Former Socceroo Jason Culina puts rising stars through their paces

The recently-formed under-15s Barbarians team was starstruck when former Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina walked onto Lynwood Park and blew his whistle

Jason Culina putting the under-15s Barbarians team through their paces at Lynwood Park. Credit: Ian Svegovic.

The recently-formed under-15s Barbarians team was starstruck when former Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina walked onto Lynwood Park and blew his whistle.

Culina will coach the under-15s division one composite side for their clash with the Macarthur Rams Youth squad next month.

The team began its preparation last week and will train several times before the game, which will be a curtain raiser to the Macarthur Rams first-grade friendly against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Wednesday, August 7.

In the wake of his departure from Sydney FC last year and retirement from football, Culina said he was glad to pass on his skills.

"It's a bit of a challenge for both myself, as someone new to coaching, and the boys in this new team, but I'm really looking forward to guiding them and I hope we get the result on August 7," he said.

"We've got some things to get through and in such a short amount of time but they're a talented group of kids."

Culina said his first task was to reinforce the fundamentals to the 15-year-olds.

He will then coach positional play and tracking the ball in order to compete with the association's youth side.

Association general manager Glenn Armstrong said it was great to have the guidance of a former international.

Culina said the Macarthur region would thrive under the association's plans for grassroots football.

"Glenn is doing fantastic things and if we get centres of excellence and academies in place, we can really tap into the 8,500 registered players around here," he said.

"With the right football structures we will continue to produce players like Brett Emerton and Sarah Walsh."