Rashid Mahazi had to grow up quickly.
The Melbourne Victory midfielder was still a teenager when he travelled to South America to join a development squad with Argentinian giants River Plate. He didn't speak the language and knew very few people, but ended up staying for several years.
He spent much of his time with another big Buenos Aires team, Independiente, before returning to Australia in his early 20s.
Which is perhaps why Mahazi, who has just turned 25, rarely looks rattled by any situation he encounters on or off the pitch with the A-League powerhouse. Finals series often throw up unlikely heroes, players who step out of the shadows, so Mahazi is hoping that when Victory line up against Brisbane Roar next weekend for their A-League semi final he will get the chance to play a major role.
The holding midfielder is in his fourth season with the club, having been part of the Premiership and Championship winning squad in the 2014-15 season.
Although not a regular starter, Mahazi is often called upon by coach Kevin Muscat to plug the gaps not just in midfield but occasionally at full back. He is also a useful option off the bench as his flexibility, work ethic and accountability means he can shore up gaps or help close down a game if Victory is trying to hold a lead.
As a youngster he was part of a training programme being run by former Glasgow Rangers defender Stuart Munro, who coached Carlton and South Melbourne in the NSL and was the assistant coach alongside Ian Ferguson when Perth Glory made the A-League Grand Final in 2012.
It was Munro, through an agent contact, who arranged for Mahazi to trial with River, one of the biggest clubs in South America.
"I was only 17 when I went there. I wasn't getting wages, I was getting living expenses and somewhere to stay. It was like living at home really, although my mum would send me money for food," said Mahazi, who spent six months at the Monumental before moving on to Independiente.
"It was hard in some ways but not in others. It was very beneficial in terms of learning to live and look after yourself and grow up."
It was also a first class football education.
"I played with some excellent players. Manuel Lanzini, who is now at West Ham, Funes Mori, who is at Everton.
"The competition there is incredible and there are some brilliant players with great individual skill and technique although not all of them are that disciplined. I was playing as a wide player but the wingers and full backs there are phenomenally quick, so they moved me to a defensive midfield role.
After he came home Mahazi played for a brief time for Northcote in the National Premier League (then Victorian Premier League) before being signed for Victory by Ange Postecoglou.
"I have been here four years now. Like all players I would like to start in every game, but there is a strong squad at Victory. Last year I played quite a bit but I have been in and out this year and of course that's frustrating for a footballer.
"There have been difficult times but also great ones and I would not change it and the coach has always put me on in the finals."
