Pim Verbeek puts Socceroos stars on media notice

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

June 22, 2009 12:00am


SOCCEROOS boss Pim Verbeek has warned his players not to attract unwarranted attention in "time off" from camp while the spotlight intensifies on the national team's road to next year's FIFA World Cup.

Socceroos and former Adelaide United striker Bruce Djite said Verbeek issued a plea to his 30-man squad to "be careful" before Tim Cahill attracted extraordinary media interest after a night out in Sydney.

"Pim told us before to be careful because there will be people out there that do want to bring us down because of the uber success that we're having," Djite said.

"We're careful already that goes without saying."

Djite took exception to the notion the Socceroos were divided because of Cahill's super stardom. A source outside the Socceroos camp is understood to have leaked information to media outlets pointing to unrest in the squad because of Cahill.

"Timmy is a legend. He's like my brother," said Djite Genclerbirligi's Turkish Super League striker. "He's a pure pro. He's clean. He doesn't even do durries (cigarettes).

"We play in Europe, mate. We're more disciplined than any other (football) code.

"We know the boundaries and we know the responsibility of the boundaries. Look at the star players. There's Lucas (Neill), Schwarzy (Mark Schwarzer) and Timmy (Cahill). They did that whole thing for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal at Star City (Sydney) in April.

"They get along perfect. I've seen it. Harry (Kewell) is good with Lucas. Harry is good with Timmy. Bresh (Mark Bresciano) wasn't in camp and then there's Vinnie (Grella). He doesn't care about anything. They're the star players."

Football Federation Australia sources told The Advertiser Cahill was grilled by officials, including Verbeek, after the much-publicised night out at King Cross.

Cahill and his Socceroos team-mates, who were out on the town, had no case to answer after all avenues were exhausted, including calls made to Kings Cross police ensuring there was no incidents involving Cahill or his entourage, a FFA source said. Up to four Socceroos were part of Cahill's party night 24 hours after the Socceroos' 2-0 win over Bahrain in Sydney on June 10.

On June 11, the Socceroos were at an official FFA function until 2am before Cahill's group left for the Piano Bar and Trademark at Kings Cross. "I was there in Kings Cross I saw everything," the source said.

"It was closing time and the lights came on. There were about four or five bouncers that walked out with us to see we were OK. Nothing happened. We were outside for three or four minutes, jumped into cabs and left."


AT LEAST THEY HAVE THE DISAPLEN THEY NEED , TO KEEP IN GOOD BEHAVIOR