2018 World Cup side

Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman, Frank Lowy AC, today met with the young men who will carry the hopes of Australian football for the next decade.

Well some of them! These things change. Danai Gapare from Canberra was there. Well done Danai. But I'm sure Chris Bush and one or two others will be pushing hard.

And no pressure on our young fella's hey Frank!

WISHING AND HOPING - THE FACES OF 2018



Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman, Frank Lowy AC, today met with the young men who will carry the hopes of Australian football for the next decade.

The Australian Under 17 team – known as the Qantas Joeys – met with the team as they assembled in Sydney to watch their senior counterparts, the Qantas Socceroos, play an international friendly match against Ghana on Friday night.

“This is our football future,” Mr Lowy said.

“These young men are the faces of 2018 who will be the core of the team that fills our field of dreams in our bid to host and play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.”

Mr Lowy said that he wants players around Australia, who have aspirations to be a footballer, to be committed to the Australian cause for 2018 and beyond.

“There is no greater honour than representing your country.

“Australia provides you with education, both academic and sporting, and I think it’s only fair that young people with sporting ability should choose with pride to play for Australia whether you are born here or come as a migrant or refugee.”

Mr Lowy said that he was delighted the Qantas Joeys reflected the diversity of the Australian population, comprising players from all over Australia and including some who had come to Australia as refugees and migrants.

He encouraged all of them to work hard at school and at football.

“Dreams do come true if you’re prepared to work hard.”

“Our bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is not a dry run,” he said.

“We want to host, play in and win the World Cup in 2018.”

ENDS
Profiles of the current Qantas Joeys are attached. The coach is Martyn Crook and assistant coach is Jean Paul de Marigny.



Qantas Joeys Profiles

Jared Lum (NSW)
Date of Birth: 19 July 1992
Place of Birth: Sydney
Height: 174
Weight: 64
Current Club : Sydney Wanderers
Junior Clubs: Winston Hills Bears (NSW), Hills Brumbies (NSW), Northern Spirit (NSW), Blacktown City Demons (NSW), Sydney Wanderers (NSW)
Institutes & Academies: NSW Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Midfielder
Qantas Joeys Appearances: 4
Debut Match: v Japan (L3-0), Friendly, Japan, August 2007
Last Match: v Malaysia (W2-0), AFC Qualifying, Singapore, October 2007

George Klappas (NSW)
Date of Birth: 17 Jan 1992
Place of Birth: Sydney
Height: 187
Weight: 75
Current Club: NSW Institute of Sport
Junior Clubs: Sydney Olympic (NSW), St George (NSW), Blacktown City (NSW)
Institutes & Academies: NSW Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Defender

Brendon Hamill (NSW)
Date of Birth: 18 Sep 1992
Place of Birth: Sydney
Height: 177
Weight: 68
Current Club: Sydney Wanderers (NSW)
Junior Clubs: Chipping Norton (NSW), Marconi (NSW), Parramatta Eagles (NSW), Sydney Wanderers (NSW)
Institutes & Academies: NSW Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Midfielder
Qantas Joeys Appearances: 3
Goals: 1
Debut Match: v Japan (L3-0), Friendly, Nagoya (JPN), August 2007
Last Match: v Korea Republic (W3-0), Friendly, Nagoya (JPN), August 2007


Marc Warren (NSW)
Date of Birth: 11 Feb 1992
Place of Birth: Sutherland (NSW)
Height: 172
Weight: 68
Current Club: Sutherland Sharks (NSW)
Junior Clubs: Menai Hawks (NSW), Sutherland (NSW)
Institutes & Academies: NSW Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Defender
Qantas Joeys Appearances : 4
Goals : 2
Debut Match: v Japan (L3-0), Friendly, Nagoya (JPN), August 2007
Last Match: v Malaysia (W2-0), AFC Qualifying, Singapore, October 2007


Lawrence Thomas (NSW)
Date of Birth: 9 May 1992
Place of Birth: Sydney
Height: 185
Weight: 85
Current Club: NSW Institute of Sport
Junior Clubs: Marconi, Bankstown, Blacktown
Institutes & Academies: NSW Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Goalkeeper

