Western United starlets feature at National Youth Championships

Western United will feature prominently at the National Youth Championships (NYC) in Sydney this week with 10 Junior Academy players representing Victoria at the tournament.

A Green and Black player features in all four Victorian teams, with two squads selected for the tournament at each Under-15 and Under-16 category.

Four players – Mahad Aman, Nicholas Tzimos, Nicholas Emtsis, Karl Leban – will line up in the Under 15’s Victoria White team, with Anderson Back and Anthony Didulica in the Victoria Blue side.

*Nicholas Tzimos will line up in the Under 15’s Victoria White side*

Emmanuel Mugisha is the lone Western United player in the Under 16’s Victoria Blue with the trio of Micheal Lettieri, Alex Marmura and Kaylin Acar competing with the Victoria White outfit.

Following a landmark year in 2023 with the introduction of Western United’s four junior teams, these selections are a further indicator of the ongoing progress of the Club’s elite development pathway in the West.

Western United Academy Director Anthony Frost congratulated the 10 players and highlighted the effectiveness of the Club’s development program despite its relative infancy.

*Emmanuel Mugisha is representing Western United in the Under 16’s Victoria Blue squad*

“We are extremely proud of the 10 boys that have been selected for the NYC. It is a testament to the quality and the hard work of each individual and we are delighted that their work has been recognised,” he said.

“Despite only being in the first year of our Junior Academy program and just the third year of our Academy set-up as a whole, we are delighted with the work we have been able to achieve in youth development in the West.

“It is crucial for us to continue to give young players from the West the opportunity to shine on the biggest stage and we look forward to continuing on this mission in the years to come.

“We wish all 10 boys the very best of luck at the tournament and look forward to the benefits this experience will bring for each of them.”

*Kaylin Acar has been selected in the Under 16’s Victoria White team*

The Victorian teams will take up two of 13 spots in each age division, with the competitions split into two groups. The top two sides in each group will advance to the semi-final stage with the national title on the line in the subsequent final.