From lockdowns to lockouts: Stefan's resilience and determination in the face of COVID-19.

Why did I start this Podcast?

The idea behind the Podcast is to provide a behind-the-scenes type conversation on how players, coaches, agents, etc. became Overseas Athletes.

I'll speak to them about how the process started, what and who was involved, the details behind how they moved overseas and the lessons they’ve learned.

Over time I want it to be an educational resource for current and future young athletes who want to chase their dreams on a global stage 🌎️

I'm hoping that these interviews will help them along the way. It will also help guide them around important topics such as; agents, visas, contracts, currency management, banking & finance, nutrition, fitness, recovery, overall health, culture, language barriers and sponsorship, along with many other subjects.

⚽️ 🌏️ Episode 5 - Stefan Milidrag 🇨🇦 

Hello there,

I'm excited to share with you the latest episode of the Overseas Athlete Podcast, where I had the pleasure of interviewing Stefan, a footballer from Windsor, Ontario, who's currently playing in the Southern National League in Dunedin, New Zealand.

👀 A sneak peek into this week’s episode

The Impact of COVID-19: Stefan's journey was not without its challenges, especially with the onset of the pandemic. However, he used this time to focus on his mental strength, train independently, and develop a career in digital marketing.

The Journey to New Zealand: Stefan's proactive approach led him from Canada to Australia, and eventually to New Zealand. He leveraged his previous experience and network to find opportunities, proving that sometimes, you have to create your own path.

The Value of Support and Mentorship: Stefan highlighted the importance of having a support system and mentorship in his journey. He found invaluable advice and guidance from a UK agent he met through LinkedIn

Financial Stability: Stefan shared a story about a friend whose sponsorship deal fell through, emphasising the importance of financial stability and having a backup plan.

Navigating International Opportunities: Stefan shared his experiences with the practical aspects of leaving New Zealand and the challenges he faces with his Canadian passport when considering opportunities in Europe.

Stefan's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the importance of having a plan B (and sometimes C!). His story is sure to inspire anyone with a dream of playing sports at the highest level, regardless of where they are in the world. If you're curious to learn more, tune into the Overseas Athlete Podcast for the full conversation.

Full episode:

🎙️ New Episodes are released each Monday, with a couple of upcoming episodes at the bottom ⬇️ 

While the first group of guests are Football ⚽️ related, we also have guests in the following sports lined up for future episodes:

⛳️ Golf

🏉 Rugby Union, and League

🥊 MMA

🏏 Cricket

and many more! If you are, or know someone who you think would be a great guest, please reach out here:

In case you missed the first few episodes, you can find them below:

Episode 1 - Michael Glassock, from Sydney to Malaysia

Episode 2 - Cam Watson - From Melbourne to Portugal, Holland & India

Episode 3 - Sean Lane - From Bangladesh to Aspire Academy in Cleveland

Episode 4 - Kerwin Marc Jean-Pierre - Unleashing the Potential of Young Athletes - A Journey from Australia to Spain

Exciting news…. ⬇️ 

Currency Update from SportsFX

🇦🇺 The Australian Dollar (AUD) experienced a dip in value as market sentiment took a turn for the worse yesterday. It had initially shown strength during the European trading session when optimism prevailed. However, things changed when the Federal Reserve hinted at the possibility of further interest rate hikes, triggering a wave of risk aversion that weighed down the 'Aussie.'

Today, the focus turns to the latest private sector indicators in Australia. Economists are bracing for more challenges as they anticipate weakness in both manufacturing and services sectors. This could put additional pressure on the Australian Dollar throughout the day.

🇬🇧 The Pound (GBP), faced a significant setback as the Bank of England (BoE) opted to keep interest rates unchanged. This decision led to a sharp decline in the Pound's value against most major currencies initially, however, closed the day back toward where it started. Within the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), a split vote of 5:4 raised speculations that the central bank might have reached its limit concerning interest rate adjustments.

🇪🇺 Conversely, the Euro (EUR) enjoyed a boost in value thanks to hawkish remarks from policymakers at the European Central Bank (ECB). This positive sentiment, however, was somewhat tempered by a strong performance by the US Dollar (USD), as these two currencies tend to have a negative correlation. ECB President Christine Lagarde's speech added an element of volatility to the Euro's movement.

In the world of currencies and global economics, shifts like these are common, and staying informed is key to making sound financial decisions. If you have any questions or require a more in-depth analysis, feel free to reach out. We're here to provide you with the insights and support you need for your financial endeavours.

🇺🇸 📊 Even with only a 0.22% change for the week against the USD, sitting at 0.6417 on Friday morning.

🇬🇧 📈 Up 0.51% for the week against the GBP sitting at 0.5219 on Friday morning, moving up 2 weeks in a row.

🇪🇺 📊 Even with only a 0.24% change for the week against the EUR, 0.6017 on Friday morning.

🇳🇿 📉 Down 0.83% for the week, and still within the $1.08 range which has been ongoing for 8 weeks now against the NZD, and mainly sideways movement. 1.0812 on Friday morning.

If you have money overseas and are looking to move it back to Australia, or you want to send money overseas from Australia, reach out to speak about your Currency Options below, what can SportsFX help with?

1. Bank Beating Exchange Rates 💱 

2. International Multi-Currency Accounts 🏦 

3. Personalised Advice 🤝 

4. Risk Management 📊 

Upcoming Episodes

🆕 📅 September 25th - Episode 006 - Hamilton Thorp - From Darwin to Arsenal: Hamilton's extraordinary journey to professional football.

🆕 📅 October 2nd - Episode 007 - Matt Ward - Navigating the Challenges and Rewards of Pursuing a Sports Career in Asia.

If you liked the episode, please share it with a friend who might find it useful. 📩 

You can follow The Overseas Athlete on the below channels ⬇️