Olyroos head north.

Canberra's Nikolai Topor-Stanley looks a certainty for the Under 23 World Cup being held in Beijing this year.

Interestingly the suspended Danny Vukovic is in the squad.

Qantas Under 23s head to Townsville for Olympic Games Preparation Camp

Qantas Under 23s Head Coach Graham Arnold has selected a 17-man squad which will head to Townsville from the 1-8 May for a Pre-Olympic Games Training camp.

Shortly after the 8 day camp in North Queensland, the Qantas Under 23s will fly out to Malaysia to compete at the Intercontinental U-23 Football Championship against fellow 2008 Beijing Olympic Games participants Argentina and Nigeria, along with Croatia, Ghana, Iraq, Republic of Ireland and Malaysia.

The North Queensland training venue was selected by Arnold due to the similarity in climate to Malaysia and also to simulate the conditions that the team will experience at the Olympic Games in August.

“We are expecting the conditions in Malaysia and China to be around 30 degrees with 80% humidity,” said Arnold.

“Currently, the Townsville climate is very similar to those conditions and it will give the players an opportunity to acclimatise and prepare themselves for the next 3months leading into the Olympic Games.”

“With the exception of the Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United players, most of the players are just returning from their post Hyundai A-League season break and a camp like this is important for them to re-establish match fitness and focus.”

“For some players, it will be the last opportunity to make a claim for a place in the final squad that will be selected to compete at the Olympics,” concluded Arnold.

The Qantas Under 23s will be training at the Townsville Sports Reserve and will also be conducting a number of community activities throughout the week.


QANTAS UNDER 23s SQUAD LIST – TOWNSVILLE CAMP
1 – 8 MAY 2008

Nigel Boogaard (Central Coast Mariners), Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), Adam D’Apuzzo (Newcastle Jets), Tarek Elrich (Newcastle Jets), Troy Hearfield (Wellington Phoenix), Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Mark Milligan (Uncontracted), Tahj Minniecon (Queensland Roar), Stuart Musialik (Sydney FC), Nikita Rukavysta (Perth Glory), Matt Simon (Central Coast Mariners), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Ruben Zadkovich (Derby - England), Michael Zullo (Queensland Roar)