Canberrans to Amsterdam...and the World

Kofi Danning, and Sam Munro are off to Europe with the Under 20 Australian side.

Notice a heap of overseas joining them including maybe the pick of the bunch? Peter CVETANOVSKI (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany),

And will Kofi be back? You can be sure with games against Celtic, Ajax, PSV, Valencia and co it won't be just the Aussie Coaches having a look will it. Let's hope a few of the A-League boys return for a while at least.

Australian-based players selected by Head Coach, Jan Versleijen, for an 18 man Qantas Young Socceroos squad for a European training camp has departed Australia this afternoon as part of their preparation for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Egypt in September/October.

The touring squad is comprised of 14 players from Hyundai A-League and National Youth League teams and four players from overseas clubs.

The players travelled with newly appointed Assistant Coach and former Qantas Socceroo, Ante Milicic, and former Hyundai A-League player and former Wellington Phoenix assistant coach, Wayne O’Sullivan, who has been appointed as video analyst for the team.

The Qantas Young Socceroos will participate in two tournaments in the Netherlands and also play friendly matches against De Graafschap and the Egyptian U-20 national team. The two tournaments involve modified matches, played with 20 minute halves, with teams playing two or three games a day.

Versleijen has also invited Aaron Mooy (Bolton Wanderers, England), Mitchell Nicholson (Dorchester Town, England), Brent McGrath (Brondy, Denmark), Rocco Visconte (Hearts FC, Scotland), Dylan McGowan (Hearts FC, Scotland), Christos Tamaros (Apollon Kalamarias, Greece) and Robert Stambolziev (Bristol City, England)to train with the squad with a view towards possible future selection in the playing squad.

“We have chosen this European tour due to the fact that we have European Opposition (Czech Republic) at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt," said Versleijen.

"Later in the year we will head to South America for another training camp to test ourselves against opposition similar to the playing styles of Brazil and Costa Rica whom we also meet at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“An important reason for this tour is for the players to get international experience against different teams and to strengthen our playing style, but I will also use the opportunity to see some new faces from overseas clubs and assess if they can add something to the squad,” said Versleijen.

“The benefit of playing in these two tournaments is that the players will have many games in a short period of time against a variety of opposition," concluded Versleijen.

In July, The Qantas Young Socceroos are scheduled to embark on a South American tour to Venezuela as they continue their preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009.

The Qantas Young Socceroos have been drawn in Group E for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, alongside Brazil, Costa Rica and the Czech Republic. The FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 which will be played from 24 September to 16 October.

The Qantas Young Socceroos qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup by progressing to the semi-final stage at the AFC U-19 Championships in Saudi Arabia last year.

ENDS
Qantas Young Socceroos Squad List
Mark BIRIGHITTI (Adelaide United), Oliver BOZANIC (Reading FC, England), Luke BRATTAN (Brisbane Roar), Isaka CERNAK (Brisbane Roar), Peter CVETANOVSKI (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany), Kofi DANNING (Sydney FC), Luke DE VERE (Brisbane Roar), Nathan ELASI (Melbourne Victory), Rhyan GRANT (Sydney FC), James HOLLAND (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Matthew JURMAN (Sydney FC), Ryan McGOWAN (Hearts FC, Scotland), Tahj MINNIECON (Gold Coast United) Daniel MULLEN (Adelaide United), Sam MUNRO (Sydney FC), Mitch NICHOLLS (Brisbane Roar), Thomas OAR (Brisbane Roar), Andrew REDMAYNE (Central Coast Mariners)

Match Schedule
DateMatch TypeFixtureVenueKick-Off (CEST)Kick-Off (AEST)
19 May 2009FriendlyQantas Young Socceroos v De Graafschap Terborg1:00pm9:00pm
22 May 2009TTValencia CF v Qantas Young Socceroos Terborg2:10pm10:10pm
TTQantas Young Socceroos v FeyenoordTerborg7:10pm3:10am
23 May 2009TTQantas Young Socceroos v Atletico MineiroTerborg11:40am7:40pm
TTDe Graafschap v Qantas Young SocceroosTerborg3:00pm11:00pm
24 May 2009TTTerborg Touwernooi Finals Series Terborg
26 May 2009FriendlyQantas Young Socceroos v Egypt U-20 Terborg11:00am7:00pm
30 May 2009ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v PSV EindhovenUitgeest12:00pm8:00pm
ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v Ajax AmsterdamUitgeest1:40pm9:40pm
ICGTCeltic v Qantas Young SocceroosUitgeest3:30pm11:30pm
1 June 2009ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v FC UitgeestUitgeest10:00am6:00pm
ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v VitesseUitgeest11:35am7:35pm
ICGTSemi Finals and FinalsUitgeest2:00pm10:00pm

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ACT Youth Rockets to play Sydney FC?

