FFA to send U18 Selection to 2018 SBS Cup in Japan

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.

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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

Caltex Socceroos assistant coach Ante Milicic