Emerging soccer stars add another honour

BACK-to-back titles for Football Federation Sunraysia’s under-15 boys team at the Boys and Girls FC tournament has the squad set up for a strong season.

Ten teams from Mildura competed in Football Victoria’s premium junior pre-season event at the weekend, which gives young players from across the state a chance to tune up before their own seasons begin.

After winning last year at under-14 level, Sunraysia went undefeated to take the under-15 title with a 3-0 win over Geelong Rangers in the final.

Both the under-11 and under-17 Sunraysia boys sides reached grand finals as well, while four other squads also qualified for the semi-finals to cap off a strong weekend.

The under-15 boys, who also claimed honours at Victorian Country Leagues Football Association Country Championships level and South Australian Junior Soccer Association Country Championships, scored 24 goals across the weekend and only conceded one as the talent squad showed their wares.

Coaches, Glen Breeze and Evan Spain, are tremendously proud of the whole team for all the hard work they put into training.

“They went through undefeated with two wins and a draw on day one, then in their last game on Sunday they came up against Williams Landing who are an NPL outfit and beat them 1-0, before facing them again in the semi-final, before beating Geelong,” Breeze said.

“We have three new payers in the squad this year but the main portion of the team Evan and I have been coaching for the past three or four years now.

“They’re really building and have been having a bit of success along the way.

“A lot of these boys are turning 15 this year so they’re low age under-16s so some will be pushing for senior football, while we’re also lucky we have four kids who are part of the Football Victoria Talent Identification program so they compete and train a lot at state level.

“The effort these boys put in, along with all the parents and support staff and Football Federation Sunraysia is fantastic.”

Open to boys and girls aged under-8 to under-17, the competition features fast-paced 7v7 or 9v9 matches, depending on the age group. These small-sided games ensure players stay active and involved, fostering skill development and teamwork in a fun and competitive environment.

Digital Editions


  • Gentleman thief’s guilty pea

    Gentleman thief’s guilty pea

    A MAN who stole a $72 bottle of whiskey from Mildura’s Ritchies IGA has pleaded guilty. The Mildura Magistrates Court heard of an incident in…

More News

  • Lakes planning goes back to the drawing board

    Lakes planning goes back to the drawing board

    THE future of the Menindee Lakes is back on the agenda of national agencies, with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and associated governments launching yet another review of how the system…

  • Pall praises new laws

    Pall praises new laws

    CONOR Pall, a family violence victim-survivor from Mildura, announced on 5 Thursday February law reform for family violence orders had been approved, ensuring young people are now protected beyond their…

  • MP welcomes bushfire probe

    MP welcomes bushfire probe

    A NORTH Victorian upper house MP has welcomed the announcement of a Parliamentary inquiry set to investigate bushfires that burned parts of the state last month. The push for the…

  • Bail refused in hit-and-run, stabbing

    Bail refused in hit-and-run, stabbing

    A PIANGIL man alleged to have deliberately ran over another man in a 4WD before stabbing a woman on Monday night has been refused bail. The Mildura Magistrates Court heard…

  • Emma Memma to picnic at MAC

    Emma Memma to picnic at MAC

    HOW could Emma Watkins be more popular with our littlest people? She created Emma Memma, which is how she fosters inclusivity in her shows, allowing more kids to enjoy her…

  • UNO fight draws 12

    UNO fight draws 12

    A MAN who ‘retaliated’ after his friend threw a wine bottle at him by making jabbing motions with the broken neck of the bottle and hitting the victim over the…

  • Questions over gas plans

    Questions over gas plans

    THE Victorian Opposition is claiming it’s forced the State Government to “cough up” documents on what it described as a “nasty gas closure” for 10 regional towns, including Robinvale. As…

  • Groups line up for input on plan

    Groups line up for input on plan

    SPECIAL interest, stakeholder, and lobby groups are lining up to have their say on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s review of it’s Basin Plan. Here’s what some of them said. Murray…

  • Man run over, woman stabbed at Piangil

    Man run over, woman stabbed at Piangil

    A PIANGIL man surrendered himself at a police station after it is alleged he deliberately ran over another man in a 4WD before stabbing a woman on Monday night. A…

  • Total Fire Ban for Mallee and Wimmera

    Total Fire Ban for Mallee and Wimmera

    A TOTAL Fire ban has been declared on Wednesday for most of Victoria due to forecast extreme fire weather, including Mallee and Wimmera. Conditions are expected to be hot, with…