Jason, Guest Goalkeeper for APIA at Viareggio Cup
-By John Economos.
On Saturday night the towering Jason will board the Singapore Airlines flight bound for Rome, as a ‘guest ‘keeper’ with Apia Leichhardt Tigers’ Youth squad that will compete in the prestigious Viareggio International Youth Club Tournament starting on the 21st.
Despite just being 20, Jason already stands at a massive 195 cms with powerful shoulders.
Well known Apia Leichhardt Tigers’ President Mr Tony Raciti, who will also takeover the coaching reins of Apia’s Youth team at the Viareggio Tournament, has taken Jason under his wing since arriving in Sydney for Apia’s Youth pre-tour training sessions.
Mr Raciti stated last night:
“Since arriving from Perth, in just the few days Jason has linked up with us in Sydney, he appears to possess all the attributes to make it to a decent level in his career.
“He’s strong, very tall, hungry to learn, courageous and very well-mannered. He listens extremely well.”
When we briefly spoke to the lanky West Australian custodian, he told us:
“As a six years old, there was a small competition to choose a goalkeeper. I won it and since then I’ve always wanted to be a goalkeeper.
“I first played for Floreat Athena in the Juniors for the next six years before moving to ECU Joondalup.
“As I got older, I moved up a grade to join Perth S.C. in the West Australian First Division.
“During my younger days, and up till now, my most influential goalkeeping coaches were Willie McNally (former Australian International and Adelaide City star goalkeeper in the NSL) and Glenn Giudici the current Perth S.C. ‘keeper coach.
“Both of these great people have hugely helped to mould me,” Jason reflected.
Extremely well-mannered, intelligent and mature for his age, Jason refused to neglect his scholastic challenges.
After completing his High School studies, Jason attended college to embark, and graduate, with a Diploma in Architectural Drafting.
On Monday the 21st, Apia’s Youth team when in Italy has been drawn in the the first game in the Viareggio Youth Cup Tournament to do combat with Italian giants, the ‘Black & Blue’ of Inter Milan.
The 2011 Viareggio Cup Tournament has 48 squads entered from no less than 16 nations:
Australia-(Apia L.T.)-2 from Africa, Belgium, Brasil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England-(Newcastle United), Italy, Japan-(first time), Norway, Paraguay, Russia (first time), Serbia, Switzerland, the United States and Uzbekistan-(first time).
The 2011 Viareggio Cup Tournament kicks off on Monday February 21st with the Cup Final scheduled for March 7th.
Ultimate Viareggio Cup Tournament Champions last year was ‘the Old Lady’ ,Juventus, who crushed Empoli 4-2 in the Final.
As traditionally has been the case every year, Italian Youth Club teams heavily dominate the 48 team competition with Youth squads, viz: from Atalanta, Empoli, Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter Milan, current Champions Juventus, Lazio, Lecce, A.C. Milan, Napoli, Palermo, Parma, Reggina, A.S. Roma, Sampdoria , Siena, Torino plus some regional Rep: sides.
Apia’s industrious Chairman and Youth Team coach Mr Tony Raciti, (assisted by Mr Emanuele Ziino as Team Manager), stated last night:
“I’m extremely proud for the fact that this will be Apia Leichhardt Tigers’ ninth consecutive year that our Club has been invited to compete in this historical, globally-famous, Club Youth Tournament”.
Mr Raciti then went on to underline: “Apia’s Youth players will vastly gain invaluable technical and tactical knowledge on this tour and return to Australia far better educated as players”.
