotten man of Australian football

Every generation has its enigma. A man who stands out, who is unique in his own way and who should not need any introducing.

Australia need not look too far away for him, for he is only a phone call away from having a potentially electrifying effect on his countries football team and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

And with less than two weeks remaining until the naming of the Socceroos’ squad to face Lebanon on September six in Beirut, it appears timely to dissect and bring into the limelight once again potentially one of the greatest mysteries in Australian sport.

His name is Richard Aníbal Porta Candelaresi, more commonly known as Richard Porta, an Australian-Uruguyan yet to feature for the senior team of either country.

Having been born at Fairfield Hospital in the western suburbs of Sydney to Uruguyan parents before returning to that country at a young age, Porta began his football career with local side River Plate de Montevideo.

After coming through the youth system, he found the net regularly and became joint top scorer in Uruguay’s Premier division, the Apertura, for the 2007/2008 season. Following this, the long-haired talisman made a move to Italy’s Siena, before heading to Portugal’s Primeira Liga and featuring for Belenenses.

In this period, Porta was quizzed as to whether he would consider playing for Australia, to which he replied: “I would have to think about that … If someone from Australia spoke to me, I would then sit down with my management team and work out what is the best thing for me to do. That would make my decision for me, but of course someone has to ask me first.”

Speculation at the time was intensified after he appeared as a guest on Uruguayan television in 2005 sporting an Australian jersey on the FIFA World Cup 2006 Oceania-CONMEBOL qualifying broadcast.

He soon after returned to River Plate for a brief stint before joining fellow Uruguayan side Nacional, where in between a loan spell with the then Diego Maradona coached Al Wasl ended the Campeonato Uruguayo as the highest scorer with 17 goals in 16 games.

The ‘Canguro’ – meaning Kangaroo, as he is dubbed in Uruguay – has not been a total stranger to the Australian football landscape.

After having spent a week training with the Joeys during a camp in Montevideo in 1999, he was not picked for the resulting squad and his affiliation then came to a halt.

He thereafter decided to represent Uruguay at under-20 level, and despite being included with the senior Uruguayan squad, has not been capped to date.

Capping a player is contingent on an array of factors, and in this case, Porta’s inclusion appears essential for a number of reasons.

His desire to represent the country of his birth is certainly paramount and cannot be ignored.

After having expressed this year’s earlier, in 2011, it was once again reported that El Canguro would consider claiming his Socceroo’s top if he was called up.

This reality became frustrated in the Pim Verbeek reign, who consistently reinforced his view that the onus was on Porta to contact the FFA, and make his intention formally clear to officials.

This did not occur, and the Dutchmen’s exit from the setup meant that a fresh pair of eyes and mentality brought in by incoming coach Holger Osieck would potentially reignite the push.

The German wasted no time, asking support staff to follow Porta’s movements, and has recently requested an updated DVD of his exploits in Uruguay, where he has spent all but the first year of his life.

“He would dearly love a call up and has certainly not given up hope.”

Porta announced three weeks ago that he would return to ply his trade in the UAE Pro-League after reportedly turning down an offer from England. This time it would be with Dubai Club in the hope of finally fulfilling his dream of playing for the Socceroos.

The change at Australia’s post has certainly had an impact, with Porta’s brother Gonzalo, who lives in Sydney alongside another brother and Richard’s maternal grandparents, once again affirming that the prolific scorer is chomping at the bit to represent the country of his birth.

“The offer from Dubai was too good to refuse and Richard is hoping that by moving there he will become much more visible to Australia’s coaching staff,” Porta’s Sydney-based advisor Gonzalo explained.

“Richard is aware that some of the Socceroos players are now based in the Middle East and hopefully that can also work in his favour. He would dearly love a call up and has certainly not given up hope.

“They were certainly following him when he was last there and I am sure that will happen again. If he does well then hopefully the recognition will come.”

Form is obviously of great importance and practically speaks for itself.

Prior to joining Dubai Club, he blessed Nacional in the 2011/12 season, leading them to their 44th championship and once again claiming the Golden Boot in that league.

Competition and the present stocks must also be taken into account. At one end, there is Porta, who has been unstoppable as of late, competing against the likes both Josh Kennedy, Alex Brosque and Scott McDonald whom have found goals hard to come by for both club and country.

In light of the Socceroos’ lack of inspiration in front of goal in World Cup qualifiers thus far, Osieck need not and should not resist anymore.

What can also not be forgotten are Australia’s mistakes and naiveties of the past. The days when the likes of Soccer Australia and Frank Farina let men like Joey Didulica pass through the gates cannot be repeated.

We have matured as of late as a football country, pouncing on the likes of Rhys Williams, Matthew Spiranovic and Shane Lowry, indicating a willingness to progress and exercise a certain degree of cunningness and guile necessary in this age of dual-nationalities.

We all thought that the lessons had been learnt. The Porta story though is evidence of a paradox, as a player with such promise, and who arguably has more to offer this country than all of the above has continued to be overlooked.

The people who care in this country are in agreeance as well, as a recent poll on The World Game asking which fringe player should be called up for the Scotland friendly saw Porta accumulating 31% of the overall vote.

In light of Australia’s concerning limp and uninspiring performance against the Scots last week, it is clear as day that there is no better opportunity to blood and finally secure the services of a man who is willing, and ultimately who the national team needs going forward.

A failure in doing so may well prove to be a prejudicial decision to Australia on the road to Brazil and beyond.

Follow on Twitter @MoranShaun