Right side of the ball

By Gavin Staindl
THE Doveton under-12s soccer club on Sunday extended their record to 43 wins, one draw and one loss from one and a half seasons – but it’s where they are going that has the juniors excited.
After making it to the under-12 state championships last year, the all-conquering juniors were selected from 50 entrants to compete at the Junior Masters Australia tournament in Sydney in October.
The tournament features 20 of the nation’s best under-12 clubs, who will compete for a chance to travel to Poland to play at club level.
However, before this, the juniors will test their abilities in the Kanga Cup in Canberra.
The round robin-styled tournament is the biggest junior one in the southern hemisphere and will draw 45 national and international under-12 teams to the six-day event.
Doveton has registered in the hardest section, titled “The Cup” – and will play off against 14 top junior clubs, including the dominant Korean sides.
In the meantime, coach Julien Costin and his side are just happy to be playing good soccer within the local ranks.
“They had a poor start to the year, but they’re really starting to hit their straps now,” Costin said after his side toppled Casey – the league’s previous best side – 5-1 on Sunday.
“When we go away the results won’t matter, it will just be about learning.
“Apart from a few games, the kids aren’t really tested here so it’ll be good to put them under pressure and see how they go.”
Leading the charge will be Jacob Costin and Brady Quinn, who, along with 23 other juniors from around Victoria, have entered into the FFA Skills Acquisitions Program.
While Costin is delighted two members from his team have been chosen, he knows “at least another four or five” could have made it as well.
Doveton is without a sponsor for the upcoming tournaments – and Costin is urging companies to get in contact with the club.