HE went to Abu Dhabi in 2017 to play soccer and in September next year Silas Barberie will be off to Brazil with an Australian schoolboy futsal side.
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The Australians will be in South America for 16 days playing matches against regional teams and undergoing specialised coaching.
Silas is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.
He was named in the Australian team following the national titles held in Brisbane. Silas was a member of the Northern NSW team.
Northern NSW performed credibly, bowing out in the quarter finals.
“We were a bit slow at first but we gelled pretty well and eventually had some good results,’’ Silas explained.
Australian coach Mick Day had seen Silas in action during earlier representative trials. Silas believes this would have helped his cause in making the national side for the tour.
Silas hopes his next overseas trip will match the expedition to Abu Dhabi last December when he toured as a member of the Football Mid North Coast under 14 National Premier League squad.
This involved working with Manchester City coaches and he’s a keen Man U supporter.
Silas started playing futsal in the Manning competition when he was 11.
“A few mates started a team and dragged me in,’’ he explained.
Football had been his chief sporting priority until then. He started as a six-year-old with the Old Bar Barbarians in the Southern League competition.
However, he eventually earned a place in the Football Mid North Coast Premier League squads. This is a lengthy commitment, with the NPL season usually starting in March and running through to September. Players alternate training between Taree and Port Macquarie while every second weekend they head to the Newcastle area for matches.
Trials for the 2019 season have been completed and Silas will be a member of the under 16s.
His under 15 team didn’t have the most successful of campaigns this year.
“I think we finished about eighth,’’ he said.
On the football field Silas usually plays centre back. He’s a pivot in futsal.
He admits to preferring football over the more frantic game of futsal. But that won’t stop him from enjoying his 16 day adventure in Brazil.
However, he will have to raise close to $9000 to take his place in the squad.
When not on the football field or the futsal court Silas can generally be found in the surf.
He lives at Old Bar within walking distance of the beach and he’s a member of the Saltwater Boardriders Club.
