Perth Glory FC youngster, Danny De Silva, has been named in the Young Socceroos squad, for the upcoming ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-19 Youth Championship, in Hanoi, Vietnam from September 5-13.
De Silva is the only Perth Glory FC player included in Coach Paul Okon’s 20-man squad, after fellow Perth Glory FC young guns Riley Woodcock and Jordan Thurtell were ruled out due to injury. Woodcock and Thurtell have been regulars in the Young Socceroos training camps and were likely inclusions for this trip to Vietnam.
De Silva was a star attraction for the Young Socceroos in last year’s Youth World Cup in Turkey, scoring a sublime chip over Colombia’s keeper Cristian Bonilla, in Australia’s opening match.
Okon will use the AFF U19 Youth Championship as preparation for the Asian Football Confederations U-19 Championship in Myanmar from 9-23 October. The winners of the Quarter Finals (top 4 teams) from the AFC U-19 Championship will then qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup which will be held in New Zealand from 30 May – 20 June.
The Young Socceroos have been placed in Group B, up against host nation Vietnam for their first match on September 5 and Japan on September 7. Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand make up Group B.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals scheduled to be played on September 11. The final and 3rd place play-off will be played on September 13.
The Young Socceroos will depart for Vietnam on Monday, September 1.
