Twenty-two teams from across the country gathered at the Home of the Matildas in Bundoora to compete in the two age groups, under 15 and under 16 for the coveted title of best in the country.
The tournament took place from July 3-8, featuring over 500 players and officials in 67 games that saw a total of 310 goals.
The National Youth Championship has been a key component of FA’s talent identification program, proving an important stepping-stone for many current CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.
It attracted talented players from Victoria and beyond including many Greek girls hoping to one day become the next football stars of Australia.
Among the Victorian representatives was Anastasia Kyriacou, the U15 Blue goalkeeper who made her third appearance at the National Youth Championships. In 2023, Victoria won the Under 14 National title, thanks in part to Kyriacou’s impressive penalty save in the dying minutes.
Keira Sarris, a three-time participant, has also been a standout for Victoria, playing at number six and providing a steady presence on the field.
The 2024 Victorian representative girls were:
Victoria U16
Keira Sarris
Stephanie Katsikikis
Chloe Mitris
Victoria U15 Blue
Anastasia Kyriacou (gk)
Teah Kotsandis
Alexis Pantazopoulos
Joanna Zois
Victoria U15 White
Taylor Demeris
Despite not featuring in the finals, the Victorian teams still achieved impressive results. The under 16 and under 15 Blue teams secured third place in the tournament by winning their respective 3rd & 4th playoff matches. Additionally, the U15 White team, which consisted of many talented 14-year-olds from Victoria’s National Talent Centre program, defeated Western Australia to secure a 5th place finish.
Meanwhile, NSW Metro emerged victorious in both age groups, dominating the competition.
One of the standout players for NSW’s U15 Metro team was Zoe Panagopoulos, who scored a number of goals throughout the event.
“Zoe’s a good kid and duel footed as well. She’s got great tekkers (skills) and we’ve been working on her being a complete player so she’s gradually improving. We’re hoping in the near future there’s good things to come from her,” coach Anissa Tann said before their semi-final on Sunday.
Even the match officiating team had some Greeks, with Angelique Katsalas and Daphne Gounaris from Football Victoria. Referees are also being scouted to find the next generation of female match officials.
The 2024 National Youth Championships – Boys tournament will take place at WIN Stadium, JJ Kelly Park and Ian McLennan Park, Wollongong, NSW from July 16-21.