Majura junior, Kofi Danning to star for Sydney FC Youth and Sam Munro in the Sydney squad see below....

ACT Young Rockets have been training for the past four weeks and look like they have a number of fixtures against A-League Youth teams lined up.



They could start as early as the opening A-League Youth League round against Sydney FC if all goes to plan on Friday 26th September, with further games against the Central Coast, Newcastle Jets and possibly Melbourne Jets to follow.

It is a great opportunity for the young players of the ACT and provides them a chance to show case their skills.

Sydney FC Press Release starts here:

Sydney set for start of Youth League

In just a few weeks time there’ll be an important new player on the Australian football landscape, with the FFA’s National Youth League competition set to kick off in the last weekend of September.

After months of trials and tribulations, Sydney FC youth coach, Steve O’Connor has now finalised his squad, and he’s excited about the opportunity the league will offer the next generation of Australian footballers.

“I think it is important because it gives pathways for all out talented young players so that they know the way for them to get to the A-League is by getting into a Youth League team,” said O’Connor.

With most of Sydney’s players coming from the ranks of the New South Wales Premier League, O’Connor has had to bide his time waiting to assemble his squad, and the side has only recently stepped up its preparations for the coming season.

Despite the slow start, squad-members, Matt Jurman and Robbie Mileski have already picked up first-team experience during the opening rounds of the Hyundai A-League season, and the Sydney mentor is keen to ensure all his young charges appreciate the chance they’re about to be given.

“I want them to be focused on that opportunity and be aware of it that they’re playing for positions,” explained O’Connor. “Hopefully they’ll put a bit of pressure on the senior players because in some respects they’ve had a bit of a charmed life over the last 3 years without very much pressure, so this changes the landscape a little bit.”

There are only 12 places in FC’s Youth Team, with the side to be bolstered week-to-week by un-selected players from the senior squad.

‘Football Superstar’ winner, Adam Hett was one of Sydney’s first signings, but a season ending knee injury has seen the Perth player replaced in O’Connor’s final side.

“It’s unfortunate for Adam but we’ll keep track of his recovery with an eye to next season,” said the former AIS Coach. “His bad luck was somebody else’s good fortune though, I suppose, but it’s all done and dusted now and we’ll see how we go in the competition.”

This Saturday the entire Youth Team will be introduced to the Sydney faithful at the SFS, at half-time in FC’s Hyundai A-League clash with Adelaide United.

Sydney will enjoy a bye in the first round of the National Youth League and will begin its campaign on October 4 against Queensland.


The final squad is as follows:

Name Age Position Former Club
Vedran JANJETOVIC 21 Goalkeeper Sydney United
Sam MUNRO 17 Defender AIS – Canberra
Matt JURMAN 18 Defender Sydney Olympic
Anthony GOLEC 18 Defender Sydney United
Chris TRIANTIS 20 Midfielder Sydney Olympic
Zachary CAIRNCROSS18 Defender Marconi
Rhyan GRANT 17 Midfielder AIS – Bathurst
Brendan GAN 20 Midfielder Sutherland
Sean ROONEY 19 Striker Blacktown
Robbie MILESKI 21 Midfielder Bankstown City Lions
Kofi DANNING17 StrikerAIS - Canberra
Ibrahim HAYDAR20 DefenderBankstown City Lions


Coaching staff:

Head Coach: Steve O’Connor
Assistant Coaches: Steve Corica and Grant Lee
Goalkeeper Coach: John Filan
Physiotherapist: Stuart Turner
Trainer: Kylie Johnson

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Nearpost Podcasts: Oz Under 20 Coach Jan Versleijen

This weeks poddies.


National Show Download

Includes David Hall Editor of Australia's newest Football Magazine Australian Football Weekly.

Also AIS Coach Jan Versleijen talks about his role as Under 20's Coach.

And our very own "Not Setanta Australia segment with Guus Hiddink, Charlie Tim Tam Miller, Ricky Herbert and We've found Arnie.


Local football show: Download



Special Guest Tuggeranong Coach Scott Conlon and AIS Graduate now Sydney FC Sam Munro.

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AIS: To take in younger boys

The AIS farewelled Sydney FC bound Sam Munro today. You can hear Sam on the Nearpost tonight.

And Jan Versleijen, AIS Coach, outlines his plans for the future of the football programme at the AIS.

As the players are snapped up by the A-League Youth teams the current Under 20 squad becomes a camp based programme similar to European national youth sides. This is a significant change to the previous model which produced Mark Viduka, Craig Moore and Carl Valeri.

