Soccer: Robbery behind me says Boutsianis

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Con Boutsianis now sees the blackest days of his life as a blessing in disguise.

The 29-year-old Australian, in Auckland at the start of his contract with the Football Kingz, yesterday spoke candidly of a 1998 Melbourne restaurant robbery he was involved in and its consequences.

"It's weird, but sometimes something happens in your life that changes things," Boutsianis said. "This certainly changed me."

He and his friends agree that the change - off and on the field - was for the better.

His football took off in the days - and years - after the robbery (with a replica firearm) in which he drove the getaway car.

"They made out it was an armed robbery. It was not like that. The whole case was based on my evidence. If I hadn't helped the police, they would have had nothing," he said.

"In my mind, I knew I had not hurt, let alone killed, anyone. It was a case of a friendship turning sour. I have nothing to hide. Everyone knows everything.

"I had been hanging out with this friend for 10 or 15 years. He was a gambler.

"Basically, he owed me money and told me if I did not go along with what he had planned I would not get paid.

"I got involved, but still didn't get my money.

"It took three years before it got to court. The judge called it a sham and threw it out.

"It was a stupid thing to do. I admit that.

"They [the day of the robbery and the court appearance at which he was fined $A20,000 and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond] were the two blackest days of my life," Boutsianis said.

"I've learned my lesson. I'm not religious, but God says you will be forgiven. I believe I just happened to be in a certain place at a certain time. My friend was an addict. After the robbery we drove around Melbourne for a few hours then flew to Sydney where he went to the casino. He said he was going to win the money he owed me. He didn't.

"It took five or six months for it all to blow up."

Boutsianis maintains he has been honest throughout - the judge's decision not to convict him when the case went before the courts a second time backs that.

He said the support of a handful of friends and family, including new Kingz coach Mike Petersen and his Greek-born parents and three sisters, had been great. Now he wants people to accept him as a footballer.

Virtually thrown out of the South Melbourne club, where as a three-year-old he had joined his father on terraces and eventually, 14 years on, made his first- team debut, Boutsianis headed to Perth to kick-start his life off and on the pitch.

Before the club slammed the door one year into a three-year contract, Boutsianis had scored the winning goal in South Melbourne's 2-1 grand final win over Carlton in 1997-98.

"When the robbery hit the papers three days later it was sensationalised," he said.

"If I hadn't got the contract with Perth Glory, South Melbourne would have had to pay me for the rest of my contract."

He is now preparing to throw everything into his season with the Kingz.

He could not have had a better start. A call from Socceroos coach Frank Farina on Thursday suggests he will be in Japan next month in the next stage of his international career after making his debut in the World Cup qualifiers this year.