It’s a huge weekend for some of the talented Perth Glory youngsters with 12 of the club’s best under 16’s players heading to Singapore to take part in the JSSL Professional Academy 7’s international tournament.
The six team, seven 7-a-side tournament will also boast English Championship side Fulham, Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, Thailand’s Bangkok United, Japanese side Albirez Niigata and the Singapore Elite Academy side.
The tournament will be held at the Padang Stadium in Singapore, and the tournament will be using FIFA rules for 7-aside, but there will be no offside.
This new category will continue to add on to the success and branding of the tournament.
The squad will be led by Glory Head of Football Youth Development and NPL First team coach John Gibson, and Glory Community and Development Manager and NPL under 18’s Coach Callum Salmon.
Both have overseen an exciting period of Glory youth football and Gibson said this is another opportunity for the players to take on some of the best players in their age group in the world.
“It’s a huge opportunity for these young players to pit their wits against some quality players around the world,” he said.
“The young group has continually worked extremely hard and like the players we are super excited about the challenge of another international tournament.”
One of the squad is Riley Warland, the 14-year-old has been a regular in the Glory’s NPL first team this season, and he’s looking forward to the trip and the new format.
“It’s going to be a great experience going over to Singapore with a new format which all the boys are looking forward to,” he said.
“It’s going to be a great test for all us boys on our technical ability as well as our quick decision making. We’ve worked really hard in preparation for the tournament and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Perth Glory under 16’s squad for the tournament: – Daniel Walsh, Adam Zimarino, Ciaran Bramwell, Trent Ostler, Jackson Lee, Jacob Range, Orton Raumati, Aidan Edwards, Josh Samson, Riley Warland, Cameron McLean and Kian McGuigan