Robert Kolak (NSW)
Date of Birth: 23 Jan 1992
Place of Birth: Fairfield (NSW)
Height: 190
Weight: 72
Current Club: Sydney United (NSW)
Junior Clubs: Prairiewood United (NSW), Canley Heights (NSW), AC United (NSW), Sydney United Youth (NSW)
Institutes & Academies: NSW Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Goalkeeper

Anthony Perri (NSW)
Date of Birth : 14 Jan 1992
Place of Birth: Sydney
Height: 164
Weight: 68
Current Club: NSW Institute of Sport
Junior Clubs: Blacktown, St George, Oatley RSL
Institutes & Academies: NSW Institute of Sport

Niko Stanojevic (NSW)
Date of Birth : 25 Jun 1992
Place of Birth: Serbia
Height: 173
Weight: 68
Current Club: Bankstown City Lions (NSW)
Junior Clubs: White City (NSW), Croydon (NSW), Blue Eagles (NSW), Parramatta Eagles (NSW), Bankstown City Lions (NSW)
Institutes & Academies: NSW Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Striker
Qantas Joeys Appearances : 4
Debut Match: v Japan (L3-0), Friendly, Nagoya (JPN), August 2007
Last Match : v Malaysia (W2-0), AFC Qualifying, Singapore, October 2007

Phillip Lamin (QLD)
Date of Birth: 9 Oct 1992
Place of Birth: Sierra Leone
Height: 156
Weight: 56
Current Club: QAS
Junior Clubs: The Gap, Mitchelton, Rochedale
Institutes & Academies: QAS
Playing Position: Striker

Phil arrived in Australia 5 years ago as a refugee from Sierra Leone

Danai Gapare (ACT)
Date of Birth : 25 Feb 1992
Place of Birth : Zimbabwe
Height : 165
Weight : 65
Current Club: ACT Academy of Sport
Junior Clubs: West Point Grey SC (ACT), Woden Valley (ACT), Capital Football Youth (ACT)
Institutes & Academies: ACT Academy of Sport
Playing Position: Striker
Qantas Joeys Appearances : 3
Debut Match: v Japan (L3-0), Friendly, Nagoya (JPN), August 2007
Last Match: v Korea Republic (W3-0), Friendly, Nagoya (JPN), August 2007


Tedros Yabio (VIC)
Date of Birth : 14 Dec 1992
Place of Birth : Sudan
Height : 175
Weight : 65
Junior Clubs: Enfield (SA), Croydon (SA), Olympic (SA), Adelaide City (SA)
Institutes & Academies: Victorian Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Striker
Qantas Joeys Appearances: 4
Debut Match: v Japan (L3-0), Friendly, Nagoya (JPN), August 2007
Last Match: v Malaysia (W2-0), AFC Qualifying, Singapore, October 2007

Tedros arrived in Australia 13 years ago as a refugee from Ethiopia


Kamal Ibrahim (VIC)
Date of Birth: 26 Jul 1992
Place of Birth: Ethiopia
Height: 172
Weight: 61
Current Club: Victorian Institute of Sport
Previous Clubs: Altona East (VIC)
Junior Clubs: PDRE Melbourne (VIC), Altona East (VIC)
Institutes & Academies: Victorian Institute of Sport
Playing Position: Midfielder
Qantas Joeys Appearances : 4
Goals : 1
Debut Match: v Japan (L3-0), Friendly, Nagoya (JPN), August 2007
Last Match: v Malaysia (W2-0), AFC Qualifying, Singapore, October 2007

Kamal arrived in Australia 5 years ago as a refugee from Ethiopia

Million Butshiire (WA)
Date of Birth: 19 Jan 1992
Place of Birth: Goma (Congo)
Weight: 78
Current Club: FW National Training Centre
Previous Clubs: Perth Italia (WA)
Junior Clubs: Perth Italia (WA)
Institutes & Academies: Football West National Training Centre
Playing Position: Striker

Million arrived in Australia 4 years ago as a refugee from the Congo

Julius Davies (WA)
Date of Birth : 30 Sep 1992
Place of Birth: Liberia
Height: 158
Weight: 58
Current Club: FW Training Centre
Junior Clubs: Inglewood United
Institutes & Academies: FW Training Centre
Playing Position: Midfielder

Julius arrived in Australia 4 years ago as a refugee from Liberia