Shepparton duo help Young Socceroos to under-20 Asian Cup qualification

By Daniel Webb

Oct 20, 2022

Qualified: Shepparton’s Garang Kuol helped the Young Socceroos qualify for next year’s under-20 Asian Cup (AAP Image/Darren England).

Two Shepparton soccer talents could be off to Uzbekistan next year, with Garang Kuol and James Nieuwenhuizen helping Australia qualify for the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup.

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Downing Iraq 1-0 in Kuwait on Wednesday morning Australian time, the duo were both part of a Young Socceroos squad that impressed.

While Nieuwenhuizen did not manage to get on the park during the qualification games, Kuol started all of them, with a cracking goal on matchday two against India a highlight.

The result gives Australia a place at next year’s 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup — and with both of the former Goulburn Valley Suns just 18 years old — they are sure to be in the conversation for a spot at next year’s tournament.

Speaking after securing top place in the group, Young Socceroos coach Trevor Morgan said it was important to qualify for major tournaments such as the AFC U-20 Asian Cup.

“I’m very pleased and excited for this very talented group of young players to have now made that a possibility for themselves,” Morgan said.

“Our youth national teams need to be filled with the best talent, we need to showcase them to the world, and expose these players to the highest levels of football as they go on their journey to becoming top professionals and Socceroos.

“I’m really thankful we were able to bring such a talented group of players to Kuwait for these important qualifiers.”

Both of the Shepparton talents will now return to club soccer in Australia, with Kuol hoping to be selected in Graham Arnold’s soon-to-be-announced World Cup side.