From an early age, grade 12 Riverside Student, Mick Oravec shared a similar dream as many other kids, to become a professional footballer. Playing in the streets and fields with friends and family, soccer became Oravec’s hobby and a lifestyle. Oravec idolized and grew up watching great teams such as Chelsea, Ajax and players such as the Brazilian Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho.
Oravec started playing at the club level at the age of six for Poco FC, he started at House and moved his way up the divisions to Division one. After playing for Poco for an additional three years, Oravec then transferred to Coquitlam Metro Ford and started developing the exact same traits as the Italian footballing genius Andrea Pirlo. Displaying great control, passing, shooting, and vision, Oravec grew into an all-around box to box central midfielder.
The truth is that Oravec can play anywhere he wants to because of his versatility. Oravec has also played defender (CB) left or right back (LB, RB) even as a winger (LW, RW) and a forward (ST). There’s real potential behind the superstar. Oravec continued to play for two years, and it was at this point in Oravec’s career when he decided it would be better for him to develop even more in an adult league, Oravec joined VMS the Vancouver Metro Soccer League, where he trained and played with U21 and up.
In the summer of 2016, Oravec traveled with his family to Slovakia to train with his boyhood club Msk Zilina FC, a club located in Zilina, Slovakia. Oravec remained in Slovakia for the summer playing and training with the academy team. The management was impressed and told Oravec that once he had finished High school, he’d be offered the chance to live and play full time for the club in Zilina, Slovakia. Oravec left Vancouver January 1, 2020, and will to play there until June 6, when the Slovak Superleague season ends. Oravec will then travel back home to Riverside just in time for the grad commencement. For all his success and his hard work, The Eddy and Riverside wish him all the best in his career.
Photos courtesy of Mick Oravec
