THREE Mandurah City Soccer Club players have been selected in the Western Australia team that will take on South Australia in Adelaide on October 11.
Dolphins midfielder Andy Brown, striker Phill O’Callaghan and defender Jeff Bright survived the cut last week when WA coach Robbie Dunn reduced the squad from 30 potentials to a final 16.
While Brown and Bright have represented the state, the match against SA will be O’Callaghan’s first.
Originally from Coventry in England, the 21-year-old earned his state stripes after taking out the golden boot - scoring a premier league-high 25 goals for the season, two ahead of Sorrento’s Todd Harnwell.
Brown, in only his second year living in WA, has been named state captain.
It will be the second time the 26-year-old former Middlesborough will lead the state, the first being in June this year when WA lost 0-2 to the under 23 East Java team.
State selection caps off a breakthrough season for Bright, who played his first game for Perth Glory last month.
It will be the 23-year-old’s sixth time in the WA guernsey.
The trio agreed representing WA was a big honour and rated South Australian soccer competition highly, expecting a competitive match for the Stratco Cup in Adelaide next Saturday.
Brown said their state selection was a credit to the Mandurah City Soccer Club.
“We not only matched teams in our first season in the premier league, we surprised them and beat the top sides,” he said.
“Some said we outdone ourselves but we knew within ourselves what we were capable of.”
Brown thanked the club’s supporters and sponsors for helping to make the club’s first season in the premier league a successful one and he, along with O’Callaghan have already re-signed with the club for next season.
The WA squad has been training every Wednesday for the past month in the lead up to the match.
The WA side contains only six players from the team that lost to the East Java under 23s in June, with 10 set to make their WA debut in the match.
The Stratco Cup clash, to be played at Marsden Sports Complex, will give the WA premier league players an opportunity to compare their talents against opponents from the strong South Australian leagues.
“I have selected the best available players that can travel to South Australia and win the game,” coach Dunn, a former Socceroo and current Perth Glory assistant said.
“Make no mistake, we are taking the game seriously as are South Australia, and both teams will be going all out to win.
“South Australia have tough and competitive leagues, they will be assembling a formidable line up that is sure to contain a lot of experience and skill, however I have no doubt our boys will be up for the task and can do our state proud.”
Meanwhile South Australian coach Airton Andrioli has named an experienced squad of 19 players for the match.
The squad consists of 1 players who have had experience in the A-League or former National Soccer League, including seven players who represented the State team in last year’s match against Adelaide United FC, which ended in a two-all draw.
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