Sydney FC starts National Youth League trials with 40 local Sydney players

The players have been identified over the last two months by former Head of the AIS football program and Sydney FC Youth Team Coach Steve O?Connor, Head Coach John Kosmina and Sydney FC midfielder Steve Corica.
O?Connor, Kosmina and Corica spent time watching TeleChoice Premier League matches, spoke with all of the coaches in the TeleChoice Premier League and looked at hundreds of resumes and videos from hopeful junior players.
The end result is 40 players who will be out to impress for one of 11 places in the inaugural Sydney FC National Youth League team.
The players will spend the next four Monday night?s at Sydney FC?s training ground at the Macquarie University Sporting Fields under the watchful eye of O?Connor and Corica, who will be an Assistant Coach for the Sydney FC National Youth League side as well as continuing his playing career in 2008/09.
?We have identified a talented group of about 40 local players who we?ve asked to come in for a targeted trial over the next month,? O?Connor said. ?Sydney has a lot of very good young players and we want to fill our team with local players.
?Sydney FC is a team for the people of Sydney and the Youth League side should be looked upon as a crucial step for young Sydney players looking to become professional footballers.
?Traditionally Sydney and NSW have had a strong representation in Australian junior teams and we want to give young players a clear development pathway through Sydney FC?s youth structure to the A-League and beyond.
?We believe we have fantastic facilities, on and off the field, at our training ground at Macquarie University and these young players will be able to utilize them in a professional environment as they develop as players.?
Sydney FC has also worked closely with Football NSW and the TeleChoice Premier League clubs to make sure the selection process does not interfere with the State League at what is a crucial time.