The Pararoos farewelled for 2011 CPISRA World Champshionship

The Australian Paralympic 7-A-Side Football Team, “The Pararoos”, were farewelled today at a function in Sydney as they embark on their 2011 CPISRA World Championships campaign.

The Australian Paralympic 7-A-Side Football Team, The Pararoos, were farewelled today at a function in Sydney as they embark on their 2011 CPISRA World Championships campaign.

The Pararoos, have been drawn alongside Brazil, Netherlands and Spain in Group A of the 2011 Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) Football 7-A-Side World Championships which will be held in the Province of Drenthe, Netherlands from the 17th June to 1st July 2011.

The CPISRA Football 7-a-Side World Championships will serve as the qualifiers for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Australia needs to qualify in the top 8 to guarantee themselves a spot at the 2012 London Paralympics games. If England and Scotland both finish in the top 8 then Australia will only need to finish 9th as England and Scotland will need to combine to form the Great Britain team.

This will be one of the strongest teams Australia will be sending away for a while with all of the top players being available. David Barber (Captain), Beau Menzies and Chris Pyne (Vice-Captain) all attended the 2000 Sydney Paralympics so they bring a lot of experience to the side. Sam Larkings was named the best goalkeeper in the world at the 2007 World Championships and once again will be lining up for the team.

Ben Roche, Ben Atkins, Tom Goodman and Brett Fairhall have also attended numerous international tournaments since 2005. Jamie Paulsen will once again be one of the goalkeepers head coach Paul Brown will be calling on. Making their International debut will be Scott Kennedy and Jared Eiby both from Queensland. Jack Williams has been selected for his second international tournament and is the youngest member of the side.

Head coach Paul Brown has a lot of confidence in these players and believes they can achieve their goal of making the 2012 London Paralympics.

Team Details:

Shirt No Players Name Position 1. Sam Larkings - Goalkeeper 2. Ben Roche - Midfield 3. Jack Williams - Back 4. Scott Kennedy - Midfield 6. Chris Pyne - Midfield / Striker 7. David Barber - Back 8. Brett Fairhall - Back 9. Ben Atkins - Midfield 10. Tom Goodman - Striker 11. Beau Menzies - Striker 12. Jamie Paulsen - Goalkeeper / Back 13. Jared Eiby - Goalkeeper

Team Staff:

Paul Brown - Head Coach David Campbell - Team Manager Kai Lammert - Assistant Coach Edward Davidson - Physiotherapist Darryl Darke - Goalkeeper Coach

Pararoos Fixture: (AEDT)

Aust. Paralympic v Netherlands 3.30am / 23.06.2011 Achilles Stadium(Netherlands) Aust. Paralympic v Brazil 3.30am / 21.06.2011 Achilles Stadium(Netherlands) Aust. Paralympic v Spain 10.30pm / 18.06.2011 SC Angelslo(Netherlands)