MAREEBA midfielder Nathan Bird has been hailed a future star after overpowering Marlin Coast's defence in his side's 3-2 FNQ Football men's premier league soccer victory on Saturday night.
Mareeba coach Tony Panetta predicted a bright future for the attacking midfielder who has come through the junior ranks and is in his first season with the Bulls.
"He’s one of our better players and I’d rate him in the top four or five in the league at the moment," Panetta said. "His speed and his ball control is superb and his crosses are pinpoint as well."
Panetta said it would be disappointing if Bird left the club but his talent needed to grow in a bigger league. "We probably have to lose him.
"If he continues as he has been he’d easily fit into a Q-league side. We’ve got a lot of young talent coming through and you can’t hold them back you’ve just got to let them go."
Bird scored a goal and had a hand in another in the clash of the heavyweights but was well supported by a host of Mareeba stars.
Ang Tatti, Josh Ruiz and Denis Allen did a strong job in shutting down Marlin Coast’s midfield in front of a huge home crowd.
The win puts Mareeba frontrunners on 28 points. Panetta said both sides put on a show for the crowd.
In other premier division games, Stratford drew Edge Hill 3-3. Stratford went ahead 2-0 midway through the first half.
