Pararoos set for training camp & matches this month

Pararoos Head Coach Kai Lammert has selected a 21-player squad ahead of a training camp this month on the NSW Northern Beaches.

The Pararoos – Australia’s national football team for athletes with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, or symptoms acquired from stroke – will hold their training camp from Friday, 18 June to Wednesday, 23 June, based out of Cromer Park. 

The Pararoos hosted Canada at Cromer Park in late 2019, and with the support of the Manly Warringah Football Association will utilise the home of Manly United FC once again as they unite for the third time this year.

Earlier in 2021 the Pararoos completed two training camps at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra as Lammert and his staff sought to grow the squad depth of the Pararoos in anticipation of the return of international CP football matches in 2022.

About Us Banner Carousel

While in camp on the Northern Beaches, the Pararoos will play friendly fixtures against youth teams from North West Spirit FC and Manly United FC at Cromer Park. These games will be played in two blocks to allow for all squad members to receive match minutes.

Lammert said that he is looking forward to getting an extended group of players together for the best part of a week as the Pararoos strive to advance their game. 

"Outside of international competition it is rare that we have the opportunity to spend a week with the boys, so I am expecting that we will make great progress as a group this month," Lammert said. 

"Once again, we have selected a squad that balances youth with experience as we look to the future of the Pararoos, and I am pleased that we will also have retired Pararoos great, Christopher Pyne, with us this camp in a player mentor capacity.

“Chris has a lot of experience that he can pass on to this group and we believe his insights will be invaluable as we seek to make the most of the time that we have together.

"We are also grateful to North West Spirit FC and Manly United FC for making youth selections from their clubs available to play the Pararoos. These games against strong NPL youth level opposition will be a good test for our boys and push us to better individually and collectively," he said. 

Pararoos 21-Player Squad – June 2021 – Training Camp – Northern Beaches, New South Wales  

Name (City, State)

International Caps (Goals)

Ben ATKINS (Sydney, NSW)

72 (8)

Christopher BARTY (Perth, WA)

34 (0)

Joshua BEEKES (Bendigo, VIC)

0 (0)

Christian BITSIKAS (Melbourne, VIC)

0 (0)

Timothy BLOWES (Sydney, NSW)

1 (0)

Jeremy BOYCE (Budgewoi, NSW)

1 (0)

Daniel CAMPBELL (Coffs Harbour, NSW)

15 (3)

Cosimo CIRILLO (Mildura, VIC)

9 (1)

Jared EIBY (Brisbane, QLD)

9 (0)

Taylor HARVEY (Bordertown, SA)

0 (0)

Matthew HEARNE (Melbourne, VIC)

21 (2)

Alessandro LA VERGHETTA (Perth, WA)

7 (2)

Luc LAUNDER (Canberra, ACT)

0 (0)

Taj LYNCH (Sydney, NSW)

16 (1)

Connor MARSH (Sydney, NSW)

28 (5)

Augustine MURPHY (Sydney, NSW)

10 (1)

Rodrigue NIYONGERE (Perth, WA)

0 (0)

Ben ROCHE (Lennox Head, NSW)

54 (30)

Goki SAITO (Sydney, NSW)

0 (0)

Benjamin SUTTON (Sydney, NSW)

7 (0)

Jack WILLIAMS (Sydney, NSW)

38 (1)