Sunshine Coast product Jez Lofthouse is eagerly anticipating the start of the A-League season after signing with the Brisbane Roar.
The talented 21-year-old winger has inked a two-year deal with the national league club.
“After growing up going to games at Suncorp Stadium and watching the Roar play, it’s a cool feeling to be in the position those great players were in and I’m very keen for the season to begin,” he said.
The Roar’s campaign is due to get underway with a trip to Melbourne City on November 19.
Jez, who is the son of Channel 9 Brisbane newsreader Andrew Lofthouse, grew up on the Sunshine Coast and played for several local teams, including Pacific Jets at Pacific Lutheran College, the Sunshine Coast Junior Premier League side, Maroochydore FC and Sunshine Coast Fire.
He linked with Brisbane-based club Olympic FC in 2018 and won the Young Player of the Year award in the state’s top competition, the National Premier Leagues Queensland.
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Roar head coach Warren Moon said Jez was a skilful, exciting player who fitted in well with the group during pre-season training.
“Jez has done very well at NPL (National Premier League) level for a few years now and we look forward to helping him take this next step in his career,” he said.
Jez is also partway through a Bachelor of Sport Studies program and a member of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s High Performance Student Athlete program.
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He said his studies helped him develop a greater understanding of an athlete’s life off the pitch and how to ensure his body and mind could work to its full potential.
“I’ve learnt about recovery and how to properly prepare for exercise while also learning about life after sport and potential fields of work I could enter after my career,” he said.
USC High Performance Sport Director Professor Brendan Burkett congratulated Jez on his success in gaining a sought-after contract with Brisbane Roar.
“I know the University and the Sunshine Coast community are very proud of his achievements and wish him the best representing the Roar in the A-League,” Professor Burkett said.
