Teen football sensation and recent Subway Socceroos’ debutant, Garang Kuol, has dubbed the John McEwen Reserve at the Shepparton Sports City Precinct as the best in Victoria ahead of the Regional City hosting Group G of AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers from 5 – 9 October 2022.
Hailing from Shepparton, Kuol said: “John McEwen Reserve is my stomping ground. That’s where me and my brothers used to play all our lives. There’s a special bond there, it’s a special place.
“The main pitch there is probably the best in Victoria. You wouldn’t really expect it, a place two hours away from Melbourne to be the best in Victoria, but I reckon it is,” Kuol explained.
Having just turned 18-years of age, Kuol – who looks set to sign with English Premier League side, Newcastle United – made his Subway Socceroos’ debut against the New Zealand All Whites last Sunday, 25 September, and said next week’s tournament in Shepparton is exciting for the whole region.
“It’s exciting for the Shepparton as a whole. The sporting side of the community is a big part of Shepparton and to host international football is exciting for the region and hopefully it can inspire kids around the area to get into football and sport, get active, and push themselves,” Kuol concluded.
The Group features Australia’s Subway Joeys, Cambodia, China PR, and Northern Mariana Islands with a spot in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ up for grabs.
The tournament will be played across three match days, where each match day features a double-header.
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 |
Football fans and event goers can access their limited and free match day tickets now from Eventbrite. to access event ticket page.
Divided into five groups of four, four groups of five, and one group of three, the Qualifiers will feature 43 Member Associations vying for 16 available seats – 10 group winners and six best runners-up who will battle for the coveted AFC U17 Asian Cup™ trophy next year. From the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ the top four teams from this tournament will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup™ as the AFC representatives.
The AFC U17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers event in Shepparton is a beneficiary of funding from the Regional Sports Event Fund, supported by the Australian Sports Commission.
