Cesnik joined the Eerste Divisie side, the same club as Olyroo Daniel Bouman, in July last year. The 20-year-old, who was born and raised in Melbourne, left NPL Victoria outfit Port Melbourne Sharks to head to Europe.
Biding his time playing for SC Cambuur’s reserves for the past five months, Cesnik has been also training with the first-team. But with the Yellow-Blues currently top of the Dutch second division at the winter break, with 45 points and 14 victories from 20 matches, a spot in the top flight beckons for next season.
“They’re doing really well at the moment, they’re coming first halfway through the season so if they keep up that form they will probably be moving up a division,” he told The World Game.
“So if it’s possible to break into the first-team it might be a first division first-team. That’s definitely the goal for the next six months.
“Its been going well in Holland. It took a few weeks to adjust. It’s more technical than football in Australia I think, as you’d expect.
“It’s really different to playing in the NPL. It’s everyday training and a more professional set-up at the club. So I think it’s a good step to take, the first time moving over to Europe to play.”
Cesnik admits it has been a tough but enjoyable transition from semi-professional football in Australia to the rigors of Europe.
“Technically it took a while to adjust to the level,” he said.
“It’s not just technique on the ball but the positioning, how you think about the game, how the tempo of the game chances – it’s just a high pace all the time.
“Compared to the NPL it’s probably a little less physical because it’s the reserve league, but I think the more technical it is the less physical it becomes. It’s that trade off.
“I’ve had a few sessions with the first-team, which is definitely a good guide to what kind of jump I need to make to get into the first-team squad.
“The level of training is higher, the ball moves around quicker, there’s less mistakes. To see that on your pitch yourself is probably to best way to learn.
“If you do something wrong they’ll tell you about it. It’s a second division club but there’s still so many supporters for the first-team, which just shows how big a football culture it is in Holland.
“Every club has its supporters and you have to perform or they’re not happy.”
Cesnik came through the ranks at Richmond Soccer Club and has had spells at Green Gully and Port Melbourne. The winger, who is comfortable on either flank, always dreamt of playing in Europe.
“I started playing soccer at Richmond and then was there from under-8s until seniors,” he explained.
“Then I played at a couple of clubs in the NPL, Green Gully and Port Melbourne, and then got the opportunity to gave a trial overseas and obviously did enough to get a spot in the team.
“Now’s the time to do it, it’s the opportunity when you’re young and I need to make the most of it. Growing up it was always at the back of my mind.
“For a few years we had a strong team in the juniors and one time the coach sat us down and said it might only be one or two of you who have a chance to make it overseas or in professional football in Australia.
“I always remember thinking I wonder if that could be me. I guess this is the first step but I have a long way to go to make a career out of it.”
Cesnik trialed with Melbourne Victory as a youngster but did not make the cut. The attacking midfielder has no regrets about his move overseas.
“One time in Victory they invited quite a lot of players to trial, but I was never in any of their squads,” he said.
“To an extent it was frustrating. When I didn’t make them I was still playing against them in the league, so maybe the training and the facilities at Victory would have been better.
“We were still playing against them and once I was at Green Gully, it was my first club after Richmond, and I was playing really at a higher level than NPL Victory. I felt like I wasn’t missing out on too much.
“There is obviously a few players who break through from those squads but it’s not many get promoted to the first-team after playing in the NPL with their academy squads.
“There’s a different mentality – here if you’re young you’ll be on the bench, whereas in Europe it doesn’t really matter your age. If you’re good enough, you’re good enough.”
