The CommBank Pararoos assembled for the first time since their 2022 IFCPF World Cup campaign in Spain this weekend, with Kai Lammert’s charges gathering at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra for a three-day training camp.
The camp enabled a host of new and young players to be exposed to the CommBank Pararoos environment as the group look ahead to international activity over the coming years. In total, twenty (20) players will assemble at the AIS for the camp, with over a quarter of the list linking with the CommBank Pararoos – Australia’s senior men’s national football team for athletes with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, or symptoms acquired from stroke – for the first time.
Capital Football’s Luc Launder (17) was rewarded for his impressive form with a first call-up into the squad.
Other new players that had the opportunity to impress Lammert and his staff in the CommBank Pararoos set-up included youngsters Rafferty Bacon (16), Matthew Engesser (15), Giacomo Izzo (17), Samuel McConnachy (20), Marco Sertorio (14), and Riley Stubing (18).
“Our camp at the AIS provided a great platform for many new and young players to develop within the CommBank Pararoos’ environment and obtain a great understanding of what it means to represent Australia and our inspiring team,” Lammert said.
“17 of the 20 players that travelled to this camp are aged 23 or younger, and it’s vital that we continue to cast the net wide and provide opportunities for new players to both impress and learn. Several senior CommBank Pararoos will be rested from this camp, however as a staff we look forward to assessing where they are at at next month’s 2022 Para National Championships, which will be held on the Gold Coast.”
“Next month’s Para National Championships mark the first time in three years that Australia’s CP football community will be able to gather for a national titles and following the recent successful introduction of the CommBank ParaMatildas to Football Australia’s National Teams family, will provide a great opportunity to continue to grow CP football in our nation,” he said.
The CommBank Pararoos’ training camp in Canberra was made possible by Football Australia, the team’s primary partner CommBank, as well as the support of generous donors. Australians can help to support the CommBank Pararoos by making a tax-deductible donation to the team here.
Every donation over $2 made to the squad is tax-deductible and will go directly to supporting national team training camps, coaching, sports science, and tournament costs to ensure that the CommBank Pararoos have the best possible chance to represent Australia on the world stage.
One dollar from every ticket sold for the Socceroos’ upcoming international friendly against New Zealand at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium (Thursday, 22 September) will also be directed to the CommBank Pararoos. The CommBank Pararoos are currently ranked 10th in the world.