Van Egmond gives wayward Musialik piece of his mind

THE NEWCASTLE HERALD

NEWCASTLE Jets coach Gary van Egmond delivered a blunt message to Stuart Musialik yesterday, declaring the errant midfielder had "hurt a number of people" by missing the Olyroos training camp and needed to take responsibility for his actions.
Musialik, the Newcastle born-and-bred playmaker who steered the Jets to a 1-0 grand final win against Central Coast on Sunday, was cut from the Olyroos squad when he failed to join the team in camp on Tuesday before flying out on Wednesday for their friendly clash with Mexico.

He was apparently uncontactable, and Olyroos coach Graham Arnold eventually lost patience. Doubt now surrounds Musialik's selection chances for the Beijing Olympics.

The 22-year-old offered a variety of excuses to the media yesterday for his non-attendance but insisted that excessive post-grand final partying was not a contributing factor.

Initially he said he became separated from his mobile phone and was unaware that people were trying to contact him.

He then revealed he had some "personal issues" that needed to be dealt with and was feeling "a bit flat" after Newcastle's play-off campaign.

But van Egmond said yesterday that Musialik needed to realise that representative selection was an honour that should never be taken for granted.

"It doesn't take too much for him to pick up the phone and call someone," van Egmond said yesterday.

"It doesn't take too much for him acknowledge the fact that [Jets assistant coach] Mark Jones has rung him three times and we've got people sitting up in the Australian camp waiting for him.

"I'm the first one to go into bat for Stuey and the issues that he has, and I'm very understanding of it.

"I think he's a wonderful person and a wonderful player, and I want him to reach his maximum potential. But he's also got to help himself.

"We've all got our issues, some worse than others, obviously.

"But at the end of the day it's paramount that people who are selected for the Olyroos turn up, because I would suggest there are a number of people out there who would give their back teeth to have as much talent as Stuart Musialik and be given the same opportunities he has. He's got to realise that."

Asked if he thought Musialik's omission would prove a wake-up call, van Egmond replied: "I hope it is. The quicker he wakes up to himself with regard to people wanting to help him, the better he'll be, as a footballer and a person."

Van Egmond agreed it was "a possibility" that Musialik might have cost himself a spot in Australia's Olympic squad.

"That's up to Graham Arnold, and I'm sure Arnie will have a good talk to him when he gets back from America," he said.

"What he's done is hurt a number of people who've gone out on a limb to help him, and that's probably the most disappointing thing."

Musialik said yesterday that there was "a little bit of partying after the game, but nothing too heavy".

Asked to explain why he was AWOL, Musialik replied: "My mobile phone and charger and car keys were in my bag, and I couldn't get to my bag until Tuesday afternoon. I've been doing a little bit of surfing, but it wasn't due to partying. It wasn't as if I was partying for three days straight."

He said he had since spoken to Arnold.

"I told him I had a few personal issues going on and he seemed very understanding about it," Musialik said.

Musialik, who is yet to re-sign with Newcastle for next season, admitted that he felt he had "let the [Olyroos] boys down and I'm very sorry about that".

Van Egmond was hopeful that Musialik would stay with Newcastle despite interest from Melbourne.

"It's just a matter of seeing where we are as far as that is concerned," he said.

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