Isaka Cernak
Isaka Aongor Čerňák-Okanya (born 9 April 1989) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Olympic FC.
 Cernak playing for Sisaket FC 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Isaka Aongor Čerňák-Okanya | ||
| Date of birth | 9 April 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Galiwin'ku, Northern Territory, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Olympic FC | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Peninsula Power | |||
| Westside FC | |||
| Brisbane City | |||
| 2004–2006 | QAS | ||
| 2007 | AIS Football Program | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007 | AIS | 20 | (4) |
| 2008–2009 | Brisbane Roar | 5 | (0) |
| 2010 | North Queensland Fury | 11 | (3) |
| 2011–2012 | Melbourne Victory | 19 | (1) |
| 2013 | Wellington Phoenix | 8 | (2) |
| 2014 | Perth Glory | 10 | (1) |
| 2015 | Central Coast Mariners | 9 | (2) |
| 2016 | Supersport United | 10 | (1) |
| 2017 | Sisaket | 21 | (5) |
| 2018–2019 | Home United | 9 | (0) |
| 2020 | Phrae United | 2 | (0) |
| 2021– | Olympic FC | 24 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007–2009 | Australia U-20 | 19 | (5) |
| 2010–2011 | Australia U-23 | 5 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 November 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 June 2011 | |||
Club career
Youth career
In his youth football playing days, Cernak played for the Peninsula Power, Westside FC, Brisbane City, QAS and the AIS football teams.
Brisbane Roar
In 2008 Isaka Cernak joined A-League team Brisbane Roar (then called Queensland Roar), making 15 appearances and scoring a goal in his two seasons with the club. On 24 January 2009, Cernak made his senior debut as a substitute for Brisbane Roar against Perth Glory in a 4–2 win.[1] In 2010, he left the Roar to join state rivals the North Queensland Fury.
North Queensland Fury
In June 2010, Isaka signed a deal with North Queensland Fury to become their 15th signed player for their upcoming season.[2] He made 14 appearances for the Fury, scoring one goal in his season with the Fury. Unfortunately for Cernak, the Fury were unable to extend his contract due to FFA ownership of the club.[3]
Melbourne Victory
During the 2010–11 season Melbourne Victory signed Cernak for the following season and Asian Champions League campaign as a replacement for departing striker Robbie Kruse to Bundesliga 2 club Fortuna Düsseldorf, with Fury unable to extend his contract due to FFA ownership of the club.[3]
Wellington Phoenix
After being released by Melbourne during the January transfer window Cernak signed with Wellington Phoenix until the end of the season, having already agreeing to terms with Perth Glory for the following season.[4]
Perth Glory
Just a few months after signing with Wellington Phoenix, Cernak signed with Perth Glory.
Central Coast Mariners
In February 2014 Isaka signed for reigning A-League champions Central Coast Mariners. Isaka stated upon signing: "Being able to have one-and-a-half years to learn as a footballer off 'Mossy' (Phil Moss) and the players at Central Coast Mariners is really exciting for me."[5]
He was released from the Mariners in 2015 after the club opted against renewing his contract.[6]
SuperSport United
He joined South African side SuperSport United in June 2015 on a 3-year deal.[7] However, Isaka struggled to make an impact and made just 7 league appearances before he sustained a knee injury that required surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season. He subsequently agreed to a contract termination.[8]
Sisaket
Isaka next joined Thai League club Sisaket where he made 14 appearances and scored 1 goal.[9]
Home United
His signing for Singapore Premier League side Home United was announced on 13 July 2018, coming in to fill the vacant slot for foreign players left by Sirina Camara (whose season had been prematurely cut short by an ACL injury).[9] He made his debut for the Protectors in a Singapore Cup loss against Tampines Rovers where he was introduced as a substitute.[10] He followed up his debut by scoring his first goal for the club in the AFC Cup ASEAN Zone Finals a week later, scoring the goal that earned his team a 1–1 draw in the first-leg.[11]
International career
Cernak has represented Australia at U-20 and U-23 level. He has 19 caps and five goals at U-20 level and he currently has 7 caps and zero goals at U-23 level. He has won the Weifang Cup U-18 competition for Australia in 2007 and the International Cor Groenewegen Tournament at U-20 level in 2009.
Personal life
Cernak was born in Galiwin'ku, Northern Territory. His father is Ugandan, and his mother is European Australian with a Scottish-Czech-American family background.[12][13]
Career statistics
- As of 16 September 2020
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| AIS | 2007 | Victorian Premier League | 20 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 20 | 1 |
| Brisbane Roar | 2008–09 | A-League | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | 11 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 11 | 1 | ||
| Roar total | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| North Queensland Fury | 2010–11 | A-League | 14 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 1 |
| Melbourne Victory | 2010–11 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | 17 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 17 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | ||
| Victory total | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | ||
| Wellington Phoenix | 2012–13 | A-League | 6 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 0 |
| Perth Glory | 2013–14 | A-League | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 0 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 2013–14 | A-League | 1 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | A-League | 18 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 | |
| Mariners total | 19 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||
| SuperSport United | 2015–16 | Premier Soccer League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 |
| Sisaket | 2017 | Thai League T1 | 14 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 1 |
| Home United | 2018 | Singapore Premier League | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 2 |
| 2019 | Singapore Premier League | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 24 | 2 | ||
| Phrae United | 2020 | Thai League 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| Olympic FC | 2021 | National Premier Leagues | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 155 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 182 | 11 | ||
References
- Cernak set for debut
- "Fury sign Isaka Cernak". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- Victory Swoop For Cernak Archived 23 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- "Phoenix Swoop on Cernak". Football Federation Australia. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- "Mariners seal trio on deadline day". Football Federation Australia. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014.
- Hassett, Sebastian (1 May 2015). "Isaka Cernak and Zac Anderson cut as Central Coast Mariners' new coach seeks fresh start". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "SuperSport United Sign Australian Attacking Midfielder Isaka Cernak". www.soccerladuma.co.za. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "Isaka Cernak Has Surgery, Agrees SSU Termination". www.soccerladuma.co.za. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "Cernak Isaka: Robbie Kruse and Ken Ilso got me to the Singapore League". FourFourTwo. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "Jordan Webb's late winner gives Tampines advantage over Home in SG Cup". FourFourTwo. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "Isaka Cernak lauds Shahril, Izzdin after dream AFC Cup debut against Ceres". FourFourTwo. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- Birth certificate Isaka AongorCernak
- Vidmar puts faith in young guard to step up to Socceroos
External links
- Isaka Cernak at Soccerway