State title for under-14s

The Metro Far South football side that won the NSW under 14s title recently: (back) coach Alan Paine, David Stojic, Matt Dibiasi, Guy Knight, David Miech, Lachlan O’Connor, Luke Leon, Franc Pierro, Andrew Neophytou and Manager Gilbere Gassin, (front) Tom Gollins, Peter Somonovski, Daniel Munilla, Sam Nastic, Blaise Gassin, Mitchell Read and Josh Tinker.

YOUNGSTERS from the Illawarra and Sutherland combined to help Metro Far South win the NSW under 14s football title at Nowra recently. Illawarra First Division Coach of the Year Alan Paine guided the squad to the title, after going through the tournament unbeaten. Nine of the squad are members of the Wollongong Wolves’ under 14s squad while the other six were drawn from Sutherland’s under 14s. The Wollongong contingent included Sam Nastic, Luke Leon, Andrew Neophytou, Daniel Munilla, Blaise Gassin, Peter Simonovski, David Miech, Guy Knight and David Stojic, Sutherland-based players included Tom Gollins, Matthew Dibiasi, Lachlan O’connor, Josh Tinker, Franc Pierro and Mitchell Read. “The boys did us proud despite having had only two training sessions prior to the tournament,” manager Gilbere Gassin said. “They were undefeated and finished equal first with Metro South. Some of these kids may well one day play for Australia.” The nine Wolves’ players were backing up from the Gold Cup on the Gold Coast. There, the Wollongong side won the under 14s division, along with the under 15s, while finishing runner-up in the under 13s.