Youth on the rise
FLYING from Sydney to Adelaide and back again, with a football game in between, isn’t the way most 16-year-olds spend their Sunday.
But Jordan Koton isn’t your average teenager. After signing a contract with A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers’ youth team, Koton is crossing state lines every other weekend to tackle the best young players Australia has to offer.
On Sunday, the Moriah College student was subbed on in the 65th minute during a 2-0 defeat to Adelaide United’s youth team. It was only Koton’s second game back after breaking his wrist two months ago in preseason, with the young gun saying that he’s slowly finding his feet for the side, which sits fifth on the Y-League table.
“It’s a tough level to adjust back to, but every time I get on the pitch it’s easier,” Koton told the <I>AJN<P>.
“We left in the morning at 9am and came back at 10pm. It went OK; I was more excited to go away and play so I didn’t think too much of it, but it was hard flying there and back in one day.
“Hopefully a starting spot will come soon. Because the first team is away in Morocco [at the FIFA Club World Cup], there’s quite a few first graders left behind who are playing for us, so it’s hard to get a starting spot right now. But each week I’m getting more minutes and feeling more comfortable.”
Since beginning his promising career at Maccabi as a six-year-old, the silky winger has played for a variety of elite academies and clubs, including the Futbol Mundial Academy, APIA Leichhardt Tigers in National Premier League 1 and NSW’s Institute of Sport (NSWIS).
Noticed by Wanderers’ scouts last year while playing for the NSWIS, Koton was offered to trial for the youth team, before a torn quadriceps derailed the process. He finally managed to attend the club’s final try-out in August, which was enough for the selectors to offer him a train-on spot with the youth team.
Several weeks later, Koton starred as the youth team took on the first grade side in a preseason game, and despite suffering a wrist fracture, his performance was deemed worthy for a youth contract.
On what made him stand out, Koton said, “I feel I am a really positive player.
“I always look to go forward and I like taking risks in the game. When I play, I just enjoy it so much I guess it shows.”
Carpooling with Koton for the hour-long drives to Western Sydney is friend, and teammate Brad Paikin, who is also 16 and attends Moriah.
Paikin is yet to secure a contract but says he is enjoying himself in the hyper-competitive world of train-ons.
“It’s really good, but hard,” he said.
“Everybody is pushing to get a contract with the youth squad.”
The solid center back has committed to Hakoah Sydney City East FC’s first grade side next season, where he’ll be playing with and against seasoned veterans of state football.
Paikin said, “I’m very excited to be joining Hakoah next season. I’ll be playing with the first grade squad and I’ll be the youngest by quite a while, so it will be hard, quite a challenge.”
Hakoah coach Mark Robertson says he is confident the young recruit will excel among men.
“I have known (Brad) since he was 12 and found him to posses great attitude and work ethic at training,” he said.
“He has now progressed into a young man, and not only does he still have those qualities, his technical game has improved dramatically. His physical presence and dynamic passing range will allow him to compete and play at one of the highest levels against players in the NSW Premier League 2.”
ADAM BLAU
Picture: Jordan Koton in full flight for the Western Sydney Wanderers youth team.
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