Sydney FC’s Calem Nieuwenhof took on Hulk, Aaron Mooy ahead of A-League debut

This young footballer loves surfing and hanging out with mates. He also looks set to explode on the A-League this summer after a fabulous debut.

Calem Nieuwenhof is hoping to step up and make his debut.

When you’ve already faced off against the likes of Aaron Mooy and Brazilian superstar Hulk the odds are you aren’t going to be too nervous when you finally make your A-League debut.

When 19-year-old Calem Nieuwenhof came on as an injury replacement in the first of Sydney FCs four Champions League games in Qatar in December he wanted to impress.

Sydney FC’s Calem Nieuwenhof (left) in action in the National Premier League.

Four games later - having played every minute of every match - he had done just that.

Now the Curl Curl footballer is keen to continue impressing after making his A-League debut in the first game of the A-League’s 2020/21 season.

“I came in as an injury replacement so it was a real opportunity and I just grabbed at it,” Nieuwenhof said.

“I was pushing to impress, I’ve been training with the first team for a year.”

Nieuwenhof has been part of the Sydney FC Academy since 2015 and made his first team debut in the AFC Champions League.

Aaron Mooy of Shanghai SIPG and Anthony Caceres of Sydney FC compete for the ball during the AFC Champions League Group H match in December.

He has since signed a scholarship deal and will be part of the first team squad during the 2020/21 A-League season after making his debut in their opener against Wellington on the weekend..

A former Manly United rep player, the 19-year-old said he has always wanted to play football professionally and was blown away when he was able to play Mooy, Hulk and fellow Brazilian superstar Oscar in Qatar.

“It was awesome, some of the players I first, please I have watched growing up,” he said

“I remember when we were warming up and seeing Mooy and Hulk just kicking a ball a few metres away. I’ve got a little nervous but once we started I was okay.”

Brazilian football star Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, right, better known as Hulk, plays for China's Shanghai SIPG.

In late December the teenager scored Sydney FC’s opening goal in their match win against Wellington Phoenix at WIN Stadium.

Sydney FC’s next match of the seaosn is against the Central Coast Mariners on Friday night.

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Originally published as Sydney FC’s Calem Nieuwenhof took on Hulk, Aaron Mooy ahead of A-League debut