The Joeys have lost 3-2 to host nation Thailand in their opening match of the AFC U-16 Championship qualifier at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok last night.
The Joeys led via a Thailand mistake with a pass-back to the goalkeeper awarded an indirect free kick, which Taylor Tombides scored from.
However, the young chargers conceded three goals including a penalty to the Thais to trail 3-1 shortly after half-time.
A goal for Conor O’Neill reduced the deficit and provide his team hope but the home team held strong to take the points.
Joeys Head Coach Jan Versleijen, already under fire following youth team performances in the U-23 World CUp and U-17 World Cup was very disappointed with his team’s first up performance.
“Without having played much together before the tournament, it took us some time to get the cohesion that we needed to play well,” said Versleijen.
“Although the conditions were very difficult for the players, we created enough chances to win the game, but were unable to convert them to take the points.
“Fortunately, the tournament does not depend on a single result, so we must now regroup and make sure we win the next matches to ensure qualification to the AFC Championship,” concluded Versleijen.
The senior Australian Socceroos faced a tough challenge against Thailand recently, going down an early goal before recording a narrow win.
The Joeys will next face Myanmar on Wednesday 14 September at 9.00pm AEST.
The AFC U-16 Championship will serve as the qualifying event for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup which will be held in the United Arab Emirates in October/November.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
This is the better discussion. Not whether the resources are available but whether national games at such a young age level are sufficiently beneficial.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Suspect Thailand is on a rather upward course for the next few years.
Ross
Guest
See you later Van Helsing or whatever your name is! You have had too many chances already- time to give Paul Okon a go!
Johnno
Guest
Ben of phnom penh , your right, so maybe it doe snot cost the ffa much, but i think all that money to pay for coaches could be spent at grassroots level, spend that moment at joeys level at put that money that is going to u/16 team to grass roots.
Johnno
Guest
Jbinnie i agree and that is why i wonder if this monkey could be better spent on grassroots facilities and coaching at locl level, spend th money when they get to the joeys. I don't think a talented player will lose much by having no u16 national team. But you could do so much more with that precious money spening on grass roots infrastructure, subsiding sports gear eg soccer balls, goalposts, junior coaching. At leasts that my opinion but maybe the ffa or sponsors have more money from AFC than i think.
jamesb
Guest
looks like jan has to go. Bring back Les Schienflug
j binnie
Guest
Ben - A reasonable reply to Johnno but your last sentence poses more questions than your statement answers.There is no cost attached to "time" as you describe it but a monetary cost that has to be added to this particular cause is the cost of four full time coaches,& the cost of input from a Director of Coaching has to be taken out of his salary and put to this "monetary" cost, Ok ,the under 16 players don't get paid, but I've just highlighted a cost which must be allocated against this exercise of a conservative $500,000, not chickenfeed when one considers what the Schienflug's & Blanco's were paid when getting teams to the finals of these competitions not so long ago. jb
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
There are no player wages for the U'16's, Johnno. Flights and other expenses (such as accommodation) are contributed to via sponsorship and the AFC. The main costs to the FFA are administration (particularly in selecting the side and organising the logistics) & event specific support as the coaching and football support are sourced from the general pool of experts whose wages are already covered under existing programmes. In other words my understanding is that it costs more in time than it does in money.
Johnno
Guest
Wow soccer is really taking of that we have the money to have a national under 16/s side where do the FFA get the money from for this team.
Nathan
Guest
U16's? Geez my son could be playing for them.
Striker
Guest
YEAH THE COACH
Rob
Guest
Shame - I was hoping we would get a win, especially after the recent poor performance at the SBS cup coached by GVE, they came bottom in this recent tournament, we need some good results, fast.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Something seriously wrong here.
Spicy
Guest
A squad finally selected 3 days prior to catching up a plane, not picking specialised players for key positions (ie. only 3 forwards, a forward converted into a center back, etc.), picking up players from none-institute org. throwing out the door their famous 4-3-3 mandate and then pretend to play any decent kind of football are just some of pearls added to Van Edgmond and Jan's collar. But no doubt they will do the same as they did with the U17 & U20s blaming the quality of the players. Absolute shame on them....