A host of the nation's brightest young things arrived in Canberra today for a four-day camp.
It's the final selection camp for under-17s coach Robbie Hooker, (yes, this is where he is after deciding not to re-apply for the Canberra United job) picks his team to play in ASEAN Cup in October and then hopefully AFC Championships in November. Click to continue reading...

And my local club leads the way...wel what did you expect?
Here's the site: World Cup Australia site. http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/
And my local club, Majura Junior Football club played a big part. Well everyone always finds an angle don't they.
Irene Mantinaos gave an address at the launch. Click to continue reading...

Christophe Bush (ACT/AIS), Stephen Domenici (ACT/AIS), Jason Geria (ACT/AIS), Alexander Meibusch (ACT/AIS), are all in Turkey for the Australia/Turkey inaugural Anzac Day football match. This year it's the Under 17's taking part.
CANAKKALE, TURKEY
23 April 2009
The Australia U17 men's football team, the Qantas Joeys, are preparing for the inaugural Australia-Turkey Friendly Football matches to coincide with Anzac Day with two of Australia's brightest young stars are preparing for the biggest games of their careers. Click to continue reading...

Jan Versleijen's Young Socceroos have drawn a tough group in September's U-20 World Cup in Egypt. As well as perennial high-flyers Brazil, there are the Czechs, runners-up in the 2007 event, and CONCACAF loose cannon Costa Rica.
The youngsters' performance at this event will be interesting to watch, for a number of reasons. Click to continue reading...

Ok so it's no big deal Australia lost to the UAE in the Quarter Final of the Under 16Asian Cup in Tashkent. Everythings in Tashkent these days!
But what is a big deal is it means the Joeys won't go to the World Cup Under 17 next year. The FFA don't say so in their release but I'm pretty sure that's the deal. Click to continue reading...

The Joeys are on track for a World Cup berth. They beat China 2-1 a couple of days ago, see report below, and beat Turkmenistan 6-0 overnight.
One game to go. The Joeys must beat, probably, Yemen to book their place at the World Cup.
Also Young Socceroos beat Thailand 2-1. Notice the improving Thai football sides. Click to continue reading...

Chris Bush (Goulburn) Danai Gapare and Stephen Domenici (2 goals) all played a part in the Australian Under 16 first game in their attempt to qualify for the Under 17 World Cup.
Australia 3 Saudi Arabia 1: Details below
Tashkent
Monday 6 October 2008
The Qantas Joeys have begun their AFC U16 Championships campaign with a 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in Uzbekistan overnight. Click to continue reading...

Canberran Stephen Domenici opened the scoring for the Joeys in Tashkent yesterday. Danai Gapare also got game time. I'm assuming Chris Bush was injured.See release below.
Question: How many other Canberran or Goulburn Under 16's or younger have ever even been to Uzbekistan?
And who in that age range from this region,if anyone, has ever played a sporting contest in that country? Click to continue reading...

Asia. Football is teaching me all about the Asian cities and countries. If it's Tashkent it must be Uzbekistan and THREE Canberrans, including Goulburns favourite player Chris Bush are included in the Australian Under 16 side. FFA Release below.
Qantas Joeys Head Coach Martyn Crook has selected a 23 player squad to compete at the upcoming AFC U16 Championships which will be held in Uzbekistan from 4-18 October 2008. Click to continue reading...

First half they were pushed all the way by an impressive Malaysian performance but two quick goals early in the second half set the Joeys on their way to another big win.
I didn't speak to Steve Darby on the phone during the week so I didn't know what to expect from the Malaysians who do tend to provide this blog with a giglgle once in a while but last night they put in by far the best performance from a South East Asian nation capped with some fine individual performances and a contender for goal of the tournament. Click to continue reading...

A very Young Matildas side were thrashed 5-0 by China, and the Australian boys Under 17 side, The Joeys beat Bahrain 2-1. Canberrans Amy Chapman, Chris Bush and Ben Harrington all got game time for their respective sides. Match reports below from the FFA.
Matildas lose their rhythm in Tianjin
The Australian women's football team, the Matildas, were defeated 0-5 by Olympic Games hosts China, in Tianjin overnight. Click to continue reading...

