Two years ago Lozada left the Mariners Academy to join the youth team at Uruguayan club Albion. The striker impressed at the Montevideo outfit, the oldest club in the South American country, and at just 19 made his first-team debut.
Now back in Australia with family after the Coronavirus shut the season down, Lozada has reflected on his time in the footballing hotbed as he plans to continue his rising career.
“It was an awesome experience, it was great,” he told The World Game.
“It gives you another sense of what the lifestyle is over there – everyone lives for football. Every week everyone’s waiting to hear what fixtures are going to be held.
“Everyone has their team and it’s just a total football atmosphere. It’s beautiful. I went to Albion in their Under-19s squad, and then in six months I got promoted to first-grade.
“I was 19 years of age. It was crazy. It was tough, playing against men at 19. It’s something big, getting used to the culture, which I already am. Having that Aussie culture behind me was something very different compared to what they have over there.
“We did joke about it [the rivalry between Australia and Uruguay] a few times. I’d say remember 2005 and they’d say you haven’t won a World Cup.
“It was a good banter within the team, but they have a lot of pride in who they are, their culture and themselves.”
Lozada was raised in Terrigal on the Central Coast and has Ecuadorian and Croatian heritage. He was brought up with South American culture around him but admits the transition into the cut-throat world of Uruguayan football, where almost no Australian has ever played professionally there, was difficult.
“I went over there and my first game – the rhythm and how they move the ball and went in for challenges… normally they would be red cards here, but there it’s just they teach you it doesn’t matter if you’re the underdog or who you are, there’s always a chance to win until the final whistle goes,” Lozada said.
“You can’t give up. They’re very competitive, they’re brought up their way since they were little.
"Wherever in football you’re always going to have to prove yourself. Over there what I appreciate is that accepted me as one of their own, they showed me their culture, their way of looking at things and they always looked after me.
“They never shut an eye and looked the other way. I really appreciate that and all the respect they gave me.
"But you have to earn your respect and to play well to be able to go up in those levels. It was an honour to play for Albion. For them to receive me and give them a chance to be in their professional squad.
“They always looked after me very well. I can’t thank them enough. Their culture and their way of structuring players for the future… they’ve got some really good things going.
Lozada has made five appearances for Albion, all of them off the bench as his side sits in ninth position just above the relegation zone.
The 20-year-old came through the Sydney Football Academy and the junior ranks of the Northern Tigers before signing with Central Coast in 2014. A boyhood Mariners fan, Lozada says he loved his time with the yellow and navy before heading overseas.
“I was there when Ken Schembri was technical director of everything,” he said.
“My last season at the Mariners with Ben Cahn. I loved it. I felt very much at home, it’s a family-based club. I know a lot of the players at the moment, they’ve given a lot of chances.
“I’m very close to Dylan Ruiz-Diaz and Gianni Stensness. It’s great to see them promoting their players. I was very glad for the time the Mariners gave me there.
“I had an offer to go on and stay there. But I made the decision to go overseas and start a new goal. It was never because they didn’t want me or anything like that, that has nothing to do with it.
“I made the decision to chase a new goal and pursue elsewhere. They had a very positive outlook what I achieved in Uruguay, playing professionally, I had a very good experience over there.”
Lozada returned to Australia last month when the season was postponed. At this stage he is unclear whether he will go back to Uruguay or not when the pandemic ends and football resumes.
“This season was just about to start. So we only did pre-season, we never did get a chance to play,” the striker said.
“This was the time to be with family, whatever happens, we’ll discuss after. It’s just a rough time. At the moment I’m not sure.
“I have a few things in Australia with my family that are pending. I’m waiting until a bit later to sort it out. I’m undecided whether to go back or look for a club here, as it would be very nice to play back in Australia.
“I never got the chance to play professionally here.”
Playing in the A-League appeals to the young forward.
“That would be an awesome experience,” Lozada said.
“It would be something that I strive to play in front of my family. I always had a dream to play for the Mariners professionally.”
