Young Brisbane Roar duo Rahmat Akbari and Kai Trewin have received international call-ups and will represent Australia at the 2018 SBS Cup against Japan and Paraguay later this month.
Young Brisbane Roar duo Rahmat Akbari and Kai Trewin have received international call-ups and will represent Australia at the 2018 SBS Cup in Japan later this month.
A selection of Australian U18 footballers will venture to Japan later this month to compete in the SBS Cup International Youth Football Tournament hosted by the Japan Football Association (JFA), the Shizuoka Prefecture Football Association (SFA), and the Shizuoka Broadcasting System (SBS).
Between August 16 and 19 the Australian U18 Selection will play matches against the U18 National Teams of Japan and Paraguay, as well as an U18 Shizuoka Selection representing the Prefecture where the competition will be based.
Australia will commence the SBS Cup against Japan (August 16) before playing Paraguay the following day.
After a rest day, Australia – who will be coached by Caltex Socceroos Assistant Coach Ante Milicic at the tournament – will conclude the tournament with a fixture against the Shizuoka Selection on August 19.
15 of Australia’s 18-player squad for the 2018 SBS Cup are aligned with Hyundai A-League clubs, while one player, Leo Mazis, is based abroad with Tom Rogic’s Glasgow Celtic FC.
National Premier Leagues (Victoria) is represented via Dandenong Thunder SC’s Mersim Memeti, while one player, Joshua Kelic, is currently unattached.
Milicic said the tournament will provide valuable international exposure to a group of promising Australian footballers.
“We’re thankful to the hosts and organisers of the SBS Cup for extending an invitation to us for this tournament,” said Milicic. “Playing against strong under 18 teams from Japan and Paraguay will test this group of boys individually and collectively, and provide us with the opportunity to benchmark them against their peers on an international level.”
The SBS Cup in Japan is for players born in the year 2000, which means a slightly younger group of players than the current Young Socceroos group will have the chance to be exposed to international competition and push their case for inclusion in the Young Socceroos’ squad for the 2018 AFC U19 Championship which will be held in Indonesia later this year.
Australia has been pooled in Group C at the 2018 AFC U19 Championship alongside Korea Republic, Vietnam, and Jordan.
Australian U18 Selection for the 2018 SBS Cup (Japan)
|
Name |
Current Club, Country |
|
Mohamed ADAM |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Rahmat AKBARI |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
|
Louis D’ARRIGO |
Adelaide United FC, Australia |
|
Kosta GROZOS |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Jacob ITALIANO |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Joshua KELIC |
Unattached |
|
Joel KING |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Jackson LEE |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Anthony LESIOTIS |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Leo MAZIS |
Glasgow Celtic FC, Scotland |
|
Mersim MEMETI |
Dandenong Thunder SC, Australia |
|
Moudi NAJJAR |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Ramy NAJJARINE |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Noah PAGDEN |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Dylan PIERIAS |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
John ROBERTS |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Nicholas SUMAN |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Kai TREWIN |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
Australian U18 Selection Match Schedule – 2018 SBS Cup (Japan)
Japan U18 v Australia U18
Date: Thursday, 16 August 2018
Kick-off: 6.30pm (local), 7.30pm (AEST)
Venue: Fujieda Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan
Paraguay U18 v Australia U18
Date: Friday, 17 August 2018
Kick-off: 6.30pm (local), 7.30pm (AEST)
Venue: Ashitaka Athletic Park Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan
Shizuoka U18 v Australia U18
Date: Sunday, 19 August 2018
Kick-off: 3.00pm (local), 4.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Kusanagi Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan
