By Eamonn Flanagan

Football Federation Australia’s High Performance manager John Boultbee said, “The young men should grab this opportunity. The Socceroos team that played in the World Cup was full of AIS graduates. These young men now have a strong playing structure to support them.”

Ex-National Soccer League players Mark Viduka, Brett Emerton and Vince Grella are just some of the previous AIS scholarship holders.

Current A-League players Queensland Roar’s Ante Milicic told Fox Sports Andy Harper, “It was difficult coming from a strong Croatian family, leaving home to come to this place. It gave me a great opportunity and made me a better person. I got to play for the country of my birth.”

Melbourne Victory’s Kevin Muscat, himself an AIS graduate, said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to better yourself.”

Muscat added “This is the first time I’ve had chance to acknowledge publicly what the AIS and coaches Ron Smith and Steve O’Connor did for me and my career.”

Coach Steve O’Connor said, “These guys are playing every week in the Victorian Premier League. They will also start a long qualification for the 2009 Under 20 World Cup. They play in the preliminary Asian qualification group in October this year. If successful they then go to the 2008 Under-20 Asian Cup. The top four teams in Asia then go to the 2009 World Cup.

Qualification for the Under 17 World Cup starts in September.


Men’s Football Program 2007 Athletes
1. Laurence Braude Wide midfielder NSW
2. James Brown Attacking midfielder NSW
3. Peter Cvetanovski Defender NSW
4. Matthew Harper Central midfielder NSW
5. James Holland Midfielder NSW
6. Marko Jesic Striker NSW
7. Matthew Jurman Defender NSW
8. Jason Naidovski Striker NSW
9. Andrew Redmayne Goalkeeper NSW
10. Sebastian Ryall Defender NSW
11. Ante Cicak Defender Victoria
12. Milos Lujic Striker Victoria
13. Bonel Obradovic Midfielder Victoria
14. Matthew Theodore Attacking midfielder Victoria
15. Isaka Cernak Attacking midfielder Queensland
16. Luke De Vere Defender Queensland
17. Richard Greer Central midfielder Queensland
18. Tahj Minniecon Striker Queensland
19. Stefan Vrbesic Midfielder Queensland
20 Jerrad Tyson Goalkeeper Queensland
21. Alex Sunasky Defender South Australia
22. Matthew Mullen Striker South Australia
23. Daniel Mullen Defender South Australia
24. Domenic Giampaolo Striker ACT
25. Dane Milovanovic Midfield/Defnder ACT


Coaches: Steve O'Connor AIS/National U/20 Coach
Ray Junna - Assistant Coach
Paul Foster - Assistant Coach
John Gibson - Scholarship Coach