“It’s not just about football but opening up opportunities,” Inverell’s Heinrich Haussler said of the locally-based event that’s helped launch many young Australian players into the international soccer world.
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The founder and key organiser of the Joeys Mini World Cup has been preparing for the 8th year of the five-day competition ahead of an estimated 2000 people, including 500 players, arriving in town for the event.
Matches for the Under 11s, 13s, 15s and 17s will play at the sports complex from Monday to Friday, with the exception of a rest day on Thursday. Heats for the Under 9s and special needs kids play on Thursday and Friday.
Many players will be hoping to catch the eye of a panel of talent spotters made up of professional coaches including former Socceroos coach and patron of the cup, Rale Rasic.
The two top players win a fully paid 23 day football tour of Germany, while all competitors are scouted for scholarships at Toowoomba Grammar, and student exchanges between schools in Germany and Australia.
“As a direct result of the Joeys Minis World Cup we have had over 30 players receiving scholarships from Toowoomba Grammar School,” Mr Haussler said.
“We have connections all around the world and out kids have gone from the cup to professional teams in Norway, England, Germany, Spain, the USA and Brazil.”