West Torrens Birkalla’s Ryan Kitto wins Sergio Melta Medal
WEST Torrens Birkalla forward Ryan Kitto has been named SA soccer’s brightest star less than a year after being released by Adelaide United.
RYAN Kitto was shattered when he received the news every professional soccer player dreads.
After breaking into the Adelaide United first team on the back of impressive form in the National Youth League, the Reds told the forward his contract would not be renewed last year.
“It was disappointing because it was my childhood dream to play professional football,” said Kitto, who made two A-League appearances in 2013.
“To have the door closed temporarily was sad but if anything it made me hungrier to want to go back and prove people wrong.”
Kitto’s bid for a swift return to the big time received a boost on Saturday night when the West Torrens Birkalla star was awarded the Sergio Melta Medal for the SA Premier League’s player of the year.
The 21 year old was instrumental in steering the Novar Gardens club from relegation candidate to title contender in a breakout campaign.
“I feel very grateful and very humbled to win this award,” Kitto, of Christies Beach, said.
“I wanted to come back to the Premier League and really enjoy my football.
“I hadn’t had a break for a while so I took some time off (after being released by United) but when I got back on the track I tried to work even harder.
“This is a big moment for me because chances (at A-League level) don’t come too easy.
“Hopefully someone comes knocking, because I still have that burning desire to play professional football.”
Kitto polled 30 votes – five more than Croydon winger and last year’s medallist Rocky Visconte – to claim the award in front of more than 650 guests at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
The Australian youth international scored 17 goals to fire Birkalla to a third-placed finish, 12 months after the Eagles avoided relegation on the last day of the season.
Kitto was joined in the Premier League team of the year by Birkalla teammates Scott Nagel and Julian Torresan, who was also named goalkeeper of the year.
Eagles mentor Steve DeGiovanniello was coach of the year after his first season in charge at Jack Smith Park.
“The support of my teammates and the role he (DeGiovanniello) allows me to play for the team definitely helps me to express myself,” said Kitto, who floated between both wings, attacking midfield and striker this season.
“He told me to go and do what I like doing so I’m very fortunate to have him as my coach.
“I saw Birkalla suffer last year so I wanted to be a big part of turning things around for the club.
“We’ve got a group of players who are Birkalla boys and hopefully in the next few years we’ll be able to be successful and win something for the club.”
Champion West Adelaide had striker Ricardo DaSilva and defender Robby Lippett selected in the all-star XI, along with Adelaide City’s Nic Bucco and Matthew Halliday.
Campbelltown City’s 22-goal Golden Boot winner Michael Matricianni and defender Iain Fyfe, Visconte and Kym Harris completed the team.
Cumberland United’s Jace Cummins wiped away some of the disappointment of the Foxes’ failed promotion bid by winning the Bob Telfer Medal for State League player of the year.
Cumberland’s Billy Graves was voted best coach in the second tier and Adelaide Olympic’s Matthew Pelizzari was named top goalkeeper for the second straight season.
Metro United striker Marijana Rajcic claimed the Shirley Brown Women’s Premier League player of the year and top goalscorer after helping her side to the league and cup double.