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.