Two ACT boys make Joeys

Chris Bush and Ben Harrington have been selected to represent Australia Under 16.

The Australian Under 16 Football Team leave Australia on Wednesday to participate in an Asean Football Federation Youth Championship in Jakarta from 9-19 July.

Coach Martyn Crook, has named 18 players to take part in the five team tournament which also includes Bahrain, Malaysia, Singapore and host nation, Indonesia.

"This is an important part of our preparation for the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Under 16 Championships, and gives me a good opportunity to see the boys in action in conditions different from those they're used to at home," Crook said.

The AFC Under 16 Championships will be held in Uzbekistan in October.

"It is also the first time this group of players has played in a tournament against players of their own age. Past tournaments have been against older players, so this will be a very good test of just how we're doing at this age group."

"Being able to benchmark our performance at the age group is particularly important as this age group includes the players who will form the core of the Qantas Socceroos in 2018."

Crook said there is one debutant amongst the group, striker Kerem Bulut from NSW. THe full squad is:

KeremBulut strikerNSW
Christopher Bush midfielderACT
Million Butshiire strikerWA
JosephCosta midfielderSA
NathanFarrell defenderSA
PetarFranjic defenderVIC
Brendan Hamill defenderNSW
BenjaminHarrington midfielderACT
Kamal Ibrahim midfielderVIC
BenjaminKantarovski midfielderNSW
RobertKolakgoalkeeperNSW
JaredLum midfielderNSW
ChahineNoujaim fullbackSA
TrentSainsbury defenderWA
NikolaStanojevic strikerNSW
LawrenceThomas goalkeeperNSW
MarcWarren left backNSW
TedrosYabio midfielderVIC


The tournament schedule will see the Qantas Joeys play four matches in six days with finals to be held on 19 July. The Qantas Joeys will continue their preparation for the Under 16 AFC Championships with club-based tournaments in the Netherlands and Germany in August.

ENDS

NOTE: The Qantas Joeys depart Sydney for Jakarta on QF41 on 2 July 2008. Media interested in photo or interview opportunities should contact Adam Mark on 0409 390 340 for further details.

MATCH SCHEDULE
Asean Football Federation Under 16 Youth Championship
Lebak Bulus Stadium, Jakarta
9 July
Australia v Bahrain
Singapore v Malaysia
Indonesia BYE
11 July
Bahrain v Singapore
Indonesia v Australia
Malaysia BYE
13 July
Australia v Malaysia
Indonesia v Bahrain
Singapore BYE
15 July
Singapore v Australia
Malaysia v Indonesia
Bahrain BYE
17 July
Malaysia v Bahrain
Indonesia v Singapore
Australia BYE
19 July
3 v 4
1 v 2