Chris Bush selected in Joeys Squad

AUSTRALIAN YOUNGSTERS TAKE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS INTERNATIONAL STAGE

Australia’s latest crop of talented young footballers will commence their competitive international football careers next week when the Qantas Joeys (Australia U-17) open their qualifying campaign for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Goulburns Chris Bush is the only Capital Football representative in the squad.



Australia will travel to Singapore for the first stage of qualifying where they will face Malaysia, DPR Korea and East Timor with two of the four teams to progress to next year’s AFC U-16 Championship. The top ranked teams in the AFC Championship will then represent Asia at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Coach Martyn Crook has selected a 20-strong squad with players having represented their States or Territories at last week’s National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour.

“Our main focus for now is obviously to qualify for next year’s AFC championship and then have the opportunity to build a strong group of players that can be developed into future stars,” said Crook.

“The first match against Malaysia will be absolutely crucial and we will have to acclimatize quickly especially given Malaysia will likely be quite familiar with the conditions.”

The current generation of Qantas Joeys played their first international matches in August when they finished fifth at the Toyota International Youth Football Championship in Japan.

Meanwhile, the Qantas Young Socceroos (Australia U-20) will commence their qualifying campaign in Vietnam next month for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.


The Qantas Joeys squad is:
Eli Babalj (State - WA), Chris Bush (ACT), Million Butshiire (WA), Cameron Edwards (WA), Nick Fitzgerald (NSW), Petar Franjic (VIC), Brendan Hamill (NSW), Kamal Ibrahim (VIC), Ben Kantarovski (NSW), George Klappas (NSW), Robert Kolak (NSW), Jared Lum (NSW), Mitchell Mallia (NSW), Joel Miller (SA), Chahine Noujaim (SA), Trent Sainsbury (WA), Nikola Stanojevic (NSW), Nick Tubbs (QLD), Marc Warren (NSW), Tedros Yabio (VIC)

Qantas Joeys Fixtures:
Thu 11 Oct Training Match v COE U16 Combined Team, Jalan Besar Stadium, 7.30pm kick off local time

Mon 15 Oct v Singapore U15, Singapore Sports School, 7.30pm kick off local time
Wed 17 Oct Australia v Malaysia, Jalan Besar Stadium, 7pm kick off local time

Fri 19 Oct v DPR Korea, Jalan Besar Stadium, 5pm kick off local time

Sun 21 Oct v East Timor, Jalan Besar Stadium, 5pm kick off local time



Australia will travel to Singapore for the first stage of qualifying where they will face Malaysia, DPR Korea and East Timor with two of the four teams to progress to next year’s AFC U-16 Championship. The top ranked teams in the AFC Championship will then represent Asia at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Coach Martyn Crook has selected a 20-strong squad with players having represented their States or Territories at last week’s National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour.

“Our main focus for now is obviously to qualify for next year’s AFC championship and then have the opportunity to build a strong group of players that can be developed into future stars,” said Crook.

“The first match against Malaysia will be absolutely crucial and we will have to acclimatize quickly especially given Malaysia will likely be quite familiar with the conditions.”

The current generation of Qantas Joeys played their first international matches in August when they finished fifth at the Toyota International Youth Football Championship in Japan.

Meanwhile, the Qantas Young Socceroos (Australia U-20) will commence their qualifying campaign in Vietnam next month for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.


The Qantas Joeys squad is:
Eli Babalj (State - WA), Chris Bush (ACT), Million Butshiire (WA), Cameron Edwards (WA), Nick Fitzgerald (NSW), Petar Franjic (VIC), Brendan Hamill (NSW), Kamal Ibrahim (VIC), Ben Kantarovski (NSW), George Klappas (NSW), Robert Kolak (NSW), Jared Lum (NSW), Mitchell Mallia (NSW), Joel Miller (SA), Chahine Noujaim (SA), Trent Sainsbury (WA), Nikola Stanojevic (NSW), Nick Tubbs (QLD), Marc Warren (NSW), Tedros Yabio (VIC)

Qantas Joeys Fixtures:
Thu 11 Oct Training Match v COE U16 Combined Team, Jalan Besar Stadium, 7.30pm kick off local time

Mon 15 Oct v Singapore U15, Singapore Sports School, 7.30pm kick off local time
Wed 17 Oct Australia v Malaysia, Jalan Besar Stadium, 7pm kick off local time

Fri 19 Oct v DPR Korea, Jalan Besar Stadium, 5pm kick off local time

Sun 21 Oct v East Timor, Jalan Besar Stadium, 5pm kick off local time