Juniors join elite Football NSW squad
JUNIOR football guns Jordon Koton and Brad Paikin have been selected for the Football NSW Institute’s under-16 team, where they will develop their talents among the state’s best players.
JUNIOR football guns Jordon Koton and Brad Paikin have been selected for the Football NSW Institute’s under-16 team, where they will develop their talents among the state’s best players.
The team will be headed by former Socceroo and current SBS commentator Craig Foster, who will guide the emerging stars in the under-18 competition in next year’s state Premier League season.
“It’s going to be a good experience and I can’t wait to get started,” Koton, 15, told The AJN.
“We’ll be working hard tactically, and the coaches want us to be producing some good football and try to get as many of us into the youth A-League teams.”
The pair have played football since they were six years old with Monash and Maccabi, before reuniting a few years ago for the FNSW program and Premier League side Apia.
Paikin, also 15, said he’s looking forward to joining Koton with the development squad, as both players hope to reach the next stage of their careers, which is to earn a possible A-League contract.
“We’re going to learn a lot next year under Craig and it’s a very strong squad, so joining with Jordan will make it more comfortable for us,” Paikin said.
“But we’ve just got to play the way the coach wants us to, and hopefully we can get selected for the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) or an A-League youth team.”
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Ari Jackson has been named the Eastern Suburbs Football Association’s Junior Referee of the Year, after a standout season with the whistle in hand.
“It was totally unexpected, but I just want to be involved in the game as much as I can,” Jackson said.
“I got into it last year and it got pretty serious, and this season was a breakout for me. Now I want to join the FNSW competition and see where it takes me.”
ASHLEY SHENKER
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