Pararoos come together as World Champs draw closer

A 19-player Pararoos squad has assembled for a three day training camp at Football NSW headquarters, Valentine Sports Park, as the countdown continues towards September’s Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) World Championships in Argentina.

This is the third training camp that has been held in the lead up to the IFCPF World Championships as Head Coach Kain Lammert gets closer to selecting his final squad of 14.

The players got down to business today and will spend the weekend working hard to impress and push their claims for a spot on the plane to South America.

Lammert said competition for spots was high and that it was being reflected in the quality and intensity at training.

“I’ve been very happy with the quality and the standard of the training games we had today,” said Lammert.

“The intensity was really high, everyone looks fit and in great physical condition so we’re already starting to fine tune and make bigger steps towards preparing for the championships.”

“Everyone who is here is in with a good chance of making the final squad and there is real eagerness among the group to make sure they’re on that plane to Argentina.”

The only player in the camp ineligible for the World Championships is talented Western Australia youngster Rodrigue Niyongere who is below the age requirement.

“Rod doesn’t qualify because he’s underage but he’s a big talent coming through and is loving every minute of being part of the camp and learning from the more experienced guys.”

A significant section of this camp will focus on the technical side of the Pararoos’ play ahead of two final camps before the squad departs to represent Australia at the World Championships.

“The next camp will the selection camp in Sydney at the start of August which is when we need to submit our final squad and this will be followed by a pre departure camp before we depart for Argentina on September 6,” said Lammert.

It promises to be an exciting couple of months ahead for the Pararoos as they prepare to take on the best in the world and be an inspiration to the over 700,000 Australians who have similar disabilities.

The general public can donate to the Pararoos and their quest to get to the 2019 World Cup by going to asf.org.au/road-to-the-world-cup

Pararoos squad - Sydney Training Camp 21-23 July 2017

Ben Atkins (NSW), David Barber (QLD), Chris Barty (WA), Cosimo Cirillo (VIC), Jordan De Stefano (WA), Raymond Ellery (WA), Matthew Hearne (NSW), Zac Jones (NSW), Alessandro La Verghetta (WA), Taj Lynch (NSW), Connor Marsh (NSW), Rodrigue Niyongere (WA), Nicholas Prescott (WA), Christopher Pyne (NSW), Benjamin Roche (VIC), Ben Sutton (NSW), Ben Tirabosco (WA), Christian Tsangas (VIC), Jack Williams (NSW)