Victorian under-14 players named in the All Star squad, Damien Rastocic, Medhi Sarwari, Anthony Duzel, Nicolas Gonzales and Lucas Spinella. 72483
MICHAEL ESPOSITO
ANTHONY Duzel is leading the charge for a new brand of soccer in Victoria.
The Sydenham resident was named player of the tournament at the recent under-14 National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour.
He was one of five Victorians who made the All Star squad.
While Victoria did not win the tournament, the team was praised for the style of soccer it played – one focused on technique rather than physicality.
Football Federation Victoria has attracted criticism in the past for choosing state players who are fast and strong, with a focus on winning as opposed to technical development. Consequently, Victorian youngsters have been under-represented in national youth squads.
Football Federation Australia’s technical director Han Berger lauded the FFV’s transformation.
“The quality possession-based style of football that all four Victorian squads are now displaying is a credit to everyone involved at the FFV,” Berger said.
Michael McBride, a former FFV head coach who coached the under-14 state side, said Victoria’s state squads have been instructed to play in a style based on creating goal scoring opportunities through creativity and clinical skills.
“With the new direction from the FFA and FFV to play a possession-based style of football, the players and their parents were introduced to a new way of thinking about the game,” McBride said.
The preparation phase leading up to this tournament was very challenging, not in a physical sense, but more in relation to each player having to constantly solve football problems using their technical ability and understanding of the game.”
Duzel excelled in this area, according to McBride.
“Anthony is a very talented young player with an abundance of potential. He is very good technically, is composed and evasive in tight areas under pressure and distributes the ball extremely well,” he said.
Duzel announced himself as a star on the rise when converting his second long-range free kick in the All Star match.
Fellow Western Suburbs boy Damian Rastocic was also selected in All Star squad.
“Damian had a fantastic tournament, he was very composed when playing out from the back and demonstrated excellent vision and distribution.”
Other boys from the West in the Victorian under-14 squad were left-back Ardian Vuniqi, goalkeeper Yaren Sozer and winger Joey Monek.
FFV technical director Sean Douglas said: “I was pleased with the new possession focus that each of our squads displayed at the Nationals.
“It is clearly evident from our positive performances that the technical ability and game understanding of each player is now a primary focus in talent identification, regardless of physical maturity.”
