Nestory Irankunda, Sotiri Phillis and Fabian Talladira have been selected in Subway Joeys’ Squad for the upcoming AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023TM Qualifiers.
Australia U-17 Men’s National Team Head Coach, Brad Malone named the 23-players set to represent Australia at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers in Shepparton (VIC) from 5 – 9 October 2022.
The final squad was selected following an intense two-week training camp in Melbourne, which featured three matches against Victorian NPL and A-League Men Youth Team opposition.
Upon announcing the footballers selected for next week’s AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers, Subway Joeys’ Head Coach Brad Maloney said: “We’ve had an excellent two weeks in camp and set a strong foundation for the program, not just for this qualifying tournament, but for the years ahead.
“Competition across all positions was strong, which made selecting the final 23-players challenging. In the end, we’ve chosen what we consider to be the best available squad for what will be a testing tournament format with three matches inside five days,” Maloney explained.
Divided into five groups of four, four groups of five, and one group of three, the Qualifiers will feature 43 Member Associations from across the Asia vying for 16 available seats – 10 group winners and six best runners-up who will battle for the coveted AFC U17 Asian Cup™ trophy next year. From the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ the top four teams from this tournament will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup™ as the AFC representatives.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers will be the first international activity for the Joeys’ program since 2019. In Australia’s Group, the Subway Joeys will first meet Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday, 5 October (7.30pm AEDT), before facing Cambodia on Friday, 7 October (7.30pm AEDT), and conclude their campaign against China on Sunday, 9 October (3.00pm AEDT).
Speaking on the task ahead, Maloney said: “We have to respect our opposition, it’s going to be a tough group. We don’t know a lot about the opposition because of the hiatus in the last couple of years but we expect challenging matches from all three teams.
“Countries throughout Southeast Asia and East Asia are investing heavily in the game, particularly at the youth level and development. I know the Cambodian team have a core group of players that have been together for a long time now preparing for this tournament, and China have been in Australia for almost a month, so they’re taking it very seriously and we know we have a tough assignment ahead in Shepparton,” Maloney said.
These AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers mark the first time Australia has hosted a Qualification Group or Qualifiers of any AFC Youth tournament since 2009 and presents a special opportunity for the Subway Joeys to play in-front of family and friends.
“I think the boys are quite excited at the prospect of playing at home and the families are upbeat about watching their children on home soil, so it’s definitely something to look forward to,” Maloney continued.
“I just want them to enjoy the experience and use it as an opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage. I really hope they can take that in their stride, which I’m sure they will, as we look to qualify for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™.”
The AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers event in Shepparton is with thanks to Greater Shepparton City Council and is a beneficiary of funding from the Regional Sports Event Fund, supported by the Australian Sports Commission.
Match Schedule – Group G of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers
| TIME/DATE (AEDT) | MATCH | VENUE |
| 3:00pm, 5 Oct 2022 | China PR vs Cambodia | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
| 7:30pm, 5 Oct 2022 | Australia vs Northern Mariana Islands | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
| 3:00pm, 7 Oct 2022 | Northern Mariana Islands vs China PR | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
| 7:30pm, 7 Oct 2022 | Cambodia vs Australia | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
| 3:00pm, 9 Oct 2022 | Australia vs China PR | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
| 7:30pm, 9 Oct 2022 | Cambodia vs Northern Mariana Islands | Shepparton Sports City Precinct |
SUBWAY JOEYS’ SQUAD | AFC U-17 ASIAN CUP 2023™ QUALIFIERS | 5 – 9 OCTOBER 2022
| Name | Position | Current Club (as at 01/10) | Junior Club / Member Federation |
| Peter ANTONIOU | Defender | Melbourne City FC | FC Bulleen Lions / Football Victoria |
| Zachary DE JESUS | Defender | Sydney United 58 FC | Lakeside Lions JFC / Football NSW |
| Miguel DI PIZIO | Midfielder | Central Coast Mariners FC | AC United / Football NSW |
| Campbell DOVISON | Attacker | Central Coast Mariners FC | East Bentleigh SC / Football Victoria |
| Ben DUNBAR | Midfielder | Central Coast Mariners FC | Doncaster Rovers / Football Victoria |
| Mitchell GLASSON | Attacker | Sydney FC | Liverpool Rangers SC / Football NSW |
| Ayman GULASI | Attacker | Macarthur FC | Sans Souci FC / Football NSW |
| Max HATELY | Attacker | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | Kellyville SC / Football NSW |
| Lucas HERRINGTON | Defender | Brisbane Roar FC | Taringa Rovers FC / Football QLD |
| Gus HOEFSLOOT | Goalkeeper | Sydney FC | Helensburg Thistles SC / Football NSW |
| Nestory IRANKUNDA | Attacker | Adelaide United | Adelaide Croatia Raiders SC / Football SA |
| Ryan KALMS | Defender | Melbourne City FC | Strathdale FC / Football Victoria |
| Andriano LEBIB | Defender | Perth Glory FC | Dianella White Eagles / Football West |
| Jacob McLACHLAN | Defender | Sydney FC | Georges River FC / Football NSW |
| Andre PARKES | Defender | Central Coast Mariners FC | Castle Hill United / Football NSW |
| Anthony PAVLESIC | Goalkeeper | Central Coast Mariners FC | Sydney United 58 FC / Football NSW |
| Jaylan PEARMAN | Midfielder | Perth Glory FC | Westside FC / Football West |
| Sotiri PHILLIS | Defender | Adelaide United | West Torrens Birkalla / Football SA |
| Tiago QUINTAL | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Baulkham Hills FC / Football NSW |
| Xavier SMITH | Defender | Crewe Alexandra FC | Liverpool FC (United Kingdom) |
| Corey SUTHERLAND | Midfielder | Perth Glory FC | Cockburn City / Football West |
| Fabian TALLADIRA | Midfielder | Adelaide United | Adelaide City FC / Football SA |
| Michael VONJA | Goalkeeper | Western United FC | George Cross FC / Football Victoria |
