Andreas Govas’ phone hasn’t stopped ringing.
After his long-range goal from last week’s match against Green Gully went viral, he’s been inundated with calls, messages and well wishes.
The club posted his screamer on Sunday and watched the views climb, as media outlets around Australia and the world picked up on it.
SBS World Game called it the “greatest goal you’ll see this season – in any league in the world”.
The goal was just one of three Govas netted for Heidelberg United in a whopping 8-2 win against Green Gully.
“My phone just didn’t stop, Facebook, Whatsapp messages, emails, text messages from all over the world saying ‘Oh my god what did you do?’,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
“I got quite a few phone calls from Greece too and some of the Greek newspapers contacted me for some interviews. It was very surprising.”
The former Kalloni FC player returned to Australia two years ago, where he trialled for Melbourne Victory and settled at Oakleigh Cannons.
His move to Heidelberg this year was in part thanks to his formative football years when he played at the club as a junior.
He says he’s improved dramatically at the club thanks to his own fitness regime and the tutelage of coach George Katsakis.
“I’m at a different level this year and I’m also linking up better with my teammates,” he says.
“I’ve got a very good chemistry on and off the pitch. To me that was very important.”
He admits that Oakleigh Canons didn’t give him that sort of feeling despite the positives the club offered.
“They’ve got really good players and a great coach who’s really passionate, but generally what Oakleigh lacks is cohesiveness,” he says.
“At Heidelberg it’s the exact opposite. You know exactly what’s expected and everyone does what they’re supposed to do.”
A very useful thing for a natural midfielder.
His past and present, though, are about to meet as the player prepares for a huge match against his old team.
Oakleigh Cannons welcomes Heidelberg on Sunday in a blockbuster Greek derby.
Topping the NPL ladder, Heidelberg will enter the match with confidence, especially since they managed to get eight goals past in their last match.
Coach Katsakis knows he must field a team that will give him options for its upcoming FFA Cup preliminary match next week.
Oakleigh Cannons enter the Sunday match tired from their own FFA Cup match win, but have a couple of good results under their belt that could see them get the upper hand.
Govas hopes he’ll be meeting a tired Oakleigh rather than a resurgent one, but is excited nonetheless.
“I’ve been looking forward to this game for a long time, a lot of my family and friends have been looking out for this one,” he says.
“For me the most important thing is we go there and we’re going to win and we continue the way we’re going and perform well. “
Oakleigh Cannons takes on Heidelberg United at Jack Edwards Reserve at Edward Street, Oakleigh at 5.45 pm.