Inter Lions? Under 10?s a star team in the making
The Grand Final win capped off an amazing season for the Inter Lions side which also won the Canterbury Association Premiership and Grand final double.
Inter Lions began the season with tough preparation against academy teams across NSW and older boys and girls representative sides. Their unbeaten run continued through the Canterbury Association season scoring 101 and conceding only 20 as they went on to win the Premiership ten points clear of their nearest rivals followed up by a 3-2 Grand Final victory.
When qualifying for the McDonald’s Champion of Champions, the team had to adapt to playing 11-a-side football on a full pitch from the 9-a-side game on a smaller pitch played in their district competition. This did not appear to affect the side as they went on to win the title scoring 34 goals and conceding only one in five matches against the champion teams from the South West Slopes, Gladesville, Granville, Bankstown and Southern Districts associations.
Former Socceroo and AEK Athens superstar Jimmy Patikas has now added a Champion of Champions medallion as a coach to go along with the two he won as a junior player.
?The McDonald?s Champion of Champions competition has always been one of the most prestigious junior tournaments to win in NSW especially in the Under 10 division.
?It is a fantastic achievement for all the boys to win their district competitions and get the opportunity to compete against the best in NSW?, said Patikas.
Patikas who went on to make over 250 appearances in Europe believes the McDonald?s Champion of Champions showcases some of Australia?s stars of tomorrow.
?You will no doubt see some of the boys go on to play at a higher level. Out of my championship side, at least 6 of us went onto play at NSL level or higher?.
We look forward to seeing many of these boys? hopefully wearing the green and gold like Jimmy Patikas in the future.
And his winning team will have their first taste of what it?s like to be professional footballers when they run onto the Sydney Football Stadium next week for the Champions Parade during the Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets A-League fixture.
