Adelaide United FC has added to its crop of talent for the National Youth League with Coach Joe Mullen selecting another four players into The Reds’ Youth League squad.
Adelaide United FC has added to its crop of talent for the National Youth League with Coach Joe Mullen selecting another four players into The Reds- Youth League squad.
Local youngsters Andrew Ciarla, Michael Doyle, Osama Malik and Francesco Monterosso are the latest additions to United-s inaugural Youth League squad, and Mullen is buoyed by the talent that he is bringing together for the inaugural season of the competition.
These inclusions take United-s youth league signings to eight after Matthew Mullen, Alex Sunasky, Joel Allwright and Michael Marrone were the first four named in the squad. This leaves Joe Mullen with four spots to fill to finalise his squad of 12 before the start of the new season, which kicks off on the last weekend of September.
Mullen is expected to finalise his squad within the next fortnight.
Ciarla was chosen after showing impressive form for MetroStars in the local Super League and throughout the trial matches Mullen has held to narrow down his squad.
A central midfielder, 17 year old Malik is regarded by some as one of the best young players in Australia. From African pedigree, with his father born in Sudan, Malik began his football with Raiders in the Under 11-s, before spending time at a number of other local clubs and then returning to Raiders, where he is currently playing in their first team.
“I was ecstatic to get chosen. It will be a really good experience and I-m looking forward to playing with the other guys in the squad,” Malik said.
Doyle has also been seeing first team football for the past two years, the defender lining up with Adelaide Galaxy, and he says being selected in United-s Youth league squad is a major step forward in one day possibly being part of the senior team.
“I-ve had season tickets to Adelaide United for the past couple of years and when I-m there watching I just think about what it would be like to be out on the field,” Doyle said.
“Getting selected in the youth league squad, you feel like you-re one step away. It was a lot of hard working getting in there so now I just have to try and stay there.”
Taken from the South Australian Sports Institute-s football program, Monterosso is using United-s marquee striker Paul Agostino as inspiration, Agostino growing up playing football in South Australia before getting his opportunity overseas.
“At first I was pretty shocked and surprised to be considered but as when I got to come out and train, I really enjoyed it so I-m really glad to be part of it,” the striker said.
“Paul Agostino grew up here and then went overseas and played in some of the top leagues, which is something I would like to do in the future.”
Having secured a place in United-s inaugural Youth League squad, these aspiring young players have got a foot in the door and a fantastic starting point and opportunity to try and launch a career as a professional footballer.
Adelaide United-s Youth Team is scheduled to kick-off its season against the Newcastle Jets on Saturday, 27 September 2008 at Hindmarsh Stadium at 3.45pm (ACST) as a curtain raiser to the Hyundai A-League match between the two clubs (gates open at 3.30pm).
Adelaide United FC latest Youth League signings
Andrew Ciarla (Midfielder)
Currently playing with Super League club MetroStars
Michael Doyle (Defender)
Currently playing with Super League club Adelaide Galaxy
Osama Malik (Midfielder)
Currently playing with Super League club Raiders
Francesco Monterosso (Striker)
Currently part of the SASI program
