Words: Emily Wilson
Image: Sunshine Coast FC

Two Sunshine Coast FC players are the youngest players selected to the Brisbane Roar’s Under 18 Boys Squad for 2015.

Fourteen-year-old Jesse Gibbs and Oliver Duncan were selected as full squad members, along with 15-year-old Josh Wall, who was offered a train-on position.

The selection comes after the players impressed under the watchful eye of Brisbane Roar Under 18's Coach Josh McCloughan and other Brisbane Roar selectors.

The players were notified of their selection prior to Christmas, with Roar officially confirming their first ever Under 18’s squad earlier this week.

“I am really excited to have been selected, and we all can’t wait to get down to Brisbane in 2015 and start training and playing with the squad,” Gibbs said.

Wall was surprised to be offered his train on position after he sustained an injury during trials in November.

“I didn’t expect to be selected at all, after my injury, so I’m really pleased to have been offered a position,” he said

Gibbs, Duncan and Wall said the intensity of playing and training with older, more experienced players had improved their game over the past few months of trials.

They credited the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland pathway with preparing them to take the next step into the Roar.

“I have been with the Fire for the past two years and the coaches I’ve had have taught me so much in terms of my football development,” Duncan said.

Fire First Team Coach Paul Arnison said the boys’ selection was a credit to their hard work.

“Jesse is a natural goal scorer and is strong on the ball. He was selected as a Queensland

State player and was named Player of the Tournament at the National Championships, and that really says everything about him,” Arnison said.

“Oliver dominates the game when he’s on the ball and is an excellent midfielder. He was also named as a Queensland State player.”

Wall’s 2014 Coach Daniel Carew commended Wall on his selection as a train-on player and said he had a bright future.

“Josh has great leadership qualities on and off the pitch and his work rate is second to none. He’s a great shot stopper and has shown he has great potential,” Carew said.

Newly appointed Brisbane Roar Under 18s Squad Coach Josh McCloughan said the boys now had a great football opportunity ahead of them.

“They all did really well in the trials; their application during trials was excellent and they all have some good attributes which were identified. It depends on what they do with this opportunity from now on in as to where they go in terms of their football futures,” he said.