Newly appointed Australian U-17 Men’s ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Team Head Coach, Brad Maloney, has selected thirty (30) of the country’s best youth footballers for a two-week training camp in Melbourne, as the Joeys prepare for the upcoming AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers.
This camp will be Maloney’s first since being appointed Joeys’ Head Coach last month, and will run from Saturday, 17 September through until Friday, 30 September before a 23-player squad is named to represent Australia at the Qualifiers to be contested in Shepparton (VIC) from 5 – 9 October 2022.
Whilst an Australian U-16 representative team recently participated in an AFF tournament in Indonesia, the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers will be the first international activity for the Joeys’ program since 2019, where Australia will face China PR, Cambodia, and Northern Mariana Islands in Group G as they look to qualify for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ scheduled for May.
Upon announcing the 30-players selected for this training camp, Brad Maloney said: “After being in hiatus for the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s exciting for all concerned to convene this Joeys’ camp as we prepare for what we hope and plan will be a busy and fruitful two years for this age group,” Maloney explained.
“My staff and I have selected a talented and versatile squad for this camp, where following an intensive fortnight on the training ground we will select the final 23-players who will move forward to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers next month.
“We will face tough opposition in Shepparton, particularly from China and Cambodia whose youth programs continued throughout the pandemic, so ensuring both the technical staff and players make the most of this two-week training camp is important to put ourselves in a strong position heading into the Qualifiers,” Maloney concluded.
Australia’s Group in Shepparton is one of ten that will be contested concurrently, featuring 44 countries from across Asia, all vying for 16 spots in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™.
To qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2023™, a team needs to top their respective Group or be one of the five best placed Group runners-up. From the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ – where the host country/dates are TBA – the top four teams from this tournament will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup™ as the AFC representatives.
The AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers event in Shepparton is with thanks to Greater Shepparton City Council and is a beneficiary of funding from the Regional Sports Event Fund, supported by the Australian Sports Commission.
Match Schedule – Group G of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers
TIME/DATE | MATCH | VENUE |
3:00pm, 5 Oct 2022 | China PR vs Cambodia | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
7:30pm, 5 Oct 2022 | Australia vs Northern Mariana Islands | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
3:00pm, 7 Oct 2022 | Northern Mariana Islands vs China PR | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
7:30pm, 7 Oct 2022 | Cambodia vs Australia | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
3:00pm, 9 Oct 2022 | Australia vs China PR | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
7:30pm, 9 Oct 2022 | Cambodia vs Northern Mariana Islands | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
JOEYS SQUAD | TRAINING CAMP | 17 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2022
Name | Position | Current Club | Junior Club / Member Federation |
Peter ANTONIOU | Defender | Melbourne City FC | FC Bulleen Lions / Football Victoria |
Daniel BENNIE | Attacker | Perth Glory FC | Sorrento FC / Football West |
Jacob BRAZETE | Attacker | Sydney FC | Curl Curl FC / Football NSW |
Zachary DE JESUS | Defender | Sydney United 58 FC | Lakeside Lions JFC / Football NSW |
Miguel DI PIZIO | Midfielder | Central Coast Mariners FC | AC United / Football NSW |
Campbell DOVISON | Attacker | Central Coast Mariners FC | East Bentleigh SC / Football Victoria |
Ben DUNBAR | Midfielder | Melbourne City FC | Doncaster Rovers / Football Victoria |
Ayman GULASI | Attacker | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | Sans Souci FC / Football NSW |
Max HATELY | Attacker | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | Kellyville SC / Football NSW |
Lucas HERRINGTON | Defender | Brisbane Roar FC | Taringa Rovers FC / Football QLD |
Gus HOEFSLOOT | Goalkeeper | Sydney FC | Helensburg Thistles SC / Football NSW |
Luca IOVENE | Goalkeeper | Perth RedStar FC | Joondalup City / Football West |
Nestor IRANKUNDA | Attacker | Adelaide United FC | Adelaide Croatia Raiders SC / Football SA |
Ryan KALMS | Defender | Melbourne City FC | Strathdale FC / Football Victoria |
Pearson KASAWAYA | Attacker | Sydney FC | Griffith City FC / Football NSW |
Luka KNEZEVIC | Attacker | Marconi Stallions FC | Bonnyrigg White Eagles / Football NSW |
Andriano LEBIB | Defender | Perth Glory FC | Dianella White Eagles / Football NSW |
Jacob McLACHLAN | Defender | Sydney FC | Georges River FC / Football NSW |
Lachlan MIDDLETON | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC / Football NSW |
Andre PARKES | Defender | Central Coast Mariners FC | Castle Hill United / Football NSW |
Anthony PAVLESIC | Goalkeeper | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | Sydney United 58 FC / Football NSW |
Jaylan PEARMAN | Midfielder | Perth Glory FC | Westside FC / Football West |
Marc PETHERIOTIS | Attacker | Melbourne City FC | Box Hill United / Football Victoria |
Sotiri PHILLIS | Defender | Adelaide United FC | West Torrens Birkalla / Football SA |
Tiago QUINTAL | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Baulkham Hills FC / Football NSW |
Asim SEHOVIC | Defender | Brisbane Strikers FC | Logan Lightning FC / Football QLD |
Xavier SMITH | Defender | Crewe Alexander | Liverpool FC (United Kingdom) |
Corey SUTHERLAND | Midfielder | Perth Glory FC | Cockburn City / Football West |
Fabian TALLADIRA | Midfielder | Adelaide United FC | Adelaide City FC / Football SA |
Michael VONJA | Goalkeeper | Melbourne City FC | George Cross FC / Football Victoria |
