NEWCASTLE Jets Youth coach Clayton Zane expects exciting goalkeeping prospect Noah James to have more time in national colours after starring for the Joeys in their Under-16 ASEAN Football Federation Championship victory in Cambodia.
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James, who missed out on a FFA Centre of Excellence scholarship this year, started in the final against Vietnam on Saturday night. Australia trailed 3-1 in the 77th minute but hit back to draw 3-3 and take the game to penalties, where James made a save to give the Joeys a shot at victory. They prevailed 5-3 over Vietnam, who defeated them 3-0 in the group stage.
The save capped a meteoric rise for 15-year-old James, who attended three trials to earn a place in the Australian squad for the tournament. He then started in wins over Singapore 6-2 and the Philippines 7-0 before watching on in the penalty shootout win over Thailand in the semis. He was elevated to the starting side for the decider, and Zane, a former Socceroo who had James on the bench for his under-20 Jets team, expected more promotions for the Whitebridge talent.
“I know he has been on the radar and been earmarked by national selectors,” Zane said. “He's been going back and forth for trials and he's making big strides.
“Australia have always had great goalkeepers and it’s great to see we’ve got a good one in our region coming through. He ticks a lot of boxes and the important thing is he’s got a great attitude and work ethic. They’ve left some spots open at the Centre of Excellence and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s invited in over the next 12 months.”
Hunter products Luke Callen and Kaleb Cox are in the FFA COE. While neither started in the semi-final or decider, Callen was in the 11 when Australia beat Malaysia 7-1 and Cox started in the win over Singapore, the loss to Vietnam and 1-1 draw with Myanmar.
** Some of the region’s best young female footballers will have their chance to shine this week.
Seven NNSW talents will play for the under-19 Young Matildas from Wednesday in the AFF Women’s Championship in Myanmar, while four have been invited to a second under-17 Junior Matildas camp in Canberra.
Lucy Kell, Molly Arens and Tessa Tamplin were selected for the first under-17 camp and returned for the second on Sunday. Fellow Emerging Jet Susanna Behne-Smith has joined them. The national team for the Asian under-16 championship qualifiers will be picked after the second camp finishes on Thursday. Goalkeeper Annalee Grove was called in for the initial camp but then promoted to the under-19 side, which also features Jets Hannah Bourke, Ashlee Brodigan, Brooke Miller, Sophie Nenadovic, Hannah Southwell and Clare Wheeler.
The Young Matildas play Malaysia on Thursday, Timor-Leste on Friday and Myanmar on Sunday.
