Teen football star Harry Van der Saag chasing another dream debut after snaring Sydney FC contract
He has made one dream debut this year and now Sydney FC Academy graduate and former junior sport star nominee Harry Van der Saag is hoping to make another.
Harry Van- der Saag has ticked off his first goal of the pre-season - be promoted to the Sydney FC squad.
Now he’s working on his second - making his debut for the top A-League club this season.
The northern beaches soccer player once played rugby league but said he always knew his destiny was in football.
“In under 12s I was playing rugby league as well but realised I was too small and just didn’t like it,” Van der Saag, a former Manly Daily junior sports star nominee from Narrabeen, said.
“I realised early soccer was the one for me and I was even a Sydney FC fan from maybe under 13s.
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Sydney FC have rewarded their young talent with defender Van Der Saag one of three teenagers to sign professional contracts and link with the Sky Blues A-League squad during the 2019/20 season.
Van der Saag, 19, Ryan Teague, 17, and Marco Tilio, 18, have been involved in Sydney FC’s pre-season campaign with Tilio and Teague also competing for the Young Socceroos and Joeys.
I was a little surprised it happen so soon but really happy
Van der Saag, who started his sporting career in surf life saving as a Nipper, made a dream debut in a friendly against French champions Paris Saint-Germain in July marking $200m superstar Kylian Mbappe.
He now hopes to make a big impression with the club in the A-League.
“I was really happy to sign, I’d been hoping for it for a while,” he said.
“I was a little surprised it happen so soon but really happy.
“It’s all about football for me.”
Van der Saag said his goal now is to put enough hard work in to get a callup
“Hopefully I get a run. The goal is to make my debut sooner rather than matter.”
Sydney FC coach Steve Corica believes all three teens will add quality to his squad.
“They are all excellent young players with a great deal of potential,” he said.
“They’ve each performed very well in pre-season and during their record breaking NPL season.
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“We’ve got a fantastic crop of young players and it was tough to pick just three for these contracts.
“With increased exposure to A-League training loads and physicality, I believe these boys can make the step up.”
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