At only 20 year’s old, it’s hard to believe that Phillip Cancar is only in his first season of playing regular A-Leagues football.
Having returned back to Australia in 2019 after a stint overseas in Croatia, Cancar has worked hard to pave a way for himself from the Wanderers Academy to A-Leagues set-up.
After making two appearances in the club’s FFA Cup campaign this season, Cancar returned to A-Leagues action two months later having been called into the starting line-up against Melbourne Victory in February.
It was a match to remember for the young gun who played a critical role in the Red & Black holding down a clean sheet and three vital points.
One of many Wanderers Academy graduates on the pitch that night, Cancar has praised the opportunities the club has given to the next generation.
“This club gives young players chances,” explained Cancar.
“There’s a few of us that came through the system – (Mark) Natta, Tomi (Aquilina), Tate (Russell) and Tass (Mourdoukoutas) so everyone’s come from the same system.
“So it’s good.”
Looking back on his perfect A-Leagues debut, Cancar has described the moment as a dream come true.
“It was surreal at first (on debut),” said Cancar.
Going to a stadium is crazy. When you’re younger, you dream of it and when it actually comes around it is surreal.
“It’s a blessing to be honest.
“Just being part of the team, being part of the club, being part of everything.”
Cancar had left Australia as a 16-year-old to chase his European football dream, first making the move to Croatian top-flight club Lokomotiva Zagreb where he spent a year before moving to Hrvatski Dragovoljac in search of more senior football.
Upon his arrival in Western Sydney almost three years later, Cancar was ready to embrace whatever opportunities came his way in the Red & Black.
“I felt ready and I felt ready for a while (on playing senior football),” said Cancar.
“It was just that timing whether I was going to play or not.
“When the opportunity came, I just tried to embrace it.
“The boys supported me and the coaching staff supported me. Everyone supported me.
“So when I went in, I just felt comfortable and tried to play my game.”
It has been a turbulent season as ever for the Red & Black who have been set-back by COVID breaks and coaching changes, but one thing is for certain – Cancar has been using every minute as a chance to learn and grow.
“Every game is an opportunity to learn and get better. So every game we go into win,” said Cancar.
“If we don’t get the result, it’s a new learning opportunity to get better or learn from our mistakes.
“So as a team, every day is a new opportunity to learn – even on the training field. We go out there and we learn something new every day.”
Taking chances and embracing opportunities has been the story so far for Cancar’s very young career and looking forward to what lies ahead, the young defender has his sights firmly set on snatching up as many wins as possible for the club.
“As a team, we have to win. That’s the main thing,” said Cancar.
“For me, when I play I just need to do my job.
“As a team, we just need to win and that’s the goal.”
And if early signs are anything to go by, Cancar’s recent appearances in the Red & Black are something the Wanderers faithful should be excited by with the future set to be very bright in Western Sydney.
