Twenty-four aspiring Australian footballers will convene on the Central Coast tomorrow for the start of a Young Socceroos training camp in preparation for the 2018 AFC U19 Championship which will be held in Indonesia.

The Young Socceroos will be put through a week-long camp on the Central Coast, which will include practice matches against Hyundai A-League opposition.



The time that Ante Milicic’s squad spends together north of Sydney will be the first of two Australia-based camps that will be held prior to the AFC U19 Championship later this year. A Young Socceroos selection will also train on the Sunshine Coast in late September/early October.



Milicic’s Young Socceroos squad for this camp includes 21 players currently aligned to Hyundai A-League clubs, and three players – Ben Folami, Jacob Young, and Dylan Ryan – who are contracted to clubs in Europe. Folami plies his trade with Ipswich Town FC, Young is part of Sunderland AFC’s youth structure, while Ryan is contracted to Willem II Tilburg in the Netherlands.



Milicic said that the group must make the most of their time together in camp as they prepare for their Group C meetings against Korea Republic, Vietnam, and Jordan in West Java.



“The AFC U19 Championship is a crucial competition for the Young Socceroos,” said Milicic. “Not only does it act as the Asian Cup for this age group, it also doubles as the qualification process for the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup™, which will be held in Poland.”



“Australia last qualified for FIFA U20 World Cup in 2013 when the tournament was held in Turkey, and it is certainly our aim to return to that elite tournament in Europe next year.



“But if we are to achieve that goal we must ensure that we make solid progress in our forthcoming camps in Australia, and arrive in Indonesia committed to the challenge that’s ahead of us,” he said.



The Young Socceroos’ 2018 AFC U19 Championship challenge will commence on Friday, 19 October 2018 against Korea Republic at the Patriot Candrabaga Stadium in Bekasi. Three days later Milicic’s men will return to the same venue to take on Vietnam, before meeting Jordan at the Pakandari Stadium in Cibinong on Thursday, 25 October 2018.



Australia will need to finish first or second in Group C to advance to the Quarter Final stage of the competition. To seal safe passage to Poland, the Young Socceroos must reach the Semi Finals of the 2018 AFC U19 Championship.

Young Socceroos 24-Player Squad – Training Camp – Central Coast, Australia (September 1-11 2018)

Nathaniel Atkinson - Melbourne City

Joshua Cavallo - Melbourne City

Mathieu Cordier - Western Sydney Wanderers

James Delianov (GK) - Melbourne City

Gengba Tai (Ben) Folami - Ipswich Town, England

Macklin Freke (GK) - Brisbane Roar

Thierry (Theil) Iradukunda - Melbourne Victory

Peter Kekeris - Central Coast Mariners

Connor Metcalfe - Melbourne City

Fabian Monge - Western Sydney Wanderers

Tass Mourdoukoutas - Western Sydney Wanderers

Moudi Najjar - Melbourne City

Ramy Najjarine - Melbourne City

Dylan Pierias - Melbourne City

Oliver Puflett - Western Sydney Wanderers

Aaron Reardon - Brisbane Roar

John Roberts - Western Sydney Wanderers

Dylan Ryan - Willem II Tilburg, Netherlands

Walter Scott - Perth Glory

Nicolas Sette - Melbourne Victory

Apostolos Stametelopoulos - Adelaide United

Angus Thurgate - Newcastle Jets

Marc Tokich - Western Sydney Wanderers

Jacob Young - Sunderland, England

Young Socceroos Match Schedule – 2018 AFC U19 Championship – Group C

Korea Republic v Young Socceroos

Date: Friday, 19 October 2018

Venue: Patriot Candrabaga Stadium, Bekasi, Indonesia

Kick-off: 7pm (local); 10pm (AEDT)



Young Socceroos v Vietnam

Date: Monday, 22 October 2018

Venue: Patriot Candrabaga Stadium, Bekasi, Indonesia

Kick-off: 4pm (local); 7pm (AEDT)



Young Socceroos v Jordan

Date: Thursday, 25 October 2018

Venue: Pakandari Stadium, Cibinong, Indonesia

Kick-off: 7pm (local); 10pm (AEDT)