BORDER teenager Zac Mackenzie will take a step closer to realising his dream of signing a professional contract when he plays in a trial match with new A-League club Western Sydney tonight.
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The Boomers FC midfielder has been training with the Wanderers senior squad since Monday and has impressed senior coach Tony Popovic to the point where he has been invited to stay on for a trial match against NSW Premier League outfit Blacktown Spartans in Blacktown.
Football NSW board member Steve Hayes said Mackenzie’s case showed that opportunities were available for talented players from regional and rural areas to be identified.
“Popovic spoke to him yesterday after the training session and said, ‘I’d like you to play in a trial match on Wednesday night’, which is a great effort,” Hayes said.
“It’s a great opportunity for a kid from a country area.
“Kids don’t need to travel all over the state trying to be seen.
“They can get identified here and get these trials.”
Tonight’s game will be Western Sydney’s second practice match following a 5-0 win against Nepean FC last week.
One of the players Mackenzie has been training with is Marconi Stallions striker Joe Gibbs, who scored four goals against Nepean, which plays in the NSW State League Division 2.
Despite the feat, Gibbs is yet to be offered a contract at the fledgling club.
Hayes said the trial with the Wanderers was well deserved by Mackenzie.
“It came about mainly through our association with Football NSW,” he said.
“They are really receptive to talented kids going up and having sessions and we’ve probably got a few more kids that could do it as well if they work hard enough.
“He’s actually training with the seniors and there were 20 at training yesterday and they were the contracted players and four were his age.
“Let’s hope that he makes it and I think we are going to know by tomorrow night.”
Barnawartha-based Mackenzie has enjoyed a stellar 12 months.
He played for the AWFA in the friendly against A-League club Melbourne Heart, won the AWFA league best-and-fairest at just 16 years of age and had sessions with the Central Coast Mariners and renowned Sydney school Westfields Sports High School.