Sydney FC youngster Hagi Gligor has continued his rapid development today when he was named in the Qantas Young Socceroos’ 20-man squad for the AFF U19 Tournament, which will be played in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from 2-8 September 2012.
Sydney FC youngster Hagi Gligor has continued his rapid development today when he was named in the Qantas Young Socceroos- 20-man squad for the AFF U19 Tournament, which will be played in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from 2-8 September 2012.
The day after he played a part in Sydney FC-s 5-0 win over St George, Gligor was named alongside fellow Sky Blues teenagers Terry Antonis and Daniel Petkovski in Qantas Young Socceroos Head Coach Paul Okon-s squad.
The Sydney FC trio will join their counterparts in matches against IR Iran, Vietnam and Uzbekistan as part of their preparations for the AFC U-19 Championship, to be held in the United Arab Emirates in November, which also serve as the qualifiers for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Turkey next June/July.
“I’m very excited, I’m really happy to be named in the squad,” the 17-year-old said. “It’s a massive privilege to represent the country and I’m really looking forward to the tour. “I think my progression has been pretty good. It’s a massive step up from youth league (to a-league) and pre-season’s been tough but I’m getting through it well. I’ve never been to Vietnam and I’m really looking forward to going there for a new culture and experience.”
The squad includes 16 players from Hyundai A-League Clubs with Ryan Edwards, who plies is trade at Reading FC, the only overseas based player.
Okon is keen to use the tournament as another opportunity for his squad to get some much needed international match experience for the campaign to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“This will be a very good tournament for us to get a good indication of where we are at in our preparation against opposition that has also qualified for the AFC U-19 Championship,” said Okon.
The squad is: Terry Antonis (Sydney FC), Jake Barker-Daish (Adelaide United), Josh Brillante (Newcastle Jets), Corey Brown (Brisbane Roar), Reece Caira (Western Sydney Wanderers), Connor Chapman (Newcastle Jets), Mitch Cooper (Newcastle Jets), Ryan Edwards (Reading FC), Ben Garuccio (AIS), Jason Geria (Brisbane Roar), Hagi Gligor (Sydney FC), Paul Izzo (Adelaide United), Jesse Makarounas (Perth Glory), Nick Munro (Croydon Kings), Luke O-Dea (Bentleigh Greens), Brandon O-Neill (Perth Glory), Daniel Petkovski (Sydney FC), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets), Riley Woodcock (Perth Glory) and David Vrankovic (Melbourne Heart).
