Isaka Cernak
Isaka Čerňák | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 9, 1989 Galiwin'ku, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Occupation | Professional soccer player |
| Years active | 2008– |
| Known for | Attacking midfielder for Olympic FC |
Isaka Aongor Čerňák-Okanya (born 9 April 1989) is a professional Australian soccer player who operates primarily as an attacking midfielder and currently represents Olympic FC.
Youth development
Cernak's formative years in football involved progression through several youth academies, including Peninsula Power, Westside FC, Brisbane City, the QAS, and the AIS.
Brisbane Roar
In 2008, Cernak signed with the A-League club Brisbane Roar (known then as Queensland Roar), where over two seasons he made 15 appearances and netted one goal. His first appearance came on 24 January 2009 as a substitute in a 4–2 victory over Perth Glory. He moved on to local competitors North Queensland Fury in 2010.
North Queensland Fury
Cernak secured a place with North Queensland Fury in June 2010 as their 15th squad member for the season. During his time there, he featured in 14 matches and scored once. Due to the club being under Football Federation Australia (FFA) ownership, they were unable to renew his contract.
Melbourne Victory
Ahead of the 2010–11 campaign, Melbourne Victory acquired Cernak to fill the void left by striker Robbie Kruse, who had transferred to Fortuna Düsseldorf. The inability of North Queensland Fury to extend his contract, owing to FFA control, facilitated this transfer.
Wellington Phoenix
Following his release from Melbourne during the January transfer period, Cernak signed with Wellington Phoenix for the remainder of the 2012–13 A-League season. At that time, he had already committed to joining Perth Glory for the subsequent season.
Perth Glory
Soon after joining Wellington Phoenix, Cernak finalized a contract with Perth Glory.
Central Coast Mariners
In February 2014, Cernak penned a deal with reigning A-League champions Central Coast Mariners, expressing eagerness to develop under head coach Phil Moss. He was released in 2015 after the club opted not to extend his contract.
SuperSport United
June 2015 saw Cernak move to South African outfit SuperSport United on a three-year deal. Unfortunately, he struggled to secure a regular position, making only seven league appearances before undergoing knee surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. This resulted in a mutual agreement to terminate his contract.
Sisaket
Subsequently, he joined Thai League side Sisaket, where he played in 14 matches and scored one goal.
Home United
On 13 July 2018, Cernak was signed by Singapore Premier League club Home United to occupy the foreign player spot left vacant by Sirina Camara’s ACL injury. He made his debut as a substitute during a Singapore Cup defeat against Tampines Rovers and registered his first goal for the team in the AFC Cup ASEAN Zone Finals, securing a 1–1 draw in the first leg.
International career
At youth international level, Cernak represented Australia’s U-20 and U-23 squads. He earned 19 caps and scored five goals with the U-20 team and appeared seven times for the U-23s. His contributions helped Australia win both the 2007 Weifang Cup U-18 tournament and the 2009 International Cor Groenewegen Tournament at U-20 level.
Personal life
Cernak's birthplace is Galiwin'ku, located in the Northern Territory. His paternal lineage traces back to Uganda, while his maternal background includes Scottish, Czech, and American ancestry.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Appearances | Goals | Appearances | Goals | Appearances | Goals | Appearances | 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 | A-League | 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 | 26 | 2 | ||
| SuperSport United | 2015–16 South African Premier Division | Premier Soccer League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 |
| Sisaket | 2017 Thai League T1 | Thai League T1 | 14 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 1 |
| Home United FC | 2018 Singapore Premier League | Singapore Premier League | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 2 |
| 2019 Singapore Premier League | Singapore Premier League | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 24 | 2 | ||
| Phrae United | 2020 Thai League 2 | Thai League 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| Olympic FC | 2021 National Premier Leagues | National Premier Leagues | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Career Total | 155 !8 !12 !2 !15 !1 !182 !11 | |||||||||