Scouts come knocking for champions Granville Rage

Soccer25 Jul 11 @ 06:53am by STEVEN DEARE

EUROPEAN clubs have scouted them, and these boys from the Granville Rage team showed why when they claimed the mantle of state champions.

The Granville boys won the state cup knockout competition for under-12s with a 2-1 golden-goal victory over Wetherill Park’s AC United at Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood, on Sunday.

Winger Karlo Borovic scored a double after he finished a cross from Rijad Mehinovic to seal the result and start emotional celebrations.

They may only be 12, but their coach Steve Zammit said the boys understood the scale of their achievement.

“They know exactly what’s going on. They were crying like babies, they were so emotional,” the coach said.

“They’ve achieved something special together as a team.”

Granville won six games on the way to the trophy, and beat the likes of regional champions Glenmore Park (Nepean) and Figtree (South Coast).

Zammit said it was superior teamwork that helped them beat the best sides in the state. He said other teams acknowledged that strength.

“One coach told me the biggest compliment he could give me was he couldn’t tell me who our best player was,” he said.

It’s no surprise then that some influential people in the world game have also paid attention. European agents inquired to Zammit early this year about his players.

“Some Spanish clubs have offered trials to a few of them,” Zammit said.

“I was contacted by an agent wanting to know whether they could get European passports for a youth academy.”

None of the parents chose to send their child, but there is plenty of time yet.

The team is: Nathan Mus- kitta, James Jenner, Alexander Okladnikov, Rijad Mehinovic, Lachlan Tester, Raymond Matar, Thomas Zammit, Charles Downie, Yousif Mashallah, Leonardo Soto, Liam Murphy, Kyle Murphy, Joel Seniuk, Joseph Yammine, Karlo Borovic. Manager: Shane Murphy, coach: Steve Zammit, assistant coach: George Zerefos.

* Auburn District also has a state champion team after their under-16s beat Kemps Creek 3-2 in the final
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