Chris Bush and Ben Harrington have been selected to represent Australia Under 16.
The Australian Under 16 Football Team leave Australia on Wednesday to participate in an Asean Football Federation Youth Championship in Jakarta from 9-19 July.
Coach Martyn Crook, has named 18 players to take part in the five team tournament which also includes Bahrain, Malaysia, Singapore and host nation, Indonesia. Click to continue reading...

AACTAS players Chris Bush and Ben Harrington have made the Joeys for the upcoming AFC Under 16 Champs in Jakarta. ACTAS release below.
Two ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) Footballers selected onto the Qantas Joeys
Football Federation Australia (FFA) has just confirmed that ACTAS Player's Ben Harrington and Chris Bush have been selected onto the Australian National Under 16 Team for the upcoming AFF U16 Championships, Jakarta Indonesia. Click to continue reading...

Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman, Frank Lowy AC, today met with the young men who will carry the hopes of Australian football for the next decade.
Well some of them! These things change. Danai Gapare from Canberra was there. Well done Danai. But I'm sure Chris Bush and one or two others will be pushing hard. Click to continue reading...

It's going to be tough for Chris Bush. But the boy from Goulburn will see us through.
FFA Release below
QANTAS JOEYS DEALT TOUGH WORLD CUP QUALIFYING PATH
QANTAS JOEYS DEALT TOUGH WORLD CUP QUALIFYING PATH
The Qantas Joeys face a tough path to the 2009 U-17 World Cup following the Asian qualifying draw overnight, with Australia grouped alongside Saudi Arabia and China - both two-time Asian Champions - and Turkmenistan. Click to continue reading...

Plate Final (Jalan Besar Stadium)
Australia vs Uzbekistan or Vietnam (5.00pm)
Thailand and UAE through to Lion City Cup Final
SINGAPORE, 13 March 2008: Thailand and UAE are through to Saturday's Lion City Cup Final after completing the group stages with their third straight wins. Click to continue reading...

Report on Day Two of Lion City Cup below.
22nd Lion City Cup Championship – UAE and Thailand keep up perfect record as Singapore B bounce back with 5-1 romp
SINGAPORE, 12 March 2008: Singapore B bounced back from their opening day horror show to register a morale-boosting 5-1 win over Chinese Taipei this evening in the 22nd Lion City Cup at Jalan Besar Stadium. Click to continue reading...

The Joey's beat Chinese Taipai 8-0 yesterday and play in UAE today in their second group game of the 22nd Lion City Cup Championship.
Singapore FA Press Release below.
Australia and UAE big winners on Day One of Lion City Cup
SINGAPORE, 10 March 2008: Australia and UAE both gave an early statement of intent with identical 8-0 wins at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium this evening on the opening day of the 22nd Lion City Cup Championship. Click to continue reading...

Thanks to Singapore based football writer Paul Goodwin who sent through this report from yesterdays 2008 Lion City Cup media conference. The Joeys are involved in the tournament which starts today.
Group A with Singapore B's new Japanese coach Masanaga Kageyama and coaches from Australia (Martyn Crook), the United Arab Emirates and Chinese Taipei. Click to continue reading...

Goulburn's Chris Bush, who is part of the ACTAS squad, will fly the flag for the region when the Joey's take part in an Under 16 tournament in Singapore this week.
These lads not only have a full program as they aim for the World Cup next year in Chile, they will also be the first Australian Joey's side to benefit from the new Youth League pathway. Click to continue reading...

Goulburn and ACTAS player Chris Bush has again been selected for the Australia Under 17 side, the Joeys.
The Joey's have been invited to play in the 22nd Lion City Cup which is being hosted by the Singapore Football Association.
Eight countries will be participating in the tournament and Australia have been grouped with Chinese Taipei, United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Click to continue reading...