At the start of the season, Wataru Kamijo was yet to make his debut for the Sydney FC first team. Fast forward to now and he has just received his first call up to the Australian U20’s and taken home the Young Player of the Year at the Sky Blue Ball.
The 19-year-old broke into the side come the end of the season and had numerous impressive performances in big games such as the away clash in Korea against Joenbuk in the AFC Champions League & matches against Macarthur & Melbourne City in the league.
Now, he has been called up to the Young Socceroos for the first time and he is keen to use this as a platform to continue his development.
“I think I’ve grown a lot this year, experienced a lot of games and in the Champions League too and that has helped in my selection and growing as a player too.
“It’s so exciting being selected for the national team and I’m really looking forward to going with that group that won the Asian Cup and proving myself,” Kamijo said.
The midfielder will be travelling to Argentina with four other names from Sydney FC; Gus Hoefsloot, Zac De Jesus, Tiago Quintal & new arrival Rhys Youlley.
He believes that this only reinforces the right steps the club are making.
“It’s great that so many from our team are going and it means that we are all being recognised and it shows that we have the quality at this club.
“The way the A-League is changing, more opportunities are being given to youngsters and this season a number of them have had breakout seasons.
“This is great for Australian football in the long run and giving us chances only gives us better opportunities to show what we can do.”
The Aussies will be taking on Argentina in a two match series ahead of the FIFA U20 World Cup held in Chile later this year and conveniently, these two have been drawn in the same group.
The two matches held at the Lionel Andreas Messi Training Facility in Buenos Aires also spike interest for Kamijo.
“It’s good that we’ve drawn Argentina because we can go there and see how good they are and how they play but we will be looking to do our best and make it through the Group Stage [at the World Cup].
“Messi is one of the greatest players of all time and to play a match there and against the Argentinians is going to be so exciting.
“I will just be looking to do my best and show my abilities and do what I do best on the field and hopefully that continues into pre-season too,” he concluded.
