Six Gippsland Footballers will get a sporting experience they will never forget when they fly out this Friday morning, 20^th July, to compete in ‘The Great Wall Cup Beijing’ International Youth Tournament. Sale United Football Clubs Youth Policy is reaching the potential of the program after four of its finest will be represented in the Footskills Australia U17 team. Ashley Ross, Jacob Richardson, Tommy Nguyen and Orin Giesbers will do Sale proud as they take the field in China. Gianni Salvatore, Falcons 2000 and Ty Georgiou, Morwell Pegasus, have also been successful in gaining a position each into the team.

 

Since attending trials a few months back and gaining selection the boys have been travelling to Melbourne weekly for training, completing their preparation with a four day camp last week. The rest of the team hails from Victorian Premier League Clubs which include Dandenong Thunder and Melbourne Knights so the young Gippslanders are mixing it with the best. The team has had some tough practice games in the lead up to their departure. Whilst at camp they played two of the best u18 teams in Victoria in skilful yet physical encounters. They defeated League leaders Casey Comets 2-1 and second placed South East Piranhas 4-2.

 

Because of the 2011 success of this team as U15s in the Singapore Tournament last December the highly talented Footskills Australia team have been invited to compete in the u17 section of ‘The Great Wall Cup Beijing 2012’. There was a couple of positions in the squad open up due to injuries and players moving on so coach, Ian Williamson, invited a selected number of quality players from all over Victoria to trial. From there he chose players who were of the highest standard to fulfil the roles. Ashley, Tommy and Orin were ecstatic to be selected for the first time while Jacob, Gianni and Ty were excited to be back in the squad where they could continue to grow as strong, confident players under the professional coaching of Williamson and management of Victor Ponnusamy.

 

Footskills Australia is the only team from Australia invited to compete in the u17 section of this Tournament. The International Youth Competition is run by the Chinese Government along with the Beijing Football Association. Other countries taking part in the u17 section besides Australia are teams from Japan, Hong Kong, India, Beijing, Russia the Philippines and China.

 

The format of the Cup is teams are split into two groups, the top two in each group after the first round will move onto the semi-finals. The winners of each semi-final then progress through to the Final. The team plays its first game on 22^nd July with the Final being played on the 28^th. There is also the opportunity for players to win individual awards such as player of the tournament, goalkeeper of the tournament and leading goalscorer. Richardson is keen to cement the goalkeeper trophy after being award the U15 one at the closing ceremony of the Singapore Tournament.

 

The matches will be played on high quality pitches at the football park of the National Olympic Centre, just opposite the ‘Bird Nest National Stadium’. Not only will the boys experience elite football games but they will also attend culture events to learn basic Chinese, Kung Fu and tour the Great Wall, The Tiananmen Square and also the Forbidden City. This offers international youth access to professional and social exposure where they can meet and communicate in Beijing by sharing culture and happiness through the universal language of Football. The team will also attend a match between Arsenal and Manchester City.

 

Richardson, 16, plays for Sale United and is normally the U21 team’s goalkeeper but has stepped up into the Senior side for the past seven weeks while his brother, Chris, has been touring the UK. Richardson has had a lot of experience in the goals. He has represented Gippsland at Country Championships for the past six years where he was Captain. He has also been selected into Four Victorian State teams. He was in the 2010 State U14 team that attended the Australian Championships and was in the 2011 State U15 team that toured New Zealand. He was in the successful U14 State Futsal team that won silver at the 2011 Australian Championships and was also in the 2012 State U15 Futsal squad.

 

Ross, now 16, won the 2011 senior best & fairest player at the Sale Club as a fifteen year old which proves how talented he is. He has also represented Gippsland at four Victorian Country Championships. He has also been selected into State Squads where he represented Victoria at both U14 and U15 National Championships. Ross will play a prominent midfield role. He is known for his speed, skill, excellent game sense and leadership capabilities.

 

Nguyen, 17, stands out on the field as he takes on players and weaves in and out, scoring many goals. He won the 2011 ‘Forsyth’ award for Football at the Gippsland Sports Academy for excellence in his sport.   Nguyen plays in the striker position and is looking forward to putting a few goals away against the quality opposition. He has been in the 2009 State U14 Team and then again in the 2010 State u15 team where he was also awarded a place in the Australian Allstars team at the 2010 National Championships.

 

Giesbers, 13, plays up age in the u16s at Sale and displays strong technique. He has represented Gippsland for the past three years at Country Championships. He recently received a glass trophy for being nominated for the ‘David Drane’ award at the Gippsland Sports Academy awards night. Giesbers does not let his age play a part in his game. He will get involved and tackle anyone and it does not matter that they are three years older than him. Giesbers can sprint down the wing and put in a good cross for the oncoming strikers. In the Beijing Cup he will play a supporting midfield role in the squad.

 

Salvatore, 16, is a valued member of the Falcons 2000 club in Morwell. He is renowned for his fast pace and tackling technique which has turned him into one of the best defenders in the State. He has represented Gippsland at four Country Championships. In 2010 Salvatore was selected into the State U14 team that attended the Australian Championships and was also in the 2011 State U15 team that toured New Zealand.

 

Georgiou, 16, is a player made of tough talent and will never stop till the final whistle sounds. He is fit, skilful, strong and a great team player. And it’s no wonder he is selected into every team he trials for. Georgiou has represented Gippsland for six years and was also in the State U14 team at the Nationals in 2010. As a junior player he played for Moe United soccer club but has moved on this year into playing for Morwell Pegasus. Georgiou will play in the striker’s role.

 

All the boys were members of the Gippsland Sports Academy in 2011 and have been members of the Gippsland Knights since its inception three years ago. The Knights compete in the Victorian Champions League over the summer in a state-wide competition run by Football Federation Victoria.

 

The boys have been great ambassadors for not only their local football club but for their home towns and the entire Gippsland region. The six of them along with the other eleven players from throughout the State look forward into doing Australia proud at this International Cup.

 

The team will participate in an Olympic style opening ceremony prior to their matches. At the completion of the tournament a closing ceremony will also be held where team and individual awards will be presented.

Players names are as follows: 

BACK L-R: Ali Ulum, Nathan McDonald, Michael Mazza, ASHLEY ROSS, JACOB RICHARDSON, Kenan Akalan, Suji Moham, Adam Italia and Nabil Mozaffaruddin.

FRONT L-R: GIANNI SALVATORE, ORIN GIESBERS, TY GEORGIOU, TOMMY NGUYEN, Zac Lucic, Sedine Zijai and Jake Kikuchi.