Joeys bound for Melbourne in preparation for AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers

Newly appointed Australian U-17 Men’s National 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 Alexandra

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