And the AIS will be bringing in younger players, 16-18 year olds in future as the game in Australia expands and develops.

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ACT Boys head to Japan, Sydney sign Canberra Youth

Dane Milovanovic, Sam Munro from the ACT are in the Young Socceroos squad currently in Japan with new AIS Dutch Coach Jens Verslaijen. See squad/games below.

And Merryn Sherwood from Canberra Times has all the news on the first Canberra boys to sign A-League Youth contracts.

And the Under 17 Aussie Women match/squad details are below

SBS Cup (Shizuoka Broadcasting System)
Location: Shizuoka City, Japan
* Saturday 23 August, Australia v Japan
* Sunday 24 August, Australia v Shizuoka Province
* Tuesday 26 August, Australia v Argentina

Qantas Young Socceroos Squad. 1. Andrew Redmayne (GK) - Central Coast; 2. Sebastian Ryall - Melbourne Victory; 3. Nathan Elasi - Melbourne Victory; 4. Luke De Vere - QLD Roar; 5. Mitchell Nichols - QLD Roar; 6. Tahj Minniecon - QLD Roar; 7. Jason Hoffman - Newcastle Jets; 8. Jason Naidovski - Newcastle Jets; 9. Daniel Mullen - Adelaide United; 10. Milos Lujic - Oakleigh (VIC Premier League); 11. Stefan Vrbesic - Las Palmas, SPAIN; 12. Sam Munro – AIS; 13. Matthew Jurman - Sydney Olympic, NSW Premier League; 14. Thomas Oar - QLD Roar; 15. Mark Birighitti (GK) - Adelaide United; 16. Niko Tsattalios - Sydney FC; 17. Dane Milanovic - AIS; 18. Daniel Thomas (AIS).

Coach: Jan Verslaijen

Women’s Training Camp
Location: Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra.

* Monday 25 August, 11.00am - Australia U17 Women v Japan U19 Women

U17 Women’s Squad. Alice Wellingham (QLD), Alix Roberts (Country NSW), Amy Higgins (QLD) Ashley Brown (VIC), Brittany Whitfield (QLD), Caitlin Foord (NSW), Courtney Miller (NNSW), Elizabeth Grey (NSW), Emily Van Egmond (NNSW), Erika Elze (QLD), Hannah Brewer (NSW), Heidi Makrillos (NSW), Jesse Wharepouri (NSW), Mikaela Hatzirodos (QLD), Nicola Bolger (NSW), Nicole Calder (SA), Rebecca Bennett (WA), Rebekah Stott (QLD), Sadie Lawrence (WA), Sally Thurston (QLD), Sam Kerr (WA), Tara Andrews (NNSW), Teigen Allen (NSW), Stephanie Catley (VIC).

Coach: Gary Phillips

And from the Canberra Times, Merry Sherwoord reports:

A little under 12 months ago Kofi Danning was running around in Capital Football's premier league for the O'Connor Knights.

But at the end of next month the 17-year-old striker will complete a remarkable rise when he lines up for Sydney FC's youth team in the new national youth league.

A-League team Sydney FC has signed two Canberra players, Danning and Sam Munro, 18, for its inaugural season in the national youth league. Both Danning and Munro have been with the AIS team for the past year, but Danning only started a full scholarship this year.

After playing for Canberra FC and then the O'Connor Knights in the ACT premier league, Danning was invited to train with the AIS squad last year and impressed then coach Steve O'Connor and now current coach Ray Junna enough to claim a full scholarship.

Now Sydney FC youth coach, O'Connor was quick to snap up the Ghana-born Danning for the youth league team making the transition from ACT premier league to Sydney FC in around a year.

''He's certainly got potential,'' O'Connor said.

''He's very athletic, he's very quick and can play with both feet. He still has work to do in the fine technical points of the game and can better his technique in areas but they are all things you can keep working on.

''If he is serious about his game he can make an impact.''

Munro who was born in Sydney but has been in Canberra as part of the Capital Football Academy and ACTAS programs for the past few years - is currently overseas with the Young Socceroos team in Japan. Fellow Canberran AIS scholarship-holder Dane Milovanovic is also in the squad.

''They are both good players and they both have potential,'' O'Connor said. ''I obviously had them for some time when I was down there, and I wanted to give them the opportunity to play in the youth league.''

O'Connor said he expected both Munro and Danning to play important roles in Sydney FC's youth team. Danning will fly in for each game and remain with the AIS for another year while Munro is likely to move to Sydney.

The national youth league will start on the last weekend of September

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