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The Australian Institute of Sport Football (Soccer) program is run by the Australian Institute of Sport, in Canberra, for Australian youth football (soccer) players. The AIS runs this program for both men and women: the men's program was one of the eight founding sports of the AIS in 1981, with the women's program being added in 1998.
[edit] History
The AIS football program is funded by the Australian Federal Government, through the Australian Sports Commission. In 2005-2006 this funding amounted to AU$1,115,000.[1] Currently, 20 students per year are selected for an initial period of 12 months training and study, with the additional option of a second year. The men's program is residential, while the women's is training camp-based. Students are generally 15-17 years old when selected and the only compulsory requirement is that they have current, or pending, Australian citizenship.
The original stated aim of the men's program was
"To identify and develop players for the national under-20 youth team and to develop coaches through the Scholarship Coaching scheme".
[edit] National Representation
Following the decision of several football graduates to represent other countries at a senior national level (eg. Josip Simunic), the AIS implemented contracts whereby the cost of the scholarship will have to be repaid by any graduate that goes on to play football at a senior level representing a country other than Australia, in international competition.[2]
[edit] Victorian Premier League
The men's program had previously entered a team in the New South Wales Premier League competition in 2005. In 2007 the AIS entered a team into the Victorian Premier League. This would allow regular, weekly competitive matches that were lacking for previous scholarship holders.[3] As part of their inclusion as the only non-Victorian team in the VPL competition, all 'home' fixtures were played in Victoria for the 2007 season. The side struggled for consistency throughout the season, finishing 12th on the ladder, however great benefit was reportedly gained from the participation in a men's competition.
The men's program team again competed in the Victorian Premier League competition for 2008, with home matches played in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport.[4]
[edit] Players
[edit] 2008 Scholarship Holders
|
|
|
| No. |
|
Position |
Player |
| 15 |
|
DF |
Sam Munro |
| 16 |
|
FW |
Rhyan Grant * |
| 17 |
|
FW |
Ivan Pavlak |
| 18 |
|
GK |
Mark Birighitti |
| 20 |
|
MF |
Dane Milovanovic |
| 21 |
|
DF |
Alex Sunasky |
| 22 |
|
DF |
Daniel Mullen |
| 23 |
|
FW |
Kofi Danning |
| 24 |
|
MF |
Bonel Obradovic |
| 25 |
|
DF |
Ante Cicak |
|
|
MF |
Isaka Cernak Okanya |
|
|
MF |
James Brown |
|
|
FW |
Dominic Giampaolo |
|
- * Not an original scolarship holder, but was invited to play in the squad for VPL matches
[edit] 2007 Scholarship Holders
|
|
|
| No. |
|
Position |
Player |
| 14 |
|
MF |
Dane Milovanovic |
| 15 |
|
FW |
Marko Jesic |
| 16 |
|
MF |
Bonel Obradovic |
| 17 |
|
MF |
Isaka Cernak Okanya |
| 18 |
|
GK |
Jerrad Tyson |
| 19 |
|
MF |
Richard Greer |
| 20 |
|
DF |
Alex Sunasky |
| 21 |
|
MF |
Stefan Vrbesic |
| 22 |
|
DF |
Peter Cvetanovski |
| 23 |
|
FW |
Dominic Giampaolo |
| 24 |
|
FW |
Tahj Minniecon |
| 25 |
|
DF |
Matthew Jurman |
| 26 |
|
MF |
Apostolis Giannou |
|
[edit] 2006 Scholarship Holders
[edit] Notable Former Players
| Name |
Club |
Position |
Years |
Current Status |
Country |
| Aloisi, JohnJohn Aloisi* |
 Sydney FC |
FW |
1992-1993 |
Playing |
|
| Bresciano, MarkMark Bresciano* |
 Palermo |
MF |
1997 |
Playing |
|
| Emerton, BrettBrett Emerton* |
 Blackburn Rovers |
DF |
1995-1996 |
Playing |
|
| Ergić, IvanIvan Ergić* |
 FC Basel |
MF |
1997-1998 |
Playing |
 |
| Farina, FrankFrank Farina |
Queensland Roar |
FW |
1982-1983 |
Coaching |
|
| Foxe, HaydenHayden Foxe |
Perth Glory |
DF |
1993-1994 |
Playing |
|
| Grella, VinceVince Grella* |
Parma |
MF |
1996-1997 |
Playing |
|
| Kennedy, JoshuaJoshua Kennedy* |
 Karlsruher SC |
FW |
1999 |
Playing |
|
| Neill, LucasLucas Neill* |
West Ham United |
DF |
1994-1995 |
Playing |
|
| Milicević, LjuboLjubo Milicević |
|
MF |
1997-1998 |
Playing |
|
| Moore, CraigCraig Moore* |
Queensland Roar |
DF |
1992-1993 |
Playing |
|
| Muscat, KevinKevin Muscat |
Melbourne Victory |
DF |
1990-1991 |
Playing |
|
| Šerić, AnthonyAnthony Šerić* |
 Panathinaikos |
MF |
1996-1997 |
Playing |
 |
| Šimunić, JosipJosip Šimunić* |
Hertha Berlin |
DF |
1995-1996 |
Playing |
|
| Skoko, JosipJosip Skoko* |
Wigan Athletic |
MF |
1992-1993 |
Playing |
|
| Sterjovski, MileMile Sterjovski* |
Derby County |
MF |
1996-1998 |
Playing |
|
| Viduka, MarkMark Viduka* |
Newcastle United |
FW |
1992-1993 |
Playing |
|
| Wilkshire, LukeLuke Wilkshire* |
 FC Twente |
MF |
1997-1998 |
Playing |
|
| Zelic, NedNed Zelic |
 Dinamo Tbilisi |
DF |
1988 |
Playing |
|
| Milligan, MarkMark Milligan* |
Sydney FC |
DF |
2002 |
Playing |
|
| Trimboli, PaulPaul Trimboli |
|
FW |
1986 |
Retired |
|
- *Represented Country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
[edit] References
[edit] External links
