Sydney FC young gun with Joeys u17s football team
Sydney FC young gun Anton Mlinaric is learning valuable lessons with the Joeys — on and off the field. FULL JOEYS SQUAD.
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It sounds like a valid reason for not being at school — playing for your country in a series of friendlies on the other side of the world.
But Anton Mlinaric says there is no escape from important schoolwork, even when on tour with the Joeys Australian under 17s football team.
Mlinaric, from the Sydney FC academy, is one of 23 players touring the UK this month for three friendlies ahead of the FIFA under 17s World Cup.
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The Joeys play hosts England, Korea Republic and Brazil in matches on September 6, 8 and 10.
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Mlinaric, who lives at Minchinbury and is in Year 12 at Bossley Park High, is used to working to a busy schedule combining study and football.
And being on tour will be no different with a strong work ethic required on and off the field.
“We train in the morning with Sydney FC and catch up (on school) every afternoon. A lot of my teachers help me heaps,” he said.
“With the Joeys we have study planners and hour and a half periods to do our school work.
“We also have lots of meetings, workshops on mental attributes, visualisation and recovery and the way we train.
“It keeps us on our toes.”
Sydney FC have a really professional environment. It’s brings out the best in you when you are surrounded by people with the same objective
The talented centre back, who has been playing since he was four, says he has improved dramatically working with the staff at Sydney FC.
“It has taken me a while to get where I am,” he said.
“I want to improve and play A-League for Sydney FC and eventually one day play for the Socceroos.
“An EPL club is also a dream.
“Being with Sydney FC has helped me a lot. I’ve been here three years and improved every day, every week.
“Sydney FC have a really professional environment. It’s brings out the best in you when you are surrounded by people with the same objective.”
Australia U-17 Men’s National Team (‘Joeys’) 23-Player Squad, England Tour, September 2019: Idrus ABDULAHI Melbourne City FC, Diego ALONSO Albacete Balompie, Spain, Ali AUGLAH Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Nicholas BILOKAPIC (Gk) Sydney United 58, Noah BOTIC TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany, Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS Brisbane Roar FC, Yaya DUKULY Melbourne City FC, Luke DUZEL Melbourne City FC, Tristan HAMMOND Sporting Lisbon, Portugal, Oliver KALAC (Gk) Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Birkan KIRDAR Melbourne Victory, Luis LAWRIE-LATTANZIO Adelaide United, Anton MLINARIC, Sydney FC, Trent OSTLER Perth Glory FC, Cameron PEUPION Sydney FC, Izaack POWELL Brisbane Roar FC, Joshua RAWLINS Perth Glory FC, Michael RUHS Sydney United 58, Ahmad TALEB (Gk) Melbourne City FC, Ryan TEAGUE Sydney FC, Jayden TRENKOSKI, Sydney FC, Daniel WALSH Perth Glory FC, Caleb WATTS Southampton FC.