Country Week Fever Hits Town
Written by Tracey Fraser Thursday, 27 May 2010 07:09
Coaches and players rallied to Churchill Park on Saturday on what was a day that many would have passed curled up on a lounge out of the weather. The rain came down but this did not dampen the spirits of the 90 plus dedicated players and volunteer coaches that took to the pitches in what was the first of 2 trials, for players vying for a place in a LNJSA representative team that will head to Perth in September for the 2010 QBE Country Carnival.
2009 saw a very successful campaign with the players doing themselves; their coaches and parents proud. For the first time in the history of the carnival the 11’s and under age groups from regional WA were invited to participate. The LNJSA 11’s did not disappoint, in their first ever carnival they played hard and matched it with the best of what regional WA could throw at them and with determination and plenty of skill, came home with the trophy, winning the A division with ease. The 13’s girls also at the carnival for the first time played a great campaign and played off in the grand final against Country Coastal JSA only missing out on the coveted winner’s trophy after losing in a penalty shoot out, they did themselves proud and finished their carnival with the runner-up trophy.
Six players were chosen to represent regional WA in the Regional Select Squad to participate in the 13s International Tournament 2010 in January, 24 players were chosen to attend the Football West Country Camp in April and 14 players of those players have gained selection into the State Regional Select Squad to tour Singapore in November 2010. Our Aussie Socceroo’s started somewhere and each and every one of our players dream they can go all the way. What a better way to start than representing your association playing soccer for a week with your mates.
2010 will see successful players head to Perth at the end of September for a week of hard knocks, tears, jubilation and heaps of fun. It is a week that memories are made of and true friendships are formed. 6 teams – 4 boys and 2 girls teams head off on the Sunday prior to the carnival, a bus trip that has ears given a good work out, arriving at our 5 star accommodation, Christ Church Grammar School (we lucked into our new digs last year), after a scurry for rooms it off outside for a light training run. The gourmet dinner is served and then it’s back to our home room for a video (soccer – what else) and bed by 9pm in readiness for the gruelling week ahead.
Monday morning isn’t the most relaxed of breakfasts, players are excited, apprehensive and new players unsure of what to expect. Coaches want their players to give it their best shot now matter what. We head to the playing fields by bus and in no time our players are out on the pitch doing what they do best, playing great soccer, being great sportsmen and women, making friends and doing our association proud. Two games a day, for 4 straight days and then hopefully they are playing off for the coveted gold.
Coaches have done what they can to prepare the players for what lies ahead, they have been training for over 14 weeks and now it is up to them. The competition is tough with team spirit and determination often the only difference between winning and losing. It’s hard yakka and the players wouldn’t have it any other way. Some of them will have played well enough and shone over the carnival to receive selection into the Football West Country Camp, from there some may even attain selection into the State Regional Select Squad to tour Singapore in 2011, but ALL the players will come home with great memories of a week they wish didn’t have to end and already thinking about trialling again for the team in 2011.
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