A-Leagues prospects at core of Joeys squad picked for September training camp

Adelaide United forward Nestory Irankunda headlines a cast of young A-Leagues players selected by Australian U17 Men’s National Team head coach Brad Maloney for a Joeys training camp in late September.

The 30-player squad will assemble in Melbourne for the two-week camp from September 17-30, in preparation for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers in October.

Of the 30 players selected for camp, 26 come from A-Leagues clubs. Irankunda, 16, will link up with the Joeys after making a splash in the Isuzu UTE A-League with Adelaide United last season, scoring a string of important goals largely off the bench and earning a call-up to the A-Leagues All Stars squad which took on FC Barcelona in May.

He will join his 29 fellow camp members in Melbourne, and over the two-week program fight to be included in Maloney’s 23-player squad for the U17 Asian Cup qualifiers in Shepparton next month.

Maloney says the September camp marks the start of what is shaping as a busy period for the Joeys over the coming years.

“After being in hiatus for the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s exciting for all concerned to convene this Joeys’ camp as we prepare for what we hope and plan will be a busy and fruitful two years for this age group,” Maloney said.

“My staff and I have selected a talented and versatile squad for this camp, where following an intensive fortnight on the training ground we will select the final 23-players who will move forward to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ qualifiers next month.

“We will face tough opposition in Shepparton, particularly from China and Cambodia whose youth programs continued throughout the pandemic, so ensuring both the technical staff and players make the most of this two-week training camp is important to put ourselves in a strong position heading into the Qualifiers.”

JOEYS SQUAD | TRAINING CAMP | 17 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2022

Supplied by Football Australia