Isaka Aongor Čerňák-Okanya (born 9 April 1989) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Olympic FC.

Isaka Čerňák
Cernak playing for Sisaket FC 2017
Personal information
Full name Isaka Aongor Čerňák-Okanya
Date of birth (1989-04-09) 9 April 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Galiwin'ku, Northern Territory, Australia
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Olympic FC
Number 8
Youth career
Peninsula Power
Westside FC
Brisbane City
2004–2006 QAS
2007 AIS Football Program
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 AIS 20 (4)
2008–2009 Brisbane Roar 5 (0)
2010 North Queensland Fury 11 (3)
2011–2012 Melbourne Victory 19 (1)
2013 Wellington Phoenix 8 (2)
2014 Perth Glory 10 (1)
2015 Central Coast Mariners 9 (2)
2016 Supersport United 10 (1)
2017 Sisaket 21 (5)
2018–2019 Home United 9 (0)
2020 Phrae United 2 (0)
2021– Olympic FC 24 (1)
International career
2007–2009 Australia U-20 19 (5)
2010–2011 Australia U-23 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 November 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 June 2011

Club career

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Youth career

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In his youth football playing days, Cernak played for the Peninsula Power, Westside FC, Brisbane City, QAS and the AIS football teams.

Brisbane Roar

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In 2008 Isaka Cernak joined A-League team Brisbane Roar (then called Queensland Roar), making 15 appearances and scoring a goal in his two seasons with the club. On 24 January 2009, Cernak made his senior debut as a substitute for Brisbane Roar against Perth Glory in a 4–2 win.[1] In 2010, he left the Roar to join state rivals the North Queensland Fury.

North Queensland Fury

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In June 2010, Isaka signed a deal with North Queensland Fury to become their 15th signed player for their upcoming season.[2] He made 14 appearances for the Fury, scoring one goal in his season with the Fury. Unfortunately for Cernak, the Fury were unable to extend his contract due to FFA ownership of the club.[3]

Melbourne Victory

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During the 2010–11 season Melbourne Victory signed Cernak for the following season and Asian Champions League campaign as a replacement for departing striker Robbie Kruse to Bundesliga 2 club Fortuna Düsseldorf, with Fury unable to extend his contract due to FFA ownership of the club.[3]

Wellington Phoenix

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After being released by Melbourne during the January transfer window Cernak signed with Wellington Phoenix until the end of the season, having already agreeing to terms with Perth Glory for the following season.[4]

Perth Glory

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Just a few months after signing with Wellington Phoenix, Cernak signed with Perth Glory.

Central Coast Mariners

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In February 2014 Isaka signed for reigning A-League champions Central Coast Mariners. Isaka stated upon signing: "Being able to have one-and-a-half years to learn as a footballer off 'Mossy' (Phil Moss) and the players at Central Coast Mariners is really exciting for me."[5]

He was released from the Mariners in 2015 after the club opted against renewing his contract.[6]

SuperSport United

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He joined South African side SuperSport United in June 2015 on a 3-year deal.[7] However, Isaka struggled to make an impact and made just 7 league appearances before he sustained a knee injury that required surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season. He subsequently agreed to a contract termination.[8]

Sisaket

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Isaka next joined Thai League club Sisaket where he made 14 appearances and scored 1 goal.[9]

Home United

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His signing for Singapore Premier League side Home United was announced on 13 July 2018, coming in to fill the vacant slot for foreign players left by Sirina Camara (whose season had been prematurely cut short by an ACL injury).[9] He made his debut for the Protectors in a Singapore Cup loss against Tampines Rovers where he was introduced as a substitute.[10] He followed up his debut by scoring his first goal for the club in the AFC Cup ASEAN Zone Finals a week later, scoring the goal that earned his team a 1–1 draw in the first-leg.[11]

International career

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Cernak playing for the Australia national under-23 association football team in 2011

Cernak has represented Australia at U-20 and U-23 level. He has 19 caps and five goals at U-20 level and he currently has 7 caps and zero goals at U-23 level. He has won the Weifang Cup U-18 competition for Australia in 2007 and the International Cor Groenewegen Tournament at U-20 level in 2009.

Personal life

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Cernak was born in Galiwin'ku, Northern Territory. His father is Ugandan, and his mother is European Australian with a Scottish-Czech-American family background.[12][13]

Career statistics

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As of 16 September 2020
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AIS 2007 Victorian Premier League 20 1 - - - - 20 1
Brisbane Roar 2008–09 A-League 4 0 - - - - 4 0
2009–10 11 1 - - - - 11 1
Roar total 15 1 0 0 0 0 15 1
North Queensland Fury 2010–11 A-League 14 1 - - - - 14 1
Melbourne Victory 2010–11 0 0 - - 4 0 4 0
2011–12 17 2 - - - - 17 2
2012–13 4 0 - - - - 4 0
Victory total 21 2 0 0 4 0 25 2
Wellington Phoenix 2012–13 A-League 6 0 - - - - 6 0
Perth Glory 2013–14 A-League 4 0 - - - - 4 0
Central Coast Mariners 2013–14 A-League 1 0 - - 2 0 3 0
2014–15 A-League 18 1 4 1 1 0 23 2
Mariners total 19 1 4 1 3 0 18 2
SuperSport United 2015–16 Premier Soccer League 7 0 1 0 - - 8 0
Sisaket 2017 Thai League T1 14 1 - - - - 14 1
Home United 2018 Singapore Premier League 5 0 5 1 4 1 14 2
2019 Singapore Premier League 4 0 2 0 4 0 10 0
Total 9 0 7 0 8 1 24 2
Phrae United 2020 Thai League 2 2 0 - - - - 2 0
Olympic FC 2021 National Premier Leagues 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 155 8 12 2 15 1 182 11

References

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  1. ^ Cernak set for debut
  2. ^ "Fury sign Isaka Cernak". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  3. ^ a b Victory Swoop For Cernak Archived 23 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Phoenix Swoop on Cernak". Football Federation Australia. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Mariners seal trio on deadline day". Football Federation Australia. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014.
  6. ^ Hassett, Sebastian (1 May 2015). "Isaka Cernak and Zac Anderson cut as Central Coast Mariners' new coach seeks fresh start". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  7. ^ "SuperSport United Sign Australian Attacking Midfielder Isaka Cernak". www.soccerladuma.co.za. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Isaka Cernak Has Surgery, Agrees SSU Termination". www.soccerladuma.co.za. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Cernak Isaka: Robbie Kruse and Ken Ilso got me to the Singapore League". FourFourTwo. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Jordan Webb's late winner gives Tampines advantage over Home in SG Cup". FourFourTwo. 27 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Isaka Cernak lauds Shahril, Izzdin after dream AFC Cup debut against Ceres". FourFourTwo. 2 August 2018. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  12. ^ Birth certificate Isaka AongorCernak
  13. ^ Vidmar puts faith in young guard to step up to Socceroos